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Theology and Health Care Ethics, Ph.D.

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 ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 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.Ìý

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.Ìý

Fieldwork and ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 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.Ìý

Admission Requirements

  • Transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • GRE scores
  • Resume
  • Writing sampleÌý
  • Professional goals statement

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Tuition Cost Per Credit
Graduate Tuition $1,370

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

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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.Ìý

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  1. 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.Ìý
  2. Graduates will be able toÌýdemonstrate an understanding of the theories and methods that structure the study of theology and religion.Ìý
  3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in formulating original, normative theological arguments on topics related to theology and health care ethics.
  4. 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).
  5. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an ability to generate appropriate job search materials (i.e. curriculum vitae, teaching portfolio, writing sample, etc.).
Health Care Ethics Courses
±á°ä·¡Ìý6010Methods in Philosophical Ethic3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6020Methods in Religious Ethics3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6040Interdisciplinary ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ in Health Care Ethics3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6070Foundations of Catholic Morality3
´Ç°ùÌý°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý5620 Forming of Christian Conscience
±á°ä·¡Ìý6110Intro-Medicine for Ethicists1
±á°ä·¡Ìý6120Bioethics and the Law2
±á°ä·¡Ìý6130Clinical Ethics3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6140ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ Ethics3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6150Practicum, Health Care Ethics3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6310Health Care Ethics: Catholic Tradition3
Theological Studies Courses
Courses chosen in consultation with faculty
Historical Theology Courses9
Constructive Theology Courses9
Theology Graduate Elective3
Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥
±á°ä·¡Ìý6990Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥6
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý6990Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥6
Total Credits60

Non-Course Requirements

  • ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ Tools Requirements (Statistics and Study Design, Library ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ Skills, Medical Terminology).
  • Reading comprehension of French or German (or another language with approval of faculty).Ìý
  • Written and oral comprehensive exams.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 in all graduate/professional courses.

Ìý

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollmentÌýunless otherwise noted. Ìý

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.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
±á°ä·¡Ìý6040 Interdisciplinary ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ in Health Care Ethics 1 3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6070 Foundations of Catholic Morality 3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6110 Intro-Medicine for Ethicists 2 1
Library Database Skills 3 Ìý
ÌýCredits7
Spring
±á°ä·¡Ìý6130 Clinical Ethics 3
LAWÌý8005 Bioethics and the Law 2
±á°ä·¡Ìý6150 Practicum, Health Care Ethics 4 1
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective (Historical) 3
ÌýCredits9
Year Two
Fall
±á°ä·¡Ìý6010 Methods in Philosophical Ethics 3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6020 Methods in Religious Ethics 3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6150 Practicum, Health Care Ethics 1
±á°ä·¡Ìý6310 Health Care Ethics: Catholic Tradition 3
ÌýCredits10
Spring
±á°ä·¡Ìý6140 ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ Ethics 3
±á°ä·¡Ìý6150 Practicum, Health Care Ethics 1
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective (Constructive) 4 3
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective (Historical) 4 3
ÌýCredits10
Year Three
Fall
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective (Constructive) 4 6
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective (Historical) 4 3
ÌýCredits9
Spring
±á°ä·¡Ìý6990 Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 6
THEO 6XXXTheology Elective 4 3
ÌýCredits9
Year Four
Fall
Comprehensive Exams 5 Ìý
°Õ±á·¡°¿Ìý6990 Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 6
ÌýCredits6
Spring
±á°ä·¡Ìý6990 Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 0
ÌýCredits0
Year Five
Fall
±á°ä·¡Ìý6990 Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 0
ÌýCredits0
Spring
±á°ä·¡Ìý6990 Dissertation ÀË»¨Ö±²¥ 0
ÌýCredits0
ÌýTotal Credits60
1

Take the Consuming Empirical Literature exam the first day of class.Ìý

2

Take the Medical TerminologyÌýexam 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.ÌýÌý

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.Ìý

For additional information about our program, contact:

Harold Braswell, Ph.D.Ìý
Graduate program coordinator, Health Care Ethics
harold.braswell@slu.eduÌý