BA/MA in Bioethics

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BA/MA in Bioethics

100 credit hours

Why study the BA/MA in Bioethics at Trinity?

Trinity’s Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts in Bioethics program is ideal if you are entering the workplace and desire to thoughtfully engage with the contemporary issues of our culture in more depth. If you plan on becoming a healthcare professional, lawyer, scientist, educator, minister, nonprofit leader, or you aspire to address bioethics issues in your future career, you will find that this program is exactly what you need. As part of the program, you will have various opportunities for internships and networking. Opportunities are also available through our world-class Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity on the Deerfield campus.

How long will it take me to earn my Degree?

You’ll earn your bachelor’s and master’s in as little as 4 total years (including the summer after completion of your undergraduate degree). The Dual Degree can be entered as early as the summer before the junior year, with completion of the master’s degree possible in the summer following the senior year of college, in time to enter professional and graduate schools along with your peers.

Did you know?

The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, located on campus, makes it possible for you to regularly engage with contemporary bioethical issues!

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

Trinity Graduate School and Trinity International University offers a dual bachelor of arts/master of arts degree that pairs an MA in Bioethics with an undergraduate degree in any major. This opportunity is open to qualified students in any undergraduate major as long as they have completed 70 hours of undergraduate coursework. For the master’s portion of the degree, you will take courses like integrative thought in bioethics, cultural engagement in bioethics, bioethics and public policy, as well as participating in special projects and conferences through the Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity at Trinity.

COURSEWORK:

As a part of the program, you will have the opportunity to engage in lively discussions and educational events through The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity, a Christian bioethics research center located on campus that explores the nexus of biomedicine, biotechnology, and our common humanity. CBHD fosters a distinctly Christian conception of bioethics that is both academically rigorous and broadly accessible. Internships are also available through the center.

SEE REQUIRED COURSES

BA/MA in Bioethics

FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE & JR. YEAR UNDERGRAD COURSES
Course	Title	Credits
BI 101	Understanding the Old Testament	–or–
BI 111	Understanding the New Testament	3 hours
BI 210	Biblical Interpretation	3 hours
PH 180	Introduction to Philosophy	3 hours
BIO 111	General Biology	–or–
BIO 103	Introductory Biology	3 hours
Other general education courses and required major courses Undergraduate general education requirements that will be fulfilled by graduate-level courses and need not be duplicated with undergraduate work: BE 5001 Foundations of Integrative Thought replaces either BI 101 or BI 111 BE 5002 Foundations of Cultural Engagement replaces one course in the Religious and Ethnic Diversity subcategory Any Approved Undergraduate major, general education, or elective course: (3 hours) of graduate credit can replace 3 hours of undergraduate credit. Service Learning Requirement: Students can fulfill Trinity College’s Service Learning Requirement by working with The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity on the summer National Bioethics Conference, with optional free attendance at the conferences in the summers following the freshman and sophomore years.

JUNIOR YEAR
Upon completion of 70 hours with a 3.0 GPA, students must submit an application and letter of recommendation to Trinity Graduate School Admissions to be accepted to the Dual Degree Program.

SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR GRADUATE COURSE WORK
Course	Title	Credits
BE 5001	Foundations of Integrative Thought*	3 hours
BE 5002	Foundations of Cultural Engagement*	3 hours
BE 5100	Intensive Bioethics Institute	4 hours
BE 5900	Bioethics National Conference	3 hours
*These two courses begin in the summer and are completed in the fall session.

SENIOR YEAR GRADUATE COURSE WORK
Complete course requirements for general education and major. A full academic course load must include at least 12 hours of graduate and undergraduate courses per semester.
Fall Semester:
Complete or take ID 5001 and IDS 5002 (6 hours)
Course	Title	Credits
BE 6200	Ethical Theory	3 hours
Spring Semester:
Course	Title	Credits
BE 5499	The Public Policy Context (optional)	1 hour
BE 5500	Bioethics and Public Policy	2 hours
BE 5299	The Clinical Context	1 hour
BE 5300	Clinical Issues in Bioethics	2 hours
—Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts Degree Completed—

SUMMER FOLLOWING SENIOR YEAR GRADUATE COURSE WORK
Course	Title	Credits
BE 6500	Advanced Bioethics Institute	4 hours
BE 5900	Bioethics National Conference	3 hours
BE 7700	Bioethics Seminar	3 hours
Bioethics Capstone:
Course	Title	Credits
BE 7476	Bioethics Comprehensive Examination	–or–
BE 7478	Bioethics Capstone Projects	–or–
BE 7480	Bioethics Capstone Integrative Paper	–or–
BE 7485	Thesis†	0-4 hours
†BE 7485 requires ID 6910, a research methods course, as a prerequisite.
—Master of Arts Degree Completed—