MA in Bioethics

Deerfield, IL

Whether you are preparing for a career in healthcare, science, law, church ministry, education, or advocacy, the MA in Bioethics will provide the bioethical understanding and Christian foundation you need to approach your work with skill and spiritual sensitivity. You will have the opportunity to network with other professionals in class and during our annual bioethics conference, where you can explore the variety of disciplines that intersect with bioethics.

ABOUT THIS DEGREE

The MA in Bioethics is designed for recent college graduates and working professionals who desire a foundation in bioethics for their studies, jobs, and public engagement. Healthcare professionals, scientists, lawyers, clergy, and many others including those working in nonprofit organizations will benefit from this flexible 30-semester-hour program, well-suited to those with heavy professional responsibilities. Individuals preparing for an academic career will develop a strong background in bioethics for active, relevant participation in related college or university fields.

The program can be completed without relocating to the Deerfield, Illinois, area, making it an excellent choice for students who are committed to ministry and professional life in a different location.

COURSE DELIVERY FORMATS

Many of our students live around the world and are committed to jobs or family situations there that make relocating impossible. With them in mind, the program is available in three formats: residential, modular, and online.

The residential option includes opportunities for in-person interacting, relationship-building, and networking with students and faculty members, as well as access to various bioethics-related opportunities on campus outside the classroom. Examples include a wide range of course offerings, participation in special bioethics events, and involvement in the work of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity (CBHD), a world-class bioethics center engaged in research and cultural-engagement initiatives.

The modular option allows students to take all of their modular courses in-person by traveling to campus just for the days when their classes meet. Modular classes typically meet for 2-3 days once or twice during each session (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Two required courses are taken on campus in conjunction with the mid-summer CBHD conference, one during each of two summers. Students may replace as many non-summer modular courses as they wish with online versions of those courses.

The online* option involves taking up to six of the eight required courses in an online format. Furthermore, no additional trips to campus are necessary for the elective courses. Elective courses can be taken online, or by mentored independent study, or in conjunction with the mid-summer CBHD conference—though residential and modular elective courses are also available. Online students may miss opportunities to interact with classmates and professors outside the classroom and other bioethics-related opportunities on campus, but they are able to pursue the program with very few trips to campus.

WHAT WILL I STUDY?

Coursework in the Bioethics program typically addresses such fields as medicine, nursing, biotechnology, law, public policy, international human rights, theology, philosophy, economics, education, technology, and media studies among others. Classes will focus on integrative thought, combining cutting edge research with deep spiritual insight, and students have the flexibility to emphasize any of the above fields. Trinity can offer guided research courses and capstones in any of these areas to supplement other required and elective courses.

Students studying Bioethics should be well prepared for integrative work in their field. To this end, the capstone event can take different forms, depending on a student’s interests. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students may write a formal master’s-level thesis, take a comprehensive essay exam, write an integrative paper, or develop a special project such as a bioethics curriculum, sermon/talk series or written reflection on an internship experience.

Certificate Options

Nor ready to jump into the full program? Check out or two new certificate options. Should you choose later on to further your education in the MA in Bioethics program, the courses you take for the certificate will be counted toward your degree.

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