Applied Philosophy (MA)
Equips graduates with sought-after skills in ethical analysis, cultural understanding and practical problem-solving. Choose from two tracks—Health Care Ethics, preparing you for roles in hospitals, law, and policy; or Practical & Applied Philosophy, suited for careers in education, nonprofits and business. With opportunities for applied research and internships, you’ll graduate ready to lead and adapt in dynamic professional fields.
Master of Arts in Applied Philosophy
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (GA)
Department: Philosophy
Academic Plan Code(s): APHIMA, APHIMA HCE, APHIMA PAP, APHIMA_ACC
Program Information
The Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Philosophy offers two options for graduate training in Applied Philosophy.
1. The Concentration in Health Care Ethics is designed for diverse graduate, pre-professional, and professional students to develop their skills as highly engaged citizens, leaders, and scholars. Building on six core bioethics (BETH) courses, the Health Care Ethics track offers students a significant degree of flexibility through electives in other departments and schools to deepen their personal areas of interest and broaden their expertise beyond their core knowledge base. The degree prepares graduates to bring a more educated, nuanced and thoughtful approach to their work in clinical or hospital settings, health law or policy development or academic research and teaching as well as many other overlapping possibilities.
Graduates of this concentration will possess a mastery of 1) ethical theory, 2) the application of theory to practice, and 3) the clinical case studies that guide research, policy, and legal deliberation with respect to our medical and health care practices. Graduates will be trained for positions in ethical leadership and will be "reflexively ethical" in order to establish standards that ramify throughout the organizations into which they are hired.
2. The Concentration in Practical & Applied Philosophy trains graduate, pre-professional, and professional students who have some preparation in Philosophy in the advanced use of philosophical and interdisciplinary methods to enhance their research and their career. Building on a Proseminar and four Applied Philosophy courses, students then pursue electives in their area(s) of greatest interest. Students also complete fieldwork or an internship to complement their studies and put them into practice, as well as an applied research project designed based on their interests.
Graduates of this concentration will have a deep understanding of the issues and methods of applied philosophy, and advanced skills in using critical thinking to improve systems and processes in whatever field they pursue. The degree will prepare them for continued graduate or professional training, and/or for leadership roles in their workplace.
Soaring Scholar Accelerated BA-MA Philosophy Program
Undergraduate students interested in the program's accelerated option should visit the catalog page for the BA Philosophy for more information.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 15 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Internship | 3 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 33 | |
Admission Requirements
All applicants must submit to the Graduate Admissions Office:
- A graduate application with application fee
- TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores, if an international student
- Two recent letters of recommendation from those familiar with the applicant’s academic work or lifelong learning, which speak to applicant's ability to complete graduate level education. Discursive letters from previous professors preferred.
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Personal statement, which should address why you have decided to pursue a MA in Applied Philosophy. The personal statement should be between 2-4 double spaced pages (500-1000 words).
- Writing sample. The writing sample should be a substantial, polished, persuasive paper that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to do high-level undergraduate research. Writing sample requirements are waived for applicants who have already been accepted into a medical fellowship or PhD program.
Health Care Ethics Track Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| BETH 680 | Foundations of Bioethics | 3 |
| BETH 681 | Current Controversies in Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| BETH 682 | Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| BETH 683 | Race, Medicine, and Health | 3 |
| BETH 684 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
| Choose one course from the following based upon concentration: | 3 | |
PHPB 630 | Social and Structural Determinants of Health | |
BETH 636 | Philosophy of Science | |
or LAW 980 | Medicine, Bioethics and the Law | |
| Guided electives (choose 12 hours from the courses below): | 12 | |
ANTH 608 | Social and Cultural Theory | |
BETH 601 | Independent Study in Bioethics | |
BETH 685 | Internship | |
ECPY 663 | Multicultural and Diversity Issues | |
HIST 589/WGST 532 | History of American Sexualities - WR | |
LAW 826 | Family Law | |
LAW 906 | Race and the Law | |
LAW 923 | Elder Law | |
LAW 924 | Sexuality and the Law | |
LAW 944 | Poverty, Health and the Law | |
LAW 946 | Introductions to Health Law | |
LAW 947 | Mental Health and the Law | |
LAW 959 | Genetics and the Law | |
LAW 977 | Animal Law | |
LAW 978 | Disability Law | |
LAW 980 | Medicine, Bioethics and the Law | |
PAS 615 | Theories of Race and Racism | |
PHIL/PAS 616 | African-American Philosophy | |
PHIL 619 | Topics in Philosophy of Race and Racism | |
PHIL 630 | Proseminar in Applied Philosophy | |
PHIL 690 | Philosophical Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | |
PHPB 612/COMM 652 | Health Communication: Theory and Practice | |
PHPB 630 | Social and Structural Determinants of Health | |
PHPB 635 | Health Promotion Policy Development | |
POLS 668/WGST 656 | Feminist Theory | |
PSYC 656 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Psychology | |
SOC 685 | Race and Ethnicity | |
SOC 740 | Social Policy | |
SOC 675 | Social Inequality & Stratification | |
MSSW 603 | Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice Practice | |
| Culminating Graduate Experience | ||
| BETH 685 | Internship | 3 |
| Minimum Total Hours | 33 | |
Practical and Applied Philosophy Track Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Proseminar: Choose one of the following | 3 | |
PHIL 630 | Proseminar in Applied Philosophy | |
PHIL 680 | Foundations of Bioethics | |
| Applied Philosophy Electives: Choose Four of the Following | 12 | |
PHIL 518 | Feminist Philosophical Literature | |
PHIL 616 | African-American Philosophy | |
PHIL 619 | Topics in Philosophy of Race and Racism | |
PHIL 621 | Ethical Theory | |
PHIL 629 | Philosophy of Emotions | |
PHIL 631 | Aesthetics | |
PHIL 658 | Mind and Brain: Introduction to Cognitive Science | |
PHIL 638 | Critical Social Theory | |
PHIL 659 | Philosophy of Technology | |
PHIL 681 | Current Controversies in Health Care Ethics | |
PHIL 682 | Health and Social Justice | |
PHIL 683 | Race, Medicine, and Health | |
PHIL 684 | Clinical Ethics | |
PHIL 690 | Philosophical Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | |
| Topical Electives | 12 | |
| Applied Philosophy Fieldwork | 3 | |
PHIL 602 | Independent Study | |
| Culminating Graduate Experience: Choose one of the Following | 3 | |
PHIL 685 | Internship | |
PHIL 691 | Capstone in Diversity Literacy | |
PHIL 695 | Culminating Research Project | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 33 | |
Juris Doctor (JD) and Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Philosophy with a concentration in Health Care Ethics
Unit(s): Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and College of Arts & Sciences
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Program Page / College of Arts & Sciences Program Page
Academic Plan Code(s): LAW_JD and APHIMA_HCE
On this page
Program Overview
Admission
Program of Study
Contacts
Program Overview
The JD-MA in Applied Philosophy with a concentration in Health Care Ethics offers a coordinated pathway for students interested in how ethical reasoning shapes legal decisions in health care, public policy, and related professional environments. The program combines the analytical foundations of legal study with graduate coursework in ethical theory, applied bioethics, and case‑based analysis. Through this interdisciplinary approach, students are prepared to address complex issues that arise in health care law, clinical ethics consultation, bioethical policy development, and emerging health‑care technologies. Graduates pursue careers in health care law, compliance, hospital administration, public policy, bioethics consultation, research-ethics oversight, and nonprofit advocacy.
Students generally complete the full first‑year JD curriculum before beginning MA coursework. After the first year, MA classes may be taken at any point in the remaining years, allowing students to customize their sequence of study and complete both degrees in approximately three (3) to four (4) years. Students work with advisors in both programs to ensure their course of study meets all degree requirements and aligns with their academic and professional goals.
The dual degree requires a minimum of 102 credit hours, and students must satisfy all degree requirements for both programs, which may be fulfilled as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Dual Degree Requirements | Hours | |
| Law Coursework | ||
| First Year Law School Curriculum (L1) | 30 | |
| Upper-Level Law School Health Care Ethics Dual Degree Core: | 3 | |
LAW 980 | Medicine, Bioethics and the Law 1 | |
| Upper-Level Law School Courses that do NOT count toward the MA Degree | 39 | |
| Upper-Level Law School Courses that count toward MA Guided Electives (select 9 hours from the courses below): | 9 | |
LAW 906 | Race and the Law | |
LAW 923 | Elder Law | |
LAW 924 | Sexuality and the Law | |
LAW 944 | Poverty, Health and the Law | |
LAW 946 | Introductions to Health Law | |
LAW 947 | Mental Health and the Law | |
LAW 959 | Genetics and the Law | |
LAW 977 | Animal Law | |
LAW 978 | Disability Law | |
| Law Coursework Subtotal 2 | 81 | |
| MA Coursework | ||
| BETH Core Courses NOT applied to the JD | 6 | |
| BETH Core Courses applied to the JD | 9 | |
| Guided Electives Not Fulfilled by LAW Courses 3 | 3 | |
| Culminating Graduate Experience | 3 | |
BETH 685 | Internship 4 | |
| MA Coursework Subtotal 5 | 21 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 102 | |
- 1
All JD-MA dual degree students must take LAW 980.
- 2
Students may apply up to nine (9) credit hours from the MA program toward the JD degree. Students must be admitted to the Brandeis School of Law before completing MA coursework they intend to apply to the JD. For additional information, see §6.3 “Dual Degree Programs” in the Brandeis School of Law Student Handbook.
- 3
Students must complete at least three (3) credit hours in a guided elective with a subject prefix other than LAW.
- 4
With approval from MA advisor, experiential course in LAW may count as Culminating Graduate Experience in MA (replacing BETH 685).
- 5
Students complete LAW 980 and up to nine (9) additional LAW courses designated as guided electives in the MA in Applied Philosophy with a concentration in Health Care Ethics degree requirements.
Admission
Admission to the dual degree program requires acceptance into both the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law and the MA in Applied Philosophy program in the College of Arts & Sciences. Students are responsible for tuition charged by each academic unit and are subject to the academic policies of each unit while enrolled in the respective degree programs.
Students must be admitted to the Brandeis School of Law before completing any MA coursework they intend to apply toward the JD degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to apply to the MA program before completing 45 hours of JD coursework.
Prospective students should contact the Brandeis School of Law Office of Admissions for additional information. Current JD students interested in the dual degree should consult the Brandeis School of Law Associate Dean of Academic Affairs.
Program of Study
Students must complete all degree requirements specified in the academic catalogs for both the JD and MA in Applied Philosophy with a concentration in Health Care Ethics programs to be awarded the dual degree. Students should contact the Brandeis School of Law Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Department of Philosophy for detailed guidance on their individual course plan. The table below outlines a potential program of study for the JD-MA dual degree to graduate in three (3) years. Students may also complete the program in four (4) years, which will not require summer coursework.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| First Year Law Curriculum | 15 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| First Year Law Curriculum | 15 | |
| Student Applies to MA in Applied Philosophy with a Concentration in Healthcare Ethics program | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| LAW Courses | 3 | |
| BETH Courses | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAW Courses | 9 | |
| BETH Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAW Courses | 9 | |
| BETH Courses | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| LAW Courses | 3 | |
| BETH Courses | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| LAW Courses | 12 | |
| BETH Courses | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| LAW Courses | 15 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 102 | |