MULTIPLE MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Basic Idea
Six hours automatically double-count in both degrees; and up to eight more hours can also double-count if the right courses are selected. In sum: only 16 hours beyond the 48-hour MA/CMC degree are required in order to earn the MA/Bioethics degree as well; however, students can choose to take anywhere from 64 to 78 hours to complete their two degree programs.

Program Structure
The MA/CMC degree involves 48 semester hours of study. However, board certification with the Association of Professional Chaplains requires 72 hours from a graduate theological institution. Adding 24 hours of bioethics study—or as few as 16 bioethics hours plus 8 hours of any other biblical-theological courses—fulfills that requirement. Meanwhile, there is a societal movement toward requiring a credential, such as a bioethics Master’s degree, for individuals involved in bioethical decision making in many arenas where chaplains, counselors, and other caregivers work. In light of Trinity’s global leadership role in bioethics, the ability of students to add the MA/BE degree/credential to their MA/CMC degree is an attractive option for Trinity students.

What will I study?
Only 16 hours of Master-level coursework in bioethics beyond the MA/CMC degree are required.

Students can participate in the May Commencement for both degrees at the end of their final academic year (assuming no more than 6 non-capstone hours remain to be completed in the summer that follows).

The capstone course in the MA/CMC degree program will fulfill the capstone requirement for the MA/BE degree as well, as long as bioethical issues play a significant role in it (as certified to the Records Office by the professor overseeing the course). The course will count as 2 elective hours in the MA/BE program.

Students do not need to take either BE 5001 or BE 5002 in their MA/BE program because that ground is covered by the required biblical and theological courses in the MA/CMC program.

Students can double-count up to 6 other hours of courses taken in the MA/BE program as elective hours in their MA/CMC program. If 6 such hours are not completed in the MA/CMC degree program, then the missing hours must be added to the 16 hours needed to complete the MA/BE degree.

The following courses must be taken either within the MA/CMC degree program or as part of the additional 16 hours for the MA/BE degree program:

Basic Idea
Nine credit hours automatically double-count in both degrees; and six more hours also double-count if the right courses are selected. In sum: only 15 hours beyond the MDiv degree are required in order to earn the MA-Bioethics degree as well. 

Program Structure
Students in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program can add an MA in Bioethics (MA/BE) without substantially lengthening their stay at Trinity. Moreover, there is a societal movement toward requiring a credential, such as a bioethics Master’s degree, for individuals involved in bioethical decision making in health care (including chaplains and pastors), public policy, education, and other public arenas. In light of Trinity’s global leadership role in bioethics, the ability of students to add the MA/BE degree/credential to their MDiv is an attractive option for students.

What will I study?
Only 15 hours of Master-level coursework in bioethics beyond the MDiv (including AP MDiv) are required. Students can participate in the May Commencement for both degrees at the end of their final TEDS year (assuming no more than 6 BE hours remain to be completed in the summer that follows).

The capstone or internship course in the MDiv degree program will fulfill the capstone requirement for the MA/BE degree as well, as long as bioethical issues play a significant role in it (as certified to the Records Office by the professor overseeing the course).

MDiv students will not need to take BE 5001, BE 5002, and PR 7220 in their MA/BE program. However, students should take enough BE course hours as electives in their MDiv degree program that those hours plus the hours earned for their bioethics-related capstone or internship course total 6 hours. If 6 such hours are not completed in the MDiv degree program, then the missing hours must be added to the 15 hours needed to complete the MA/BE degree.

The following courses must be taken either within the MDiv degree program or as part of the additional 15 BE hours for the MA/BE degree program:

Basic Idea
Six hours automatically double-count in both degrees; and up to nine more hours can also double-count if the right courses are selected. In sum: only 15 hours beyond the MA in Leadership degree are required in order to earn the MA in Bioethics degree as well.

Program Structure
Students in either the MA in Bioethics (MA/BE) or the MA in Leadership (MA/L) degree program can add the other degree without substantially lengthening their stay at Trinity. Moreover, there is a societal movement toward requiring a credential, such as a bioethics Master’s degree, for individuals involved in bioethical decision making in many arenas where people with leadership training work. In light of Trinity’s global leadership role in bioethics, the ability of students to add the MA/BE degree/credential to their MA/L degree is an attractive option for Trinity students.

What will I study?
Only 15 hours of Master’s-level coursework in bioethics beyond the MA/L degree are required.

Students can participate in the May Commencement for both degrees at the end of their final academic year (assuming no more than 6 non-capstone hours remain to be completed in the summer that follows).

Students complete a single 3-hour capstone course on a topic in the realm of “Leadership and Bioethics,” which counts as 3 hours in each of the two degree programs. If a bioethics professor oversees the course it should be registered as a bioethics capstone, and if a leadership professor oversees the course it should be registered as a leadership capstone.

Students can take the required foundations courses either as BE 5001 + BE 5002 or as LR 5001 + LR 5002. Either way they will count as 6 hours in each of the two degree programs. Students can double-count 6 other hours of courses taken in the MA/BE program as elective hours in their MA/L program. If 6 such hours are not completed in the MA/L degree program, then the missing hours must be added to the 15 hours needed to complete the MA/BE degree.

The following courses must be taken either within the MA/L degree program or as part of the additional 15 hours for the MA/BE degree program:

Basic Idea
Six hours automatically double-count in both degrees; and nine more hours also double-count if the right courses are selected. In sum: only 15 hours beyond the TEDS MA in Ministry degree are required in order to earn the MA in Bioethics degree as well.

Program Structure
Students in the MA in Ministry (MA in Min) degree program can add an MA in Bioethics (MA/BE) degree without substantially lengthening their stay at Trinity. Moreover, there is a societal movement toward requiring a credential, such as a bioethics Master’s degree, for individuals involved in bioethical decision making in health care (including chaplains and pastors), public policy, education, and other public arenas. In light of Trinity’s global leadership role in bioethics, the ability of students to add the MA/BE degree/credential to their MA in Ministry degree is an attractive option for Trinity students.

What will I study?
Only 15 hours of master-level coursework in bioethics beyond the MA in Ministry are required.

Students can participate in the May Commencement for both degrees at the end of their final TEDS year (assuming no more than 6 BE hours remain to be completed in the summer that follows).

The capstone course in the MA in Ministry degree program will fulfill the capstone requirement for the MA/BE degree as well, as long as bioethical issues play a significant role in it (as certified to the Records Office by the professor overseeing the course).

MA in Ministry students will not need to take BE 5001 and BE 5002 in their MA/BE program; and they should take PR 7220 as part of their Theological Studies requirement for the MA in Ministry degree. However, students should take enough BE course hours as electives in their MA in Ministry degree program that those hours plus the hours earned for their bioethics-related capstone course total 6 hours. If 6 such hours–or PR 7220–are not completed in the MA in Ministry degree program, then the missing hours must be added to the 15 hours needed to complete the MA/BE degree.

The following courses must be taken either within the MA in Ministry degree program or as part of the additional 15 BE hours for the MA/BE degree program:

Basic Idea
Six hours automatically double-count in both degrees; and nine more hours also double-count if the right courses are selected. In sum: only 15 hours beyond the MA/TS degree are required in order to earn the MA-Bioethics degree as well.

Program Structure
Students in the MA Concentration in Theological Studies (MA/TS) degree program can add an MA in Bioethics (MA/BE) degree without substantially lengthening their stay at Trinity. Moreover, there is a societal movement toward requiring a credential, such as a bioethics Master’s degree, for individuals involved in bioethical decision making in health care (including chaplains and pastors), public policy, education, and other public arenas. In light of Trinity’s global leadership role in bioethics, the ability of students to add the MA/BE degree/credential to their MA/TS degree is an attractive option for Trinity students.

What will I study?
Only 15 hours of Master’s-level coursework in bioethics beyond the MA/TS degree are required.

Students can participate in the May Commencement for both degrees at the end of their final TEDS year (assuming no more than 6 BE hours remain to be completed in the summer that follows).

The capstone course in the MA/TS degree program will fulfill the capstone requirement for the MA/BE degree as well, as long as bioethical issues play a significant role in it (as certified to the Records Office by the professor overseeing the course).

MA/TS students will not need to take BE 5001 and BE 5002 in their MA/BE program; and they should take PR 7220 as part of their Theological Studies requirement for the MA/TS degree. However, students should take enough BE course hours as electives in their MA/TS degree program that those hours plus the hours earned for their bioethics-related capstone course total 6 hours. If 6 such hours–or PR 7220–are not completed in the MA/TS degree program, then the missing hours must be added to the 15 hours needed to complete the MA/BE degree.

The following courses must be taken either within the MA/TS degree program or as part of the additional 15 BE hours for the MA/BE degree program: