phd bioethics canada

School of Graduate Studies

Program overview.

The  Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Bioethics is offered by the Department of Public Health Sciences in collaboration with the Joint Centre for Bioethics. This professional master’s program is designed for health practitioners, researchers, and administrators.

The goal of the program is to develop students’ knowledge and skill competencies in bioethics education, research, and practice in order to strengthen ethics capacity in health organizations. The majority of MHSc graduates use their training to enhance their existing clinical/research/administrative role, for example through participating as a chair/co-chair of an ethics committee, a research ethics board member, or a contributor to bioethics education and scholarship. Some MHSc graduates pursue the role of a practising health-care ethicist in a health-care organization by completing a formal practice-based training program (for example, a fellowship) in clinical/organizational ethics.

The MHSc in Bioethics is conducted in a modular format and has no thesis requirement, allowing high-achieving professionals to earn a master’s degree without interrupting their careers. Students are exposed to the breadth of clinical, organizational, and research ethics issues facing our health system today, with a strong emphasis on interprofessional exchange and practical experience informed by theory (including a practicum component).

Students interested in an interdisciplinary research program may wish to consider the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics .

Quick Facts

Master of health science.

Admissions have been administratively suspended for 2023-24 intake.

Program Description

The MHSc in Bioethics is a two-year, course-based program with no thesis requirement. It is conducted in modular format to allow high-achieving professionals to earn a master's degree without interrupting their careers. The program's interactive, problem-based learning approach provides students with knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of health, health care, and health research contexts. Expert faculty and guest lecturers help students bring theory and practice together to address real-world ethical challenges. Students interested in a research-stream program should consider the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Dalla Lana School’s additional admission requirements stated below.

Normally, an appropriate bachelor's degree and a recognized degree in one of the health sciences (e.g., MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, BSW) or equivalent with a minimum mid-B average in the final year. Applicants from other disciplines are considered on an individual basis.

The program favours individuals with outstanding academic credentials and demonstrated evidence of scholarly ability and personal maturity.

Potential that the applicant will provide significant bioethics leadership in his or her home institution or local community upon completion of the MHSc in Bioethics.

Program Requirements

This course-based program is offered in modular format in 24 two-day Thursday/Friday blocks from September to April, normally over two years; certain international students may complete all coursework in one academic year. The program does not include a distance-learning option.

A major paper of publishable quality on a topic of the student's choice.

Students must complete 8.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) , including a 1.0 FCE practicum as outlined below.

Courses as outlined below.

Program Length

5 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W)

3 years full-time

Required Courses

Courses are restricted to students officially enrolled in the MHSc in Bioethics and the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics, except where noted.

CHL3001Y Core Topics in Bioethics

CHL3003Y Empirical Approaches in Bioethics

CHL3005H Legal Approaches to Bioethics

HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics

PHL2146Y Topics in Bioethics

CHL3002Y Teaching Bioethics

CHL3004Y Ethics and Health Institutions

CHL3006H Writing in Bioethics

CHL3008Y 0 Applied Learning in Bioethics (practicum)

CHL3051H Research Ethics

CHL3052H 0 Practical Bioethics (capstone course)

0 Course that may continue over a program. The course is graded when completed.

Effective September 1, 2024.

The MHSc in Bioethics is a two-year, course-based, professional master's degree program. It is designed with a hybrid delivery model (i.e., both in-person and online learning components) and a modular format (i.e., courses offered every two to three weeks on specified days) to allow high-achieving professionals to earn a master's degree without interrupting their careers.

Students are expected to participate in in-person residencies on campus (normally a duration of five days) in each academic session. The in-person residencies are designed for immersive and social learning activities (e.g., developing and practising skills in applied bioethics) and for the in-person component of hybrid MHSc courses. Required core MHSc courses are designed as hybrid (i.e., roughly one-third of the course conducted in person and two-thirds online) or online courses with both synchronous and asynchronous elements. Most electives are also delivered using a hybrid or online modality.

The program's interactive, problem-based learning approach provides students with knowledge and skills that can be applied to a variety of health, health care, and health research contexts. Interaction with expert faculty and guest speakers, a practicum experience, and an independent capstone project in applied bioethics will help students bring theory and practice together to address real-world bioethics challenges. (Note: students interested in a research-stream program should consider the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics .)

Normally, an appropriate bachelor's degree, with a minimum B+ average in the final year, and a recognized professional degree in one of the health disciplines (e.g., MD, BScN, BScOT, BScPT, BSW) or equivalent. Applicants from other disciplines are considered on an individual basis.

At least three years of relevant full-time professional work experience. Applicants with less experience may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The program favours individuals with outstanding academic credentials, demonstrated evidence of scholarly ability and personal maturity, and potential for significant bioethics leadership in the applicant's home institution, discipline, or local community upon completion of the MHSc in Bioethics.

On-campus attendance at a weeklong, in-person residency each academic session (Fall, Winter, and Summer in Year 1; Fall and Winter in Year 2).

Students must successfully complete a total of 7.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

CHL3011H Theoretical Foundations of Bioethics I * (0.5 FCE)

CHL3012H Theoretical Foundations of Bioethics II * (0.5 FCE)

CHL3001H Contemporary Issues in Bioethics * (0.5 FCE)

CHL3003H Empirical Approaches in Bioethics * (0.5 FCE)

CHL3005H Legal Approaches to Bioethics * (0.5 FCE)

CHL3050H 0 Professional Skills in Applied Bioethics Practice ** (0.5 FCE; Credit/No Credit)

CHL3008Y 0 Practicum in Bioethics (1.0 FCE)

CHL3052Y 0 Capstone Project in Applied Bioethics (1.0 FCE)

Elective courses (2.0 FCEs).

* Hybrid course: 8 hours during residency week plus 16 hours online.

** In-person course: all contact hours during residency weeks.

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Dalhousie University

Department of bioethics.

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A wide range of options

Ma or phd in philosophy or interdisciplinary phd.

Dalhousie University does not offer any degree programs or formal concentrations in bioethics. However, it is possible to pursue an MA or PhD in philosophy with an informal specialization in bioethics. It is also possible to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD drawing on such disciplines such as philosophy, law, social anthropology, medicine or any of the health professions.

Department of Philosophy - MA and PhD

The Department of Philosophy regularly offers graduate courses in bioethics that may be taken as part of a graduate degree in philosophy or as part of another graduate program. The department's faculty has extensive experience supervising both master’s and doctoral theses.

Faculty of Graduate Studies - Interdisciplinary PhD

Interdisciplinary work in bioethics at Dalhousie is approached on a highly individualized basis. Each program of study will be unique and must be negotiated with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and prospective faculty supervisors.

Health Law Institute - LLM

The Health Law Institute offers several courses in health law and policy, which may form part of an informal specialization in the Master of Laws degree or part of an interdisciplinary graduate degree. Several of these courses include substantial attention to issues at the intersection of law and bioethics.

Graduate courses

Occasionally, individual graduate classes are offered by the Department of Bioethics. In the past, these have included classes about research ethics, theories and methods in health care ethics, ethics in long-term care and bioethics literature. Please consult the academic calendar for more information.

Department of Bioethics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University 5849 University Avenue, Room C-315, CRC Building PO Box 15000 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2 1.902.494.3801

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Canadian Bioethics Society Société canadienne de bioéthique

Strengthening interdisciplinary and inter-professional networks to pursue excellence in bioethics education, research and policy.

Coming Soon:  A new look for the CBS-SCB!

We're excit ed to share it with you, so please stay tuned for details. The countdown is on! .

Book Promotion Opportunity for CBS-SCB members!

Have you published a book recently? Share your work with the international bioethics community!

We invite all CBS members to bring your ethics-related books to  the ICCEC-CBS 2024 joint annual conference . We will display your book at the CBS table during the conference, along with a QR code to your publishing site so participants can order copies. We also ask that you bring a few copies of your book to donate as draw prizes for our members during our in-person Annual Business Meeting.

Any ethics-related books that have been published since our last in-person CBS-SCB annual conference in Banff, in May 2019, will be accepted. 

If you would like to participate in this opportunity, please contact us at  [email protected]  and let us know:

The title, author(s) and publication date of your book;

If you are able to donate any books for member prizes and, if so, how many; and

The URL to your book’s purchasing page.

We will also accept books from our members who are unable to attend the conference in-person, as long as you are able to arrange transport for your books to the event.

We look forward to reading your work!

Meet us in Montréal this month!

Join us for the return of the CBS-SCB Conference

in partnership with ICCEC

May 29 - 31, 2024 in Montréal

(virtual options also available)

Click here for more information and registration, and we'll see you there!

Calling all CBS-SCB Members: Want to be m ore involved?

By giving your time to us as a volunteer, you will also benefit yourself and your fellow members by helping to make us better.

We currently have opportunities to work with our Communications team.

If you're interested, please s end us an email !

National Health Ethics Week - November 3-9, 2024

Stay tuned for details!

Conversations in Canadian Bioethics Event Recordings

Missed one of our Conversations in Canadian Bioethics presentations? You'll find recordings of them here .

Jobs in Bioethics

Click here to see job postings in bioethics. If you have a position you would like us to post here for you, drop us a line at [email protected] .

CBS-SCB Student Community

B ecoming a student member of the Canadian Bioethics Society-Société canadienne de bioéthique is a great way to meet like-minded people including professionals, academics and students interested in bioethics from a wide range of home disciplines.

Never miss an update - subscribe to the CBS-SCB mailing list today to receive our newsletters and other announcements!

CBS-SCB Supporting OrganizationS

Learn more about our Supporting Organizations here !

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PhD Public Health Sciences

 OUR PhD PROGRAM 2023

The Department of Public Health Sciences has broadened its PhD program to include all areas of research expertise represented in our faculty including, but not limited to, epidemiology, biostatistics, qualitative, mixed- and community-based methods, the use of health and public-health services, program evaluation, clinical epidemiology, health equity, global health, indigenous health, and health economics.

Our programs place an emphasis on close faculty-student relations and a philosophy that puts the student first. Through coursework, thesis opportunities, and involvement in the academic life of our department, our students graduate with an in-depth understanding of public health research. Our graduates are able to function as independent investigators in academic, health-research institutes and health-research government agencies, or as emerging public-health leaders in government or the private sector.

In the coming year, our PhD program in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University has a number of exciting opportunities for qualified applicants. The following members of our department have each expressed an interest in supervising a new PhD student:  

Dr. Susan Bartels is a Clinician-Scientist in the Department of Emergency Medicine with a cross appointment to Public Health Sciences. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of women and children affected by humanitarian crises around the globe. Dr. Bartels is interested in the social determinants of health and uses innovative research methods to provide evidence intended to inform policy and programming that will improve health outcomes and mitigate the risks of natural disasters, armed conflict and forced displacement.  

Dr. Susan Brogly is an epidemiologist with research interests in the area of perinatal epidemiology, surgical outcomes, and advanced epidemiologic methods. Dr. Brogly used both population-based administrative health care data (ICES, Medicaid) and primary data collection in her studies.  

Dr. Steven Brooks is a Clinician-Scientist and Emergency Physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine who conducts research in the areas of cardiac arrest and resuscitation. Dr. Brooks may have availability for a PhD student willing to work with the Canadian COVID-19 Emergency Department Rapid Response Network. This is a developing registry funded by CIHR and the Ontario government, tracking patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 who attend one of 50 EDs in the country.

Dr. Bingshu Chen is a biostatistician with an interest in survival analysis and generalized linear models. He has developed biomarker threshold models to predict treatment benefit in cancer clinical trials. His other research interests include analysis of health economic data, statistics computing and missing data problems.  

Dr. Anne Duffy is a Clinician-Scientist. She has longitudinal data spanning two decades in high-risk offspring of bipolar parents and has up to two years of psychosocial, clinical and familial data from a representative cohort of undergraduate university students to understand mental health and academic outcomes. These databases provide several opportunities that would make for an interesting thesis including using joint modelling, multi-state and survival analysis. Further information on Dr. Duffy’s research can be found at: https://www.mdco.ca/research/ .

Dr. Jennifer Flemming is a Clinician-Scientist who studies the link between cirrhosis and biliary tract cancer and the burden of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in Ontario. She uses large population-based databases housed at ICES. Her goal is to improve management strategies for Canadians with liver disease.

Dr. Ana Johnson is a health economist who conducts economic evaluations of health care programs, cost-effectiveness analyses, assessments of resource allocations and use of health technologies.

Dr. Will King is a molecular epidemiologist whose research program seeks to identify modifiable risk factors for cancer. Dr. King studies intermediate markers of cancer risk and genetic susceptibility to better understand environment-cancer relationships.

Dr. Diane Lougheed is a Clinician-Scientist with a research interest in asthma and the development of better information technologies to improve the care of patients with asthma. Dr. Lougheed conducts health services and outcomes research and guideline implementation research in asthma and often uses the ICES data holdings to conduct her work.

Dr. Zihang Lu is a Biostatistician. His research focuses on developing and applying statistical and machine learning methods to answer clinical and epidemiological research questions. His current research interests are in longitudinal data, survival data and high-dimensional data modeling. He is also interested in Bayesian statistics, causal inference and data fusion.

Dr. Maria Ospina is an associate professor with the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University, and a clinical epidemiologist, and population-health researcher in the areas of perinatal and early childhood health. Her research program (DMETRE) uses a life-course approach and a variety of epidemiological methods (observational studies, systematic reviews, GIS analysis, mixed-methods designs), to assess the developmental origins of health inequalities, and how critical periods of human development such as pregnancy and the first 1,000 days of life influence future health.

Dr. Paul Peng is a is a biostatistician with research interests in survival analysis with a focus on cure models, longitudinal and panel data modeling, statistical computation methods for big data, biostatistical methods for epidemiological and clinical trial research.

Dr. William Pickett is in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at Brock University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at Queen’s University, and an Adjunct Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan. He is a trained epidemiologist whose research interests include: injury and violence prevention; injury and illness in rural and farm populations; and health and its social determinants in adolescent populations, with a primary focus on pediatric violence and injury. Using public health surveillance, analytical and experimental epidemiology, and mixed methods approaches, this work has provided critical insight for policy/health promotion initiatives in Canada, the US and Europe.

Dr. Amrita Roy is a family physician and MD-PhD clinician-scientist in the Departments of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Queen’s. A settler ally with a research focus in Indigenous health, Dr. Roy works in close collaboration with Indigenous peoples in community-engaged research centred on the principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP). Apart from Indigenous health, Dr. Roy’s other areas of research interest include immigrant and refugee health, women’s health, youth health, and global health. Methodologically, Dr. Roy has expertise in quantitative, qualitative, mixed- and multiple-methods approaches to health research, in addition to community-based and participatory research approaches.  Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Roy:  Opportunity for a PhD student starting fall 2023 in a CIHR-funded Indigenous health research project on sleep and mental health, in partnership with Akwesasne Mohawk Nation .

Dr. Sahar Saeed is an epidemiologist and health-services researcher. Dr. Saeed primarily investigates retention and access to health care among populations including persons living with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and chronic liver disease. She uses primary data collection, population-based administrative health-care data and novel surveillance tools (GPS) to answer her research questions. For more information on her research interest, visit her website at Epidemiologist | Sahar Saeed .   Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Saeed and Dr. Stoner

Dr. Bradley Stoner is Professor and Head, Department of Public Health Sciences and Professor of Medicine at Queen’s University. An infectious disease physician and medical anthropologist, Dr. Stoner’s research focuses on the epidemiology, clinical care, control and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) including HIV. Fall 2023 PhD opportunity with Dr. Saeed and Dr. Stoner

Dr. Wei Tu  is a biostatistician with research interests in data science and its application in health care. His research focuses on translating different sources of high-dimensional data into informed clinical decision-making. The topics he is working on include personalized medicine, data privacy and causal inference.  

Dr. Maria Velez is a Clinician-Scientist with research interests in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology. Her current research program focuses on infertility and pregnancy outcomes, and the reproductive health of young women with cancer. She uses population-based cohort studies including databases housed at ICES.  

Dr. Paul Villeneuve is an environmental and occupational epidemiologist. His research program is focused on quantifying the health effects from exposure to outdoor air pollution, noise, low levels of radiation, as well as the benefits of urban greenness and walkability.  In addition to carrying out spatiotemporal exposure studies in Canada and Grenada (West Indies), he also uses large population-based databases housed in Statistics Canada’s Research Data Centers, and ICES.

If you have a demonstrable interest in the work of one or more of these professors we encourage you to reach out to them to discuss the possibility of supervision.

Our PhD students are guaranteed minimum funding of $21K per year for four years with further income possibilities coming from Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, or Research Fellowships. Many of our students receive national or provincial scholarships.

For further information about our PhD Program, you can contact the Program Director, Dr. Ian Janssen at [email protected]    or the Program Assistant, Ms. Sue Preston at [email protected] .  Note that all applicants must meet the entry requirements to the program:  https://phs.queensu.ca/programs-courses/degree-programs/phd-public-health-sciences/how-apply  

Student Stories

Program Contacts

• Program Director  Dr. Ian Janssen [email protected]
• Graduate Assistant Sue Preston [email protected]  | 613-533-2901

Affiliated Research Groups

• Canadian Cancer Trials Group
• Centre for Health Services and Policy Research 
• Emergency Medicine & Injury Research Group
• Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute
• Queen's - ICES Health Services Research 
• Centre for Studies in Primary Care
• Centre for Obesity and Research Education 
• Practice and Research on Nursing (PRN) Group
• KFL &A Public Health

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Bioethics: introduction, lead faculty of the collaborative specialization.

Public Health

Participating Degree Programs

Health Administration — MHSc Health Policy, Management and Evaluation — MSc, PhD Law — LLM, SJD Medical Science — MSc, PhD Nursing Science — MN, PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences — MSc, PhD Philosophy — MA, PhD Public Health Sciences — MPH, MSc, PhD Rehabilitation Science — MSc, PhD Religion — MA, PhD Social Work — PhD Women and Gender Studies — MA

The graduate units listed above participate in the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics at the master's and doctoral levels.

Applicants with an interest in bioethics register in one of the graduate units associated with the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements of the participating home graduate unit and the collaborative specialization, students will receive the notation “Completed Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics" on their transcript.

Contact and Address

Web: jcb.utoronto.ca Email: [email protected] Telephone: (416) 978-1906 Fax: (416) 978-1911

Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics Joint Centre for Bioethics (JCB) University of Toronto Suite 754, 155 College Street Toronto, Ontario M5T 1P8 Canada

Bioethics: Master's Level

Admission requirements.

Applicants to the collaborative specialization must apply to and be admitted to both the collaborative specialization and a graduate degree program in one of the collaborating graduate units.

Students interested in the master's programs apply to both the collaborating graduate unit and the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics. Applications for admission to the collaborative specialization are considered only after admission to the collaborating graduate unit. If a student applies to more than one unit, a copy of each file must be submitted to the collaborative specialization at the contact above.

Visit the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics website for the application form and details about supporting documentation. The application must be accompanied by:

application form

an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV)

up-to-date copies of all transcripts

a one-page letter of intent

two letters of reference.

Where a thesis is required, an email or note from the proposed supervisor indicating willingness to supervise the student should be submitted to the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics at the contact above. The JCB website lists faculty and bioethicists who are available for advice relating to research proposals.

Specialization Requirements

Students will be expected to meet the requirements of the home graduate unit as well as those of the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics. Students should check with their home graduate program whether the collaborative specialization course requirements may be counted towards the degree.

Students must complete:

SRM3333Y, a credit/no credit graduate seminar series in bioethics.

PHL2145H, a review of the philosophical foundations of bioethics. Students who have completed an equivalent graduate course in philosophical bioethics may apply to the Program Director to have this requirement waived.

Bioethics-related 0.5 full-course equivalent (FCE), normally from the suggested list below.

Master's programs require either a thesis or equivalent research project as determined by the home unit. The thesis will be supervised by a thesis committee comprising a supervisor and two other members, at least one of whom is identified as an affiliated Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics faculty member. The thesis is evaluated according to the procedures and standards of the home graduate unit and must fall within the broad area of bioethics. Non-thesis projects require supervision; requirements for such projects will be determined by the home unit. Students in coursework-only degree programs must complete additional coursework in approved bioethics electives. For the Master of Laws (LLM) coursework-only option, 1.0 FCE in additional courses in bioethics are required.

Bioethics: Doctoral Level

Students interested in the doctoral programs apply to both the collaborating graduate unit and the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics. Applications for admission to the collaborative specialization are considered only after admission to the collaborating graduate unit. If a student applies to more than one unit, a copy of each file must be submitted to the collaborative specialization at the contact above.

two letters of reference

For the doctoral thesis, an email or note from the proposed supervisor indicating willingness to supervise the student should be submitted to the Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics at the contact above. The JCB website lists faculty and bioethicists who are available for advice relating to research proposals.

SRD4444Y, a credit/no credit graduate seminar series in bioethics.

PHL2145H, a review of the philosophical foundations of bioethics. Students who have completed an equivalent graduate course in philosophical bioethics may apply to the collaborative specialization director to have this requirement waived.

All doctoral candidates must complete a thesis. The thesis will be supervised by a thesis committee comprising a supervisor and normally two other members, at least one of whom is identified as an affiliated Collaborative Specialization in Bioethics faculty member. The thesis is evaluated according to the procedures and standards of the home graduate unit and must fall within the broad area of bioethics.

Bioethics: Courses

Please note that these courses are not offered every year. Consult each unit's website for details.

Health Policy, Management and Evaluation

Participation in LAW courses is at the discretion of the Faculty of Law upon presentation, to the Faculty of Law Records Office, of a signed permission form from the student's home graduate unit. Note that preference is given to JD students and that many LAW courses are full by the end of the Faculty of Law add/drop period.

Nursing Science

Public health sciences, social work.

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PhD Program

• Bioethics Certificate Program
• Master of Bioethics
• Postdoctoral Fellowships
• Undergraduate Minor
• Clinical Ethics Education
• Online Learning
• Genomics and Society Mentorship Program (GSMP)

The PhD in Bioethics and Health Policy Program is taught by leading experts in the fields of bioethics and health policy, who provide unparalleled training, education and mentoring to the next generation of bioethics scholars . This PhD program is unique in the opportunities it affords students to conduct innovative original scholarship in a premier international research institution, focused specifically on public health ethics and bioethics and health policy.

Scholarly Life at the Berman Institute

Students in the Bioethics PhD program constitute a vital and important part of the academic community at the Berman Institute of Bioethics. Students are encouraged to participate fully in a wide range of scholarly, teaching and public engagement activities. These include participating in the semi-annual ‘research retreats’ at which faculty, fellows, and students present works-in-progress, and attending the Berman Institute’s bi-monthly seminar series at which prominent scholars from other institutions lecture on emerging research interests.

The PhD program in bioethics and health policy is a concentration within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM), offered in collaboration with the Berman Institute of Bioethics. For complete information, including admissions requirements, visit the Department of HPM’s PhD Concentration in Bioethics & Health Policy website .

The PhD program in Bioethics and Health Policy is distinguished from other bioethics doctoral programs in two ways:

The PhD program focuses on bioethics as it relates to moral questions in public health and health policy (rather than, for example, in clinical decision-making or bedside dilemmas).

• Students and faculty in this concentration study and conduct independent research on ethical issues in public health practice, research, and policy such as: ethics and emergency preparedness, domestic and international research ethics, genetic screening policy, ethics and obesity prevention, ethics and infectious diseases, resource allocation and social justice.

The PhD program provides rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative empirical research methods.

• By the end of their PhD training, students are prepared to provide not only normative recommendations regarding ethics and public health policy but also are equipped to function as independent researchers, conducting empirical research related to bioethics, public health and health policy.

Our PhD program focuses on bioethics in public health and health policy and provides rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative empirical research methods.

Program Alumni

Our PhD alumni go on to successful and prominent careers in the field of bioethics. Our alumni include:

Neal Dickert, MD Cardiologist, Associate Professor of Medicine, Emory University

Michael DiStefano Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Rachel Fabi Assistant Professor of Bioethics and Humanities, Upstate Medical University

Jane Forman Core Faculty, Clinician Scholars Program at the University of Michigan Medical School;Director of the Qualitative and Mixed Methods Core at the VA Ann Arbor HSR&D Center for Clinical Management Research

Krista Harrison Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco

Jessica Holzer Associate Professor in Health Sciences, University of New Haven

Summer Johnson-McGee President, Salem College

Andrea Kalfoglou Associate Professor of Public Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

JP Leider Senior fellow, University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH); founding director of the SPH Center for Public Health Systems

National Institutes of Health

Sara Chandros Hull Director, Bioethics Core,  National Human Genome Research Institute

Leila Jamal Associate Director for Cancer Genomics, Johns Hopkins/NIH Genetic Counseling Training Program

Julia Slutsman Director of Genomic Data Sharing Policy Implementation, NIH

Holly Taylor Research Bioethicist, NIH

Health Care Innovation

Lee-Lee Ellis Health Care Director, Payor Reform, Arnold Ventures

Vanessa Kuhn VP, Go-to-market Operations, Memora Health

Amy Paul Director of Professional Services, Vital Wave

Danielle Whicher Health Services Researcher and Policy Professional, Mathematica

Non-Profit/Research

Jason Gerson Senior Program Officer, Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science program, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Carleigh Krubiner Bioethics Lead, Wellcome Trust

Christian Morales Health Policy Researcher and Bioethicist, Educational Alliance  

Medical Practice

Ingrid Burger, MD Radiologist, Chief of Ultrasound, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

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Biological Sciences

Thesis-based program, program overview.

Graduate study in Biological Sciences puts students on the front lines of discovery. Doctoral students design, conduct and analyze original research; they develop rigorous expertise in everything from foundational theory and the study of evolution to cutting-edge research methodologies as they investigate a broad range of biological problems ranging from the molecular level to the biosphere. Degrees are offered in four integrated areas: biochemistry; ecology and evolutionary biology; integrative cell biology; and microbiology. The program takes four to five years, with funding available through sources such as scholarships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and supervisor's research grants.

Completing this program

Research Seminar: Related to supervisor interest, and may include biochemistry, cell biology, ecology and evolutionary biology or microbiology.

Candidacy: Students will prepare a research proposal or essay, followed by an oral exam in their field of research expertise.

Additional Courses: Topics may cover biology of laboratory animals, theory and lab methods, statistical methods, recent advances and Darwin.

Thesis:  Students will propose, write and successfully defend a research thesis.

Specializations

• Biochemistry
• Biophysical Chemistry
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Environmental Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Molecular Microbiology
• Structural Biology
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Energy and Environmental Systems

Professor, biologist, teacher, consultant, scientist (agricultural/forestry breeding, process development, environmental), data analyst, biotechnologist, genetic counsellor, manager (lab, project, clinic, territory, resource), science writer, research technician, bioscience/biotechnology business.

A PhD in biological sciences is usually considered a final degree.

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Minimum of two courses, with additional seminar courses

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment.

Four years full-time; six years maximum

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

See the Graduate Calendar for information on  fees and fee regulations,  and for information on  awards and financial assistance .

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Arshad Ayyaz

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Gordon Chua

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Constance Finney

Admission requirements

A minimum of 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

Completion of a Master of Science program recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Exceptional students may apply to a PhD program without a Master of Science recognized by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Work samples

A concise statement outlining the applicant's research interests and reasons for wishing to attend the University of Calgary

Reference letters

Three academic reference letters along with the required reference form.

Test scores

English language proficiency.

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL ibt)  score of 105.
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)  score of 7.5 (minimum of 6.0 in each section)
• Pearson Test of English (PTE)   score of 75, or higher (Academic version).
• Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL)  score of 70 (minimum 70 in each section)  
• Academic Communication Certificate (ACC)  score of A- in each course.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency  minimum score of 200.
• Duolingo English Test  and obtaining a minimum score of 145* (with no sub-score below 125*).

For admission on September 1

• Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by June 1 
• International (students with international transcripts)- apply by May 1 

For admission on January 1

• Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by Oct. 1 
• International (students with international transcripts)- apply by Sept. 1

For admission on May 1

• Canadian and permanent resident (students with Canadian or U.S. transcripts)- apply by March 1 
• International (students with international transcripts)- apply by Jan. 1

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Have you made your final decision and you’re ready to apply?

Learn more about this program, department of biological sciences.

Biological Sciences Building 186 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, ABT2N 1N4 403-220-6623

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4

Visit the Faculty of Science website

Related programs

If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.

Thesis-based MSc

Anthropology

Thesis-based MA

Thesis-based PhD

Archaeology

Biochemistry and molecular biology, medical science, microbiology and infectious disease, veterinary medicine, curious about the university of calgary.

Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.

Announcements

Symposium: maid in canada: a sober second look - sept 27-28, 2024.

In the eight years since Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) became legal in Canada, Canada has become one of the most liberal MAiD regimes in the world. The Centre for Bioethics at Memorial University is hosting an international symposium to consider what has been happening in this space, how we as a country got to where we are in this regard, and what if anything we should be doing differently moving forward. We welcome abstracts on any aspect of this topic by June 7 th , 2024 .

Support the Canadian Journal of Bioethics – Lyrasis/OACIP Funding campaign

Current issue.

Guest Editors: Jean-Christophe Bélisle-Pipon & Caroline Favron-Godbout

Issue Editors: Bryn Williams-Jones, Aliya Affdal, Hazar Haidar

Cover Art: Han Han Li

Perspectives

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"Response to" Commentaries

The Canadian Journal of Bioethics is a peer-reviewed, bilingual ( French and English ), international, open access academic journal that publishes theoretical, conceptual and empirical research in bioethics. The aim of the journal is to provide a space for the publication of high quality and thought provoking bioethics scholarship of diverse forms.

ISSN: 2561-4665 ; Sherpa-Romeo DOI:  10.7202/bioethics

Learn more about the journal

Formerly published as BioéthiqueOnline ( archives 2012-2017 ), BO remains the social media arm of the journal: Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn .

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The editors follow the recommendations outlined in the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors . Specifically, the editors will work to ensure the highest ethical standards of publication, including: the identification and management of conflicts of interest (for editors and for authors), the fair evaluation of manuscripts, and the publication of manuscripts that meet the journal’s standards of excellence.

 The Canadian Journal of Bioethics (ISSN: 2561-4665) is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Publisher: Bioethics Program , École de santé publique de l'Université de Montréal (ESPUM)

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Master's Specialization in Bioethics

Specialized training for MA, MSc or LLM students in Experimental Medicine, Family Medicine, Religious Studies, Law, Human Genetics and Philosophy.  

DEGREE: Determined by base program

PROGRAM TYPE: Specialization with thesis for MA, MSc and LLM degrees  

DURATION: 2 years  

CREDITS: 33 credits

START TERM: Fall  

Program overview  

Leaders in health care wrestle with some of humanity's most significant concerns: ethical action, human rights, global justice, and understanding our relationship with the environment. With the Master's Degree Specialization in Bioethics , you will develop the conceptual frameworks and tools to address fundamental questions about life and the interventions by healthcare in research, policy and practice.  

Working closely with a faculty from medicine and law, you will expand your knowledge of modern research methodologies, knowledge and techniques needed to apply a bioethical analysis to your base discipline.  

The specialization combines course work, a bioethics practicum and a Master's thesis on bioethics that satisfies the requirements of the specialization and base discipline. Students graduate with a Master's degree in the designation of their base discipline (MA, MSc or LLM) with a specialization in bioethics. Students in the program are well-placed to continue in doctoral studies or as law or healthcare professionals.  

Program structure  

Degree requirements:  .

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete 33 credits in addition to the requirements of their base program.  

BIOE 680 Bioethical Theory (3 credits)  

BIOE 681 Bioethics Practicum (3 credits)  

3 credits from:  

CMPL 642 Law and Health Care (3 credits)  

RELG 571 Ethics, Medicine and Religion (3 credits)  

PHIL 643 Seminar: Medical Ethics (3 credits)  

PPHS 624 Public Health Ethics & Policy (3 credits)  

HGEN 660 Genetics and Bioethics (3 credits)  

24 credits for the M.Sc. thesis requirement:  

BIOE 690 M.Sc. Thesis Literature Survey (3 credits)  

BIOE 691 M.Sc. Thesis Research Proposal (3 credits)  

BIOE 692 M.Sc. Thesis Res Progress Rep (6 credits)  

BIOE 693 M.Sc. Thesis (12 credits)  

Please see the graduate calendar for all course descriptions.  

Admissions requirements  

Applicants must meet the admissions requirements of their base program.

Application process  

Complete the online application form www.mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply/ready and pay the associated fees.   

Transcripts  

Upload unofficial copies of your complete record of study from each university-level institution you have attended to date.  

You will be required to submit official records following an offer of admission.  

Personal statement  

In 2 to 3 pages, typed and double-spaced, outline your interest in studying bioethics at McGill in combination with the base discipline the which you are applying. Include any relevant information on your background, education, experience or involvement in the field, to demonstrate how the Master’s Specialization in Bioethics fits with your research interests and career goals.  

Consider the following in preparing your statement:  

What are your career objectives ?  

What academic or life experience have led to your interest in this program?  

What specific knowledge and skills do you hope to acquire ?  

How will this knowledge and these skills enable you to attain your career objectives ?  

What area(s) of bioethics would you like to study?  

What area(s) of interest would you like to pursue for your practicum?  

Reference letters  

Submit the contact information for two personal contacts as per the application form. McGill Admissions will contact them as ask them to provide reference letters from their institutional or corporate email accounts.  

Writing sample  

15-20 pages, typed, double-spaced.  

English-language proficiency  

Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Academic supervisor  

Applicants applying to the Bioethics option do not need to name a supervisor at the time of their application. You can choose or be assigned a supervisor after you are admitted to the program. Proceed with the online application and this requirement will be removed once you have submitted your application.  

Tuition and funding  

Tuition fees  .

The tuition fees of the program may differ depending on your student status. To estimate the cost of your education at McGill, use the graduate fees table .

Awards and funding  

Competitive funding packages in the form of awards, teaching and research assistantships are offered at the time of admission to most students to allow them to focus on their research and studies. The Quebec and Canadian governments offer several competitive graduate scholarships.  

Learn more about the awards you may be eligible for .

Department and University Information

Department of equity, ethics and policy.

Applying to Psychology PhD Programs

Why might I pursue a PhD in psychology? What do psychologists do? How can I prepare a competitive application for graduate school? What makes the University of Virginia’s program special?

If you've had these questions or others about pursuing a PhD in any field of psychology (e.g., clinical, developmental, cognitive, social) or neuroscience, this live (virtual) panel is for you! Please join several current faculty members and PhD students from the University of Virginia to learn more about graduate school in psychology and have your questions answered!

Everyone is welcome; individuals with identities historically underrepresented in psychology are particularly encouraged to attend.

Date:   Monday, April 1, 2024 from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Eastern

To register, use this link:   https://forms.office.com/r/0s9NjnXSPy   or scan the QR code in the attached advertisement.

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Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Stay up to date with the latest Ecology and Evolutionary Biology related news, stories, exclusive photos and updates from our graduate students.

University of Toronto / Faculty of Arts & Science Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Successful science combines both “curiosity-driven” and “solution-driven” research. We have chosen to coalesce around four strategic research foci: evolutionary genetics & genomics, quantitative ecology, reproductive systems biology, and a fourth in systematics, centred on EEB faculty at the Royal Ontario Museum.

Ecologists and evolutionists address the central questions of the origin, maintenance and organization of biodiversity.  We teach, study and consult on all aspects of earth’s organismal diversity, from genome to ecosystem, encompassing the range of plant, animal and microbial species. In EEB we are charged with understanding this diversity, at a time of global change, habitat loss, and the emergence of novel diseases. Our research informs conservation decisions, the management of natural resources, and the management of infectious disease.

Undergraduate

Students participate in diverse learning environments. Hands-on bench & computer lab practicals, field trips, off-campus field courses, small-class discussion seminars & independent research projects.

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Graduate students pursuing a MSc or Phd degree will learn and interact with a large group of diverse students and faculty from our three campuses including the Royal Ontario Museum and Government affiliations.

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Photo by Patrick Moldowan

June 5, 2024 Appraisal Seminar: Cassandre Pyne

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Welcome to the Master of Health Sciences in Bioethics

Are ethical issues keeping you up at night? Do you wish you had a better understanding of today’s big bioethics challenges? Are you looking for new and better ways to address these issues and challenges in your professional practice?

Bioethics has never been more relevant than it is today.  Health systems around the globe face complex health system challenges affecting the health and well-being of individuals and populations. At the heart of these challenges are  fundamental ethical issues , which cannot be resolved simply by appeal to legal or regulatory requirements, more data, or technical solutions alone. In the health institutions and systems of today and tomorrow, the  ability to anticipate, to recognize, to assess and to address ethical issues in practice  has become an essential professional competency.

Program Description

The Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) in Bioethics is a course-based, professional Master’s degree for health and health-related professionals who are seeking to develop their bioethics knowledge and skills, ideally to strengthen bioethics capacity in their institutional or professional practice setting. This two-year program is conducted over 5 consecutive academic sessions and comprises required and elective coursework with expert faculty, a practicum experience, and a capstone project.

The MHSc in Bioethics is designed with the professional learner in mind . It has a hybrid program format, including both in-person and online learning components. In-person residency weeks (normally, 5 days in duration) are held on campus at the University of Toronto in each academic session. The residency weeks focus on immersive and social learning activities and completion of a required professional skills course. MHSc courses are conducted predominantly online with some required courses having an in-person component during the residency week. This innovative format means that students from diverse geographic locations can participate fully in the program and importantly that high-achieving professionals can complete the degree without interrupting their careers.

The MHSc curriculum comprises required coursework to lay a shared foundation for bioethics inquiry  and tailored student learning around their unique bioethics interest and learning goals  through elective coursework, the practicum experience, and their capstone project. Given an extensive network of bioethics experts and settings across Canada and globally, most students will be able to complete their practicum experience in their local context with appropriate local supervision and ongoing program mentorship. Students will complete an independent capstone project on an applied bioethics topic under supervision of an expert MHSc faculty member and with peer feedback from other students in their cohort.

The MHSc employs a cohort model fostering shared inquiry, facilitating peer mentorship, and cultivating professional relationships among students both during and after the degree . A strength of our program is the diversity of its students, who bring their experience and expertise into the learning environment. Students have shared with us over the years how much they value and benefit from the contextual, personal and professional insights of their classmates from diverse professional disciplines, different health sectors, settings and roles, and other health systems in Canada and beyond.

Who Should Apply

The MHSc in Bioethics is designed for early and mid-career professionals working in health or health-related settings. The program welcomes a diversity of personal and professional experience across the health sector in Canada and beyond. Past students have included: health practitioners, health administrators and policymakers, clinician educators/faculty, academic administrators, post-graduate clinical trainees and fellows, lawyers, regulators, journalists, and patient and family advisors.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies and must also satisfy the following minimum admission requirements:

• An appropriate undergraduate degree with a minimum B+ average in the final year and normally, a recognized professional degree in one of the health disciplines (e.g., MD, BScN, BScPT, BSW) or equivalent. Applicants from other disciplines will be considered on an individual basis.
• At least three years of relevant full-time professional work experience. Applicants with less experience may be considered in exceptional circumstances.

The program favours individuals with outstanding academic credentials, demonstrated evidence of scholarly ability and personal maturity, and a commitment to shared inquiry, collaboration, and mutual respect. Ideally, applicant will have strong institutional support to participate in the MHSc program as well as the potential for significant bioethics leadership in their home institution or local community upon completion of the degree.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

• Successful completion of a total of 7.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) , including required courses (3.0 FCE), electives (2.0 FCE), practicum experience (1.0 FCE), and capstone project (1.0 FCE)
• On-campus attendance at a weeklong, in-person residency in each academic session (Fall, Winter, and Summer in Year 1; Fall and Winter in Year 2)

PROGRAM LENGTH

• 5 academic sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S/F/W)

PROGRAM FORMAT

• Online and self-directed activities (synchronous and asynchronous)
• In-person residency weeks (normally, 5-days) at the University of Toronto in each academic session

Typical Program Progression:

**CHL 3050 is a continuing course conducted during the residency weeks

TIME COMMITMENT

• ~15 hours per week (self-directed and online activities)
• 5 days per academic session (in-person residencies)

TUITION & FEES

• For information on tuition and fees, please refer to the student account website here .

How to Apply

Applications for the MHSc in Bioethics program must be submitted through the School of Graduate Studies online application management system by January 19, 2024. The following items must be included in your online application:

• Online application form
• Current CV , which clearly identifies your professional work experience
• Statement of Intent (max. 1,000 words; approximately 2 pages single-spaced), which outlines your reasons for pursuing admission into the MHSc in Bioethics; explains how your academic and professional experience has prepared you for graduate education in bioethics; identifies your main areas of professional or scholarly interest in bioethics; and describes how you plan to put your MHSc degree to use in your career and/or institutional setting
• Three (3) Letters of Reference , of which at least one must be an academic reference attesting to your academic preparation and capacity for graduate studies and at least one must be a professional reference attesting to your skills, knowledge and character; your interpersonal strengths and professionalism; and your potential contributions to fostering bioethics capacity in your professional setting.
• Release Letter from Employer from a senior administrator in your institution on institutional letterhead confirming that you will have the necessary professional release time to complete the program and clarifying the institution’s view of how your graduate education will help strengthen bioethics capacity in your home institution
• All university academic transcripts, including all undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and degrees in progress. For more information about submitting your transcripts, please review the instructions posted here on the Dalla Lana School of Public Health webpage.

The MHSc in Bioethics is offered through the Graduate Department of Public Health Sciences in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and coordinated by the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics.

MHSc Information Sessions

Missed an information session. Don't worry! You can access the recording here

Contact us here .

• SGS Application Form
• Statement of Intent
• Letters of Reference (3)
• Release Letter from Employer
• Academic Transcripts (all)

Deadline: January 19, 2024 by 11:59pm (ET)

Submit your application here .

Books, webinars & more

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APIC and IPAC Canada Publish Ethical Infection Prevention and Control Decision-Making Framework

Toolkit offers systematic process to approach difficult issues

Arlington, Va., May 20, 2024 – APIC and IPAC Canada partnered on the creation of a new resource to help healthcare professionals work through ethical issues that arise in infection prevention and control (IPC) and assist in making complex decisions.

Published on both the APIC and IPAC Canada websites, the Ethical Infection Prevention and Control (EIPAC) Decision-Making Framework illustrates how to identify and apply relevant, ethical decision-making principles to the practice of IPC. The new toolkit outlines a step-by-step process for tackling difficult situations and provides a set of scenarios to illustrate how the framework can be applied.

“We hope the EIPAC Decision-Making Framework will help IPC teams approach difficult issues, especially when there is uncertainty on how to proceed,” said IPAC Canada President, Colette Ouellet, RN, BN, MHA, CRM, CIC. “The guide can be particularly helpful where a values conflict or moral tension exists, or where options exist that could pose a risk of harm to patients, residents, visitors, or staff.”

An example presented in the guide involves whether to cancel a nursing home resident’s 100-year birthday party due to a norovirus outbreak on the unit. The exercise shows how to identify the facts, determine the relevant values and principles, explore the options, and ultimately make a decision that demonstrates respect for the resident while also minimizing risk of disease transmission.

“This has been a great collaboration between our two organizations,” said 2024 APIC president Tania Bubb, PhD, RN, CIC, FAPIC. “The new guide is grounded in values that both APIC and IPAC Canada hold as fundamental to ethical IPC practice, and it provides a framework for ethical decision making that is systematic, fair, and transparent.”  

Developed by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre with healthcare partners in North Toronto, the EIPAC framework was adapted based on an existing ethical framework developed by the Community Ethics Network and the subsequent work of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics and Trillium Health Partners.

Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org .

Infection Prevention and Control Canada (IPAC Canada) is a professional membership association of those concerned with the prevention and control of infections across the continuum of care.  IPAC Canada supports its over 2100 members and healthcare partners through its mission of advocacy, education, networking and communication.  IPAC Canada is a smart resource for infection prevention and control.  Learn more at www.ipac-canada.org .

Media contacts: Aaron Cohen, [email protected], 301-633-6773; Liz Garman, [email protected], 202-454-2604

The University of Pittsburgh Schools of Law and Arts and Sciences offers a joint degree program in law and bioethics. Graduates receive a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Arts in Bioethics. 

This joint degree program was established to recognize the extensive and increasing overlap between law and bioethics. Courses prepare graduates with an interdisciplinary background in law and bioethics to address issues and situations requiring knowledge of and expertise in both. Graduates will be academically prepared for professional roles as bioethicists in health care institutions, in public policy working for government or philanthropic organizations, or in law practice, for example, giving counsel to health care institutions.

Curriculum & Requirements

The curriculum is designed to allow students maximum flexibility. Students may take the entire first-year Pitt Law curriculum intact or one bioethics course—Theoretical Foundations of Applied Ethics—instead of Criminal Law. 

Students enrolled in the joint degree program accomplish this in three to four years. The degree requires 99 credits and includes 34 credits of specifically prescribed law courses, the Bioethics and Health Law Clinical Practicum (3 credits), and 18 specifically prescribed credits in bioethics. Within the remaining 45 credits, students must satisfy the requirements for their law degree, take a course from the list of Restricted Elective courses for the bioethics degree, and take at least 3 credits in a course relevant to bioethics (either in the law school or not).

Joint degree students must be coded by the University Registrar as "primary law" for at least five semesters. During these semesters, they pay tuition at the Law School rate and enroll in at least 10 credits of law school courses. A complete listing of the requirements for graduation from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law can be found on the   Graduation Requirements page .

Writing Requirements

Completing the master's thesis requirement in a subject related to law and bioethics simultaneously fulfills the writing requirements for both degrees.

The Clinical Practice ensures that students will be comfortable in and knowledgeable about the clinical setting by learning how to identify the normative issues in clinical cases and to be able to give practical advice regarding complex bioethical dilemmas. Students are scheduled for 6 credits of clinically-based work, which may be reduced to 3 for students with previous healthcare training. In Clinical Practica I and II, students participate in rounds with residents, physicians, and other healthcare professionals, attend twice-weekly seminars, and observe ethics consultations and clinical ethics teaching sessions. 

In Clinical Practicum II, students participate in an intensive four-week rotation in the clinical area of their choice, allowing them to develop an in-depth knowledge of clinical medicine. Students should relate this intensive clinical experience to their thesis topic.

Center for Bioethics & Health Law Academic Programs

In addition to meeting the specifically required coursework for the JD and MA degrees, students will select electives from various courses in the two separate degree programs. For a list of courses appropriate for this joint degree program, consult the courses listed as electives for the  Health Law Certificate Program .

Application Information

Students wishing to enroll in the joint degree program must first be admitted to each of the individual programs. Students must complete and submit two separate applications. However, the bioethics program will accept unofficial photocopies of transcripts so long as the official copies are on file in the School of Law.

The deadline to apply to Pitt Law is May 1, and the deadline to apply to the bioethics program is March 31.

Tuition & Financial Aid

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Charlotte Middlehurst

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The right to control your death is a principle that societies have debated for centuries. But, as more countries prepare to legalise medically-assisted dying, the reality of allowing the practice is sparking fresh ethical arguments.

Some form of assisted dying is now legal in 9 countries, as well as in 11 US states and parts of Australia. Parliaments in other countries are also considering such laws, including those in France and the UK crown dependencies of Jersey and the Isle of Man .

This shift in the power of the state and the medical profession — over not only how citizens live their lives but also how they end them — is forcing difficult decisions, including the consequences of passing the laws so far.

The laws that have been passed vary in scope and eligibility. Most allow only physician-assisted suicide in cases of terminal illness with a survival prognosis of six months to one year.

However, the term “assisted dying” can refer to both assisted suicide and euthanasia. The former is when a person is legally prescribed lethal drugs that they administer themselves. Euthanasia, on the other hand, is typically defined as the act of deliberately ending another person’s life to relieve suffering, usually involving the assistance of a physician — and is legal in far fewer places than assisted suicide.

More people are making use of the new laws, where they have been passed. In Canada, for example, assisted dying accounted for 4.1 per cent of all deaths in 2022, according to official figures . That proportion reached 7 per cent in Quebec last year, according to a Radio Canada report .

In the Netherlands, the proportion rose from 5.1 per cent in 2022 to 5.4 per cent last year, according to official data .

This increased uptake of what Canada calls “medical assistance in dying” stands in contrast with what had been expected when the practice was passed into federal law in 2016. Gaétan Barrette, then the health minister for Quebec and a former radiologist, said in 2016 that he thought “there would be perhaps a hundred [of these deaths]”. In 2022, the figure for the province was 4,800.

Trudo Lemmens, a law professor at the University of Toronto and co-author of the Ethical Review Report into Jersey’s proposals, says he was concerned about the rapid uptake in Canada, while noting that “different models [of legislation] have different implications”.

One of the concerns is how the legislation “induces” death in those who would otherwise continue living. “When a state says it’s legal for physicians to help people die, it's the state confirmation of the reasonableness of a form of suicide for elderly and disabled persons who qualify,” says Lemmens. “And this impacts on societal perceptions and self-perception of the value of their lives.”

The Anscombe Bioethics Centre, a Catholic research institute in England, says there is also evidence of an increase in unassisted suicide after assisted suicide becomes law. The review of published research, by David A Jones, the centre’s director and professor in bioethics at St Mary’s University, says that promoting euthanasia or assisted suicide “seems to contradict the principle that ‘every suicide is a tragedy’.”

The review also references research by Sourafel Girma and David Paton, economics professors at Nottingham university, that finds the legal changes have a bigger impact on women than men. The authors calculated that assisted suicide laws increase total suicide rates by 18 per cent, or 40 per cent among women, in a study that draws on data over 30 years from US states.

But Girma and Paton find “weaker evidence” that assisted suicide laws mean more people take their own lives without assistance: they say the rise is 6 per cent among everyone and 13 per cent among women.

These findings challenge the claim made by pro-euthanasia groups that many people with terminal illnesses choose to take their own lives unaided, and that these people would instead die with medical assistance if it were legal.

Another worry is that assisted dying regimes devalue the life of disabled people and constitute a form of “ableism” — discrimination in favour of able-bodied people. Phil Friend from Not Dead Yet, an organisation representing disabled people with concerns about the legal changes, says it is vital to ensure support and care are prioritised over the option of assisted death, which is usually cheaper.

Some campaigners fear that the economic savings from reduced medical bills — especially as societies continue to grow more elderly — may influence politicians to withhold objections on financial grounds.

“In essence, many disabled people believe that legalising assisted suicide, even with intended safeguards, would reinforce negative societal attitudes towards disability and put already vulnerable individuals at further risk of coercion and abuse,” says Friend.

However, campaigners in favour of assisted dying maintain that such laws already work safely in many parts of the world. Dying with Dignity says that UK laws preventing assisted dying are out of date and “out of step with the way we live today”.

“Each day that Westminster [parliament] delays, more dying people are forced into desperate decisions, with 650 each year taking drastic, often violent action to end their own lives. Others spend thousands of pounds to die alone in Switzerland, often having left their loved ones at the departure gates to shield them from the threat of prosecution,” they add.

They also say that doctors tend to be supportive of the changes, and that respect for personal autonomy and the importance of quality of life trump other concerns.

Among doctors, though, there is a further debate about what legalising assisted dying means for them.

The British Medical Association has been neutral on the question of changing the law on assisted dying since 2021. The union told the FT that, if legislation were to be introduced, it would want to see law “that gives doctors a genuine choice” about whether and how to participate.

However, the American Medical Association has taken an opposing stance, describing assisted suicide as “fundamentally inconsistent with the physician’s professional role”. As a result, it “opposes any bill to legalise physician-assisted suicide”.

Richard Huxtable, professor of medical ethics and law at Bristol university, who also contributed to Jersey review, has observed increasing exploration of whether there needs to be a physician involved. “Some are asking: do we need a medical doctor to provide this? It’s an open question,” he says.

Huxtable argues that extending the criteria to apply to adults with unbearable suffering has generated many of the most morally questionable cases.

“It is troubling . . . when you read about people who have psychological factors, existential and social concerns including loneliness, or feel they are being a burden on others,” he says. “You really have to query has this gone too far?”

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