Dual Degree Programs

The Interdisciplinary Master of Arts in Bioethics and Medical Humanities is a 33 credit-hour program, consisting of seven required core courses and four electives.

The core courses provide essential grounding in ethical theory and the foundations of bioethics, current controversies in health care ethics, and the social and political context of health care decision-making; participation in hospital rounds emphasizes the practical realities of clinical ethics, and a capstone seminar integrates program courses with each other and with students’ experience in the health care professions.

Electives from the Schools of Law, Medicine, Public Health, and Social Work, as well as from the Arts and Sciences departments of History, Pan-African Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychological and Brain Sciences, Sociology, and Women’s and Gender Studies round out and diversify the content of the program. We anticipate that our initial offerings will soon be broadened into the areas of English, Communication, and Spirituality.

MD-MA students are expected to complete the dual degree program in five years.  Dual degree students will meet the MA program's 4 course/12 credit hour elective requirement with the following coursework:

• An elective in Year 2 of the MA program
• Introduction to Clinical Medicine 1 and 2 in the MD degree will be counted for 3 credits toward the MA and will fulfill an elective in the MA program
• The second year, second semester elective in the MD degree will be increased to 3 credits from the current 2, with adjustment based on increased effort and time
• The MD-MA student will complete the elective obligation by either a 3 credit summer elective that is applicable to the MA program or by completing an Independent Study elective with MA (or other designated) faculty between the end of Year 2 of the MD/MA split years and the re-entry of the student into Medical School Second Year.
  

The schedule is as follows:

Year 1

Summer:  Medical School Orientation

Fall:  Gross Anatomy;  Neurosciences;  Foundations of Bioethics; Gender, Race & Culture

Spring:  Human Physiology;  Neurosciences;  Ethical Theory;  Current Controversies

Year 2

Summer:  MA Elective [Optional -- may be taken in summer of Year 2 or Year 3]

Fall:  Microstructure & Development;  Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM1);  Clinical Ethics;  Elective

Spring:  Biochemistry;  Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM1);  Health Care, Community & Justice;  Integrative Bioethics

Year 3

Summer:  MA Elective [Optional -- may be taken in summer of Year 2 or Year 3]

Fall/Spring:  MD Second Year

Year 4

Summer (by June 15):  MD Step One Board Exams

Summer (May-late June):  open to refresh clinical skills

Summer (late June)/Fall/Spring:  Medical  School third year

Year 5

Medical School Fourth Year