Bioethics and Humanities

Undergraduate Program

Adviser
A204 Health Sciences Building
Box 357120
(206) 543-5145
bhinfo@uw.edu

The Department of Bioethics and Humanities offers the following programs of study:

• A minor in bioethics and humanities

Minor

Minor Requirements: 25 credits, as follows:

1. One of the following core courses: B H 411, B H 420, B H 456, B H 474/PHIL 411, or PHIL 242.
2. One of the following core courses: B H 401, B H 481, or B H 485.
3. Electives from an approved list to reach 25 credits. Core courses (listed in items 1 and 2, above) may be used as electives if they are not counted toward the core requirements. If a B H course is cross-listed with another department's course, the course may be counted toward the B H-course minimum even if taken under the other department's prefix.
4. Minimum 15 credits of bioethics and humanities courses.
5. Minimum 2.0 grade in courses presented for the minor.

Graduate Program

Graduate Program Advisor
(206) 221-6548
gradprog@uw.edu

The department offers a two-year Master of Arts in bioethics, which provides students the foundational knowledge, skills, and experience to enrich their careers and broaden their competency in bioethics. The program offers training in research and clinical aspects of bioethics as well as empirical and normative methods of analysis.

Students have the opportunity to study with diverse and well-respected faculty from the University of Washington, the Treuman Katz Pediatric Bioethics Center, and the Seattle Veteran's Health Administration. The program helps prepar students to teach, publish, and conduct research that incorporates bioethics analysis.

Application and Admission

Qualified candidates include:

1. Practicing clinicians, biomedical scientists, health lawyers, post-doctoral fellows, and physicians accepted into a UW clinical fellowship program or the Treuman Katz Pediatric Bioethics Fellowship program.
2. Students currently enrolled in a professional degree program at the University of Washington (i.e. Law, Nursing, or Medicine).

Candidates should possess strong writing, critical thinking, and verbal communication skills. GRE scores are not required. Application due date is March 1.

Degree Requirements

40 credits, as follows:

1. Ethical theory (10 credits)
2. Empirical research methods (6 credits)
3. Clinical ethics (6 credits)
4. Research ethics (3 credits)
5. Approved electives (6 credits)
6. Practicum (3 credits)
7. Master's project (6 credits)

Students are encouraged to take additional electives based on interest and area of specialty, with guidance from their faculty mentor(s).

Opportunities for in-depth study on a topic of interest are available through elective courses, mentored research, and practicum experiences.