Students who are interested in both bioethics and theological ethics and who wish to write a dissertation on bioethics from a theological perspective should consider Saint Louis University's joint Ph.D. in Theology and Health Care Ethics, offered by the Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics and the Department of Theological Studies. Unlike a dual degree, this program offers one degree: a Ph.D. in Theology and Health Care Ethics.
Curriculum Overview
The degree consists of 60 credits: 27 credits in health care ethics, 21 credits in theology and 12 dissertation research hours. Pre-comprehensive exam coursework can usually be completed in three years (nine credit hours each fall and spring). Non-coursework requirements include reading comprehension of French or German (or another language with approval of both programs), three research tools requirements in Library Database Skills, Medical Terminology and 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. Students interested in the clinical ethics concentration can complete an additional advanced practicum in which students are placed in active clinical ethics consultation services for 300-plus hours. 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 theology departments, religion departments or bioethics centers, as well as administrative jobs in mission and ethics in health care institutions.
Admission Requirements
- Transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- GRE scores
- 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 a broad knowledge of the foundational disciplines, methods, topics and issues in health care ethics required for the scholarly analysis of issues in the field.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theories and methods that structure the study of theology and religion.
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in formulating original, normative theological arguments on topics related to theology and health care ethics.
- 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 the field (i.e. the dissertation).
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate an ability to generate appropriate job search materials (i.e. curriculum vitae, teaching portfolio, writing sample, etc.).
| 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 6070 | Foundations of Catholic Morality | 3 |
| or THEO 5620 | Forming of Christian Conscience | |
| 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 |
| HCE 6310 | Health Care Ethics: Catholic Tradition | 3 |
| Theological Studies Courses | ||
| Courses chosen in consultation with faculty | ||
| Historical Theology Courses | 9 | |
| Constructive Theology Courses | 9 | |
| Theology Graduate Elective | 3 | |
| Dissertation Research | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| THEO 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Non-Course Requirements
- Research Tools Requirements (Statistics and Study Design, Library Research Skills, Medical Terminology).
- Reading comprehension of French or German (or another language with approval of faculty).
- Written and oral comprehensive exams.
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 6040 | Interdisciplinary Research in Health Care Ethics 1 | 3 |
| HCE 6070 | Foundations of Catholic Morality | 3 |
| HCE 6110 | Intro-Medicine for Ethicists 2 | 1 |
| Library Database Skills 3 | ||
| Credits | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6130 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
| LAW 8005 | Bioethics and the Law | 2 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics 4 | 1 |
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective (Historical) | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCE 6010 | Methods in Philosophical Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6020 | Methods in Religious Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| HCE 6310 | Health Care Ethics: Catholic Tradition | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6140 | Research Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective (Constructive) 4 | 3 |
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective (Historical) 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective (Constructive) 4 | 6 |
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective (Historical) 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| THEO 6XXX | Theology Elective 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Comprehensive Exams 5 | ||
| THEO 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 0 |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 0 |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 0 |
| Credits | 0 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
- 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
Elective must be approved by theology/HCE joint faculty.
- 5
Written exam and oral exam.
Program Notes
Joint Ph.D. students are also required to demonstrate reading comprehension of French, German or another language with the consent of joint program faculty. This can be satisfied by previous coursework, an exam or by taking additional graduate-level language courses.
For additional information about our program, contact:
Harold Braswell, Ph.D.
Graduate program coordinator, Health Care Ethics
harold.braswell@slu.edu