Explore the ethical, philosophical, and social challenges shaping modern healthcare through Tulane’s Master of Science in Philosophy and Bioethics. This interdisciplinary program examines complex issues in medicine, biomedical research, and the life sciences while preparing students to apply ethical reasoning to real-world healthcare and research settings.
The 30-credit curriculum combines foundational bioethics coursework, philosophy electives, and practical experience through a capstone project or thesis. Students develop skills in ethical analysis, critical thinking, argumentation, and case-based decision-making while exploring topics relevant to clinical practice, healthcare policy, research, and emerging technologies.
The program is designed for healthcare professionals, researchers, biomedical professionals, and students interested in careers in ethics committees, IRB work, healthcare leadership, medical education, biotechnology, public policy, and related fields. Graduates are prepared to navigate complex ethical challenges and contribute to thoughtful decision-making across healthcare and research environments.
The MS in Bioethics and Philosophy requires completion of 30 credit hours, including 5-6 core courses (15-18 credits) and 4-5 electives (12-15 credits).
Students will select 5 of the 6 core courses; however, the capstone is mandatory unless the student chooses to write a thesis. The core courses are subject to change.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEMH 6002 | Foundations in Bioethics |
| BEMH 6003 | Medical Humanities |
| BEMH 6009 | Current Controversies in Bioethics |
| PHIL 6132 | Reproductive Health: Bodies, Ethics, and Technology |
| PHIL 6133 | Compassion and Care Ethics in Medicine |
| BEMH 6020 | Capstone |
Note: Students may complete a 6 credit thesis in place of the capstone course and one elective course.
Students can select 5 electives from both the Bioethics and Medical Humanities program and the Philosophy department, or from either one.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| BEMH Electives | |
| BEMH 6001 | Neuroethics: The Ethics of Neuroscience and the Neuroscience of Ethics Edited Course |
| BEMH 6006 | The Doctor As Author |
| BEMH 6007 | Ethical Theory |
| BEMH 6013 | Medicine and Identity |
| BEMH 6018 | Feminist Theory and Practice in Medicine |
| BEMH 6021 | Jewish Bioethics |
| BEMH 6022 | Disability: Past, Present, and Future |
| BEMH 6023 | Animal Ethics |
| BEMH 6025 | Ethics of Death and Dying |
| BEMH 6810 | Special Topics |
| Philosophy Electives | |
| PHIL 6050 | Moral Philosophy |
| PHIL 6105 | Philosophy of Neuroscience |
| PHIL 6130 | Moral Psychology & Meta-Ethics |
| PHIL 6150 | Freedom & The Self |
| PHIL 6170 | Philosophy of Perception |
One-Year Plan, Full time (3 semesters)
We welcome non-Tulane students—including MS/PhD students from other institutions and mid-career professionals—to enroll in our courses, either in person or through live synchronous videoconferencing.
| Term | Sample Course Plan |
|---|---|
| Summer Prior to Year 1 | Elective #1 (3) Elective #2 (3) Elective #3 (3) |
| Year 1, Fall | Foundations in Bioethics (3) Medical Humanities (3) Current Controversies in Bioethics (3) Compassion and Care Ethics in Medicine (3) |
| Year 1, Spring | Reproductive Health: Bodies, Ethics, and Technology (3) Elective #7 (3) Capstone Project (3) |
| Total Hours | 15-18 hours Required courses 12-15 hours Elective courses TOTAL = 30 hours |
| Term | Sample Course Plan |
|---|---|
| Year 1, Fall | Foundations in Bioethics (3) Medical Humanities (3) |
| Year 1, Spring | Reproductive Health: Bodies, Ethics, and Technology (3) Elective #1 (3) Elective #2 (3) |
| Year 2, Summer | (Optional) Elective (3) |
| Year 2, Fall | Current Controversies in Bioethics (3) Compassion and Care Ethics in Medicine (3) Elective #6 (3) |
| Year 2, Spring | Capstone Project (3) Elective #7 (3) |
| Total Hours: | 15-18 hours Required courses 12-15 hours Elective courses TOTAL = 30 hours |
Who Should Consider This Program
This program is a strong fit for students interested in philosophy, bioethics, medicine, law, public health, health policy, clinical ethics, research ethics, medical humanities, or the ethical and social implications of AI and emerging health technologies.
Career Pathways and Professional Preparation
The program is particularly valuable for students interested in health care, hospital ethics committees, nonprofit and community organizations, research institutions, or professional programs such as medicine or law. It also prepares students for work in health policy, research ethics, clinical research, public health, patient advocacy, health administration, and emerging areas such as AI and health care.
Possible paths include:
- Hospital ethics committees
- Health policy
- Research ethics
- Clinical research
- Public health
- Patient advocacy
- Health administration
- Nonprofit and community organizations
- Medicine, law, or doctoral study
- AI and emerging technology ethics in health care
Students also develop skills that are useful across many careers, including ethical analysis, argumentation, clear communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and critical thinking about the social, legal, cultural, and ethical dimensions of medicine and health care. Because students can shape their coursework, thesis, or capstone around their own interests, the program can also prepare them for doctoral study or other advanced academic work.
Leadership
Interested students are encouraged to contact the program directors to discuss course planning, thesis or capstone options, and how the degree can support their professional goals.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the MS in Philosophy and Bioethics.
This program was created for students who want to think deeply about the ethical, philosophical, social, and human questions that shape medicine, health care, science, and emerging technologies. Bioethics today is not limited to clinical dilemmas or abstract moral theory. It asks how medicine is practiced, how institutions make decisions, how social inequalities affect health, how new technologies reshape care, and how we should respond to suffering, vulnerability, responsibility, and justice.
What makes this program distinctive is its combination of philosophical training and engagement with real problems in medicine and society. Students learn to analyze complex ethical questions, build careful arguments, communicate clearly, and work across disciplines. They also have the flexibility to shape their coursework, thesis, or capstone project around their own interests, whether in clinical ethics, health policy, research ethics, medical humanities, reproductive ethics, AI and health care, or preparation for further study in medicine, law, philosophy, public health, or related fields.
Our goal is to prepare students not only to understand ethical problems, but to contribute thoughtfully and responsibly to the institutions and communities where those problems arise. We welcome students who are intellectually curious, socially engaged, and interested in the many ways philosophy and bioethics can illuminate the future of health care and human life.
If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact us.
Tzofit Ofengenden, PhD
Assistant Professor
Director of the MS in Philosophy and Bioethics
Associate Director of Graduate Studies
Tulane University School of Medicine, Bioethics and Medical Humanities
131 S. Robertson St., Suite 1163
New Orleans, LA 70112
Office: 504 988 2837
tofengenden@tulane.edu
Chara Kokkiou, PhD
Medical Ethics Professor of Practice
Director of the MS in Philosophy and Bioethics
Department of Philosophy, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
ckokkiou@tulane.edu
For more information, please contact us at TulaneMedicalEthics@tulane.edu.
See the course catalog for more course information.