Philosophy and Bioethics, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University students interested in both bioethics and philosophy who wish to write a dissertation on bioethics from a philosophical perspective should consider the joint Ph.D. in philosophy and bioethics, offered by the Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics and the Department of Philosophy. Unlike a dual degree, this program offers one degree: a Ph.D. in philosophy and bioethics.
Curriculum Overview
The degree consists of 66 credits: 24 credits in health care ethics, 30 credits in philosophy and 12 dissertation research hours. Pre-comprehensive exam coursework can usually be completed in three years (9 credit hours each fall and spring). Non-coursework requirements include three research tools requirements in library database skills, medical terminology, statistics and study design and written and oral comprehensive exams.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
All joint Ph.D. students take a three-semester, 150-hour clinical practicum to gain experience working in a clinical setting. In addition to these fieldwork opportunities, most Ph.D. students graduate with two or more publications.
Careers
Graduates of this program are highly qualified candidates for academic jobs in philosophy departments or bioethics centers, as well as administrative jobs in ethics in health care institutions.
Admission Requirements
- Transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores
- CV/Resume
- Writing sample
- Professional goals statement
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate Tuition | $1,370 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships, Assistantships and Financial Aid
For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of foundational philosophical theories and methodologies, historical and contemporary, that inform scholarly analysis of issues in bioethics.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in formulating original normative philosophical arguments.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in combining philosophical theories, concepts or methodologies with those of other disciplines in order to address practical ethical issues that arise in health care contexts.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, develop and bring to successful completion an original, sustained and coherent independent research project that contributes to both the fields of philosophy and bioethics.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care Ethics Courses | ||
| HCE 6010 | Methods in Philosophical Ethic | 3 |
| HCE 6020 | Methods in Religious Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6040 | Interdisciplinary Research in Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6050 | Philosophical Foundations | 3 |
| HCE 6110 | Intro-Medicine for Ethicists | 1 |
| HCE 6120 | Bioethics and the Law | 2 |
| HCE 6130 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6140 | Research Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| Philosophy Courses | ||
| PHIL 6220 | Advanced Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Ancient Philosophy | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Medieval Philosophy | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Modern Philosophy | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:History of Philosophy | 3 | |
| Select 9 credits in two of the following areas: | 9 | |
Metaphysics | ||
Epistemology | ||
Social/Political | ||
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Philosophy Electives | 6 | |
| Dissertation Research | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research (taken over multiple semesters, 12hrs total) | 0-9 |
| or PHIL 6990 | Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Non-course Requirements
Proficiency in a foreign language, if required for research
Continuation Standards
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| HCE 6010 | Methods in Philosophical Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6110 | Intro-Medicine for Ethicists 2 | 1 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:History of Philosophy | 3 | |
| Library Database Skills 3 | ||
| Credits | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6140 | Research Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics 4 | 1 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Topics in Philosophy | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Philosophy Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCE 6050 | Philosophical Foundations | 3 |
| HCE 6040 | Interdisciplinary Research in Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| PHIL 6220 | Advanced Logic 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6130 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:History of Philosophy 4 | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Topics in Philosophy 4 | 3 | |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCE 6020 | Methods in Religious Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:History of Philosophy 4 | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Topics in Philosophy 4 | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6120 | Bioethics and the Law | 2 |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:History of Philosophy | 3 | |
| PHIL 5/6XXX:Philosophy Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Comprehensive Exams 4 | ||
| PHIL 6990 or HCE 6990 |
Dissertation Research or Dissertation Research |
6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6990 or PHIL 6990 |
Dissertation Research or Dissertation Research |
6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
- 1
Take the Consuming Empirical Literature exam the first day of class.
- 2
Take the Medical Terminology exam the first day of class.
- 3
An introduction to graduate-level database and library search skills, taught by library faculty.
- 4
Written exam and oral exam.
For additional information about our program, please contact:
Harold Braswell, Ph.D.
Graduate program coordinator, health care ethics
harold.braswell@slu.edu
Kent Staley, Ph.D.
Graduate program coordinator for philosophy
kent.staley@slu.edu