Curriculum
The program requires successful completion of a minimum of 64 term credits, including a thesis seminar, and a practicum option. Upon matriculation, each student charts a program of study to meet individual goals.
Full-time students typically complete the degree over four 8-week academic terms plus a few credits during the summer. Part-time students must complete program requirements within four years.
In addition to formal coursework, practicum, and thesis, all students will participate in a variety of supplemental seminars in bioethics, such as the Berman Institute Noontime Seminar Series, Robert H. Levi Symposium, Shallenberger Lecture in Ethics, and the Sheila Hutzler-Rives Memorial Lecture in Palliative Care. These events allow students to interact with a broad network of national and international leaders in bioethics.
Course List
Code |
Title |
Credits |
PH.550.860 | Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH (All students are required to complete this online noncredit course in their first term of study) | |
PH.700.601 | Foundations of Bioethics (offered onsite in 1st term) | 3 |
PH.306.665 | Research Ethics and integrity (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
PH.700.602 | Hot Topics in Bioethics (offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |
PH.700.603 | Introduction to Ethical Theory (offered onsite in 1st term) | 3 |
PH.221.616 | Ethics and Global Public Health Practice (typically offered 4th term ) | 2 |
PH.306.655 | Ethical Issues in Public Health (typically offered in 2nd term) | 3 |
PH.700.622 | Bioethics, Human Rights, and Global Health (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |
PH.700.625 | Bioethics and the Law (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |
PH.700.630 | Food Ethics (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
PH.700.632 | Ethics, Policy, and Emerging Biomedical Technologies (typically offered onsite in 4th term every other year) | 3 |
PH.700.642 | Vulnerability in Childhood -- from Ethics to Advocacy (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 3 |
PH.700.643 | Understanding Addiction: Philosophy, Science, Ethics (typically offered onsite in 2nd term) | 3 |
PH.700.644 | Justice Theory and Health (typically offered onsite in 4th term) | 3 |
PH.700.665 | Introduction to Ethics of U.S. and International Human Subject Research (offered in Summer Institute only) | 2 |
PH.700.801 | Bioethics Program Thesis Seminar (typically offered onsite in 3rd term) | 3 |
PH.700.840 | Bioethics Program Independent Study | 2 |
PH.700.895 | Bioethics Program Practicum (offered all terms with instructor approval) | 3 |
PH.700.896 | Clinical Ethics Practicum I (offered 2nd term - requires instructor approval) | 1 |
PH.700.897 | Clinical Ethics Practicum II (offered 3rd term - requires instructor approval) | 2 |
Expected Courses
To gain a comprehensive view of bioethics, students are expected to take a range of courses during their time at Johns Hopkins. Some of the courses relevant to MBE course of study include:
- Bioethics, Human Rights, and Global Health
- Bioethics and the Law
- Ethics, Policy, and Emerging Biomedical Technologies
- Food Ethics
- Justice Theory and Health
- Understanding Addiction - Philosophy, Science, Ethics
- Vulnerability in Childhood: From Ethics to Advocacy
Program Policies
For a full list of program policies, please visit the Master of Bioethics page where students can find our handbook.
Focused on the Future
Upon successful completion of the program, students will have mastered the following competencies:
- Understand the essential theories and methods that underpin the ethics of public health, clinical care, science, and research;
- Recognize ethics issues and questions that arise in public health, clinical care, science, and research;
- Articulate and critique policy and scholarly arguments to engage with long-standing and emerging debates in bioethics; and
- Understand approaches to fulfilling ethics advisory functions in practice settings.
As a graduate of the MBE program, students will be equipped to drive the responsible pursuit of new knowledge and will be prepared to help develop new tools to consider society’s thorniest issues through a cross-disciplinary lens.
Advances in health care and scientific research benefit people around the world. From the first ventilator to the first vaccine, scientific and technological discoveries have prolonged life and alleviated human suffering while advancing health-related knowledge. However, such advancements often present challenging ethical questions for individuals and society related to appropriate use, access, safety, rights, and obligations.
The MBE program prepares students to make meaningful contributions at the intersection of health sciences and societal impact.
According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type.