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
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- CV/Resume
- Writing sample
- Professional goals statement
- NOTE: To be assured consideration for a graduate assistantship, students must submit their application by December 31.
Assistantship Application Deadline
To be assured consideration for a graduate assistantship, students must submit their application by December 31.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Credit |
|---|---|
| Graduate Tuition | $1,450 |
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 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 5XXX or above graduate course | 3 | |
| Philosophy Courses | ||
| PHIL 6220 | Advanced Logic | 3 |
| Select 27 credit hours with at least 3 credit hours from each attribute area below. | 27 | |
Philosophy Graduate - Ancient Philosophy | ||
Philosophy Graduate - Medieval Philosophy | ||
Philosophy Graduate - Modern Philosophy | ||
Philosophy Graduate - Metaphysics | ||
Philosophy Graduate - Epistemology | ||
Philosophy Graduate - Value Theory | ||
| Dissertation Research | ||
| HCE 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| PHIL 6990 | Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Non-course Requirements
- Proficiency in a foreign language (if required for research);
- Completion of research tools requirements (Statistics and Study Design, Library Research Skills, Medical Terminology);
- A 1.5-hour HCE oral examination with health care ethics faculty, covering the content of health care ethics courses;
- The dissertation prospectus, which constitutes the written comprehensive exam; and
- A two-hour oral examination on the dissertation prospectus during which any aspect of the
written prospectus may be discussed and questioned.
Academic Standing
Saint Louis University has undergraduate and graduate standards regarding a student's Academic Standing. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Standing policy.
This roadmap is just one example of a semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. There are other plans students can and do take. The plan of study for each particular student is established in consultation with each student’s academic advisor; this roadmap does not replace academic advising appointments.
Roadmap notes:
- This Roadmap assumes full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
- Courses/Milestones marked with an “!” are critical and must be completed in the semester listed in the Roadmap to ensure a timely graduation.
- 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 | 1 |
| Library Database Skills | ||
| Philosophy Graduate - Ancient Philosophy attributed course | 3 | |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| HCE 5XXX/6XXX Graduate Course | 3 | |
| Philosophy Graduate - Medieval Philosophy attributed course | 3 | |
| Philosophy Graduate - Modern Philosophy attributed course | 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 | 3 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6130 | Clinical Ethics | 3 |
| HCE 6150 | Practicum, Health Care Ethics | 1 |
| Philosophy Graduate - Metaphysics attributed course | 3 | |
| Philosophy Graduate - Epistemology attributed course | 3 | |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| HCE 6020 | Methods in Religious Ethics | 3 |
| Philosophy Graduate - Value Theory attributed course | 3 | |
| Philosophy Graduate attributed course | 3 | |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| HCE 6120 | Bioethics and the Law | 2 |
| Philosophy Graduate attributed courses | 6 | |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| Comprehensive Exams | ||
| 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 | |
For additional information about graduate study in health care ethics, please contact hce_info@slu.edu or call 314-977-1060 and ask to be connected with the graduate program coordinator. For information about graduate study in philosophy, please contact sluphilosophy@slu.edu or call 314-977-3149 and ask to be connected with the graduate program coordinator.