Program Requirements
The Master of Arts in Bioethics is obtained under the School
of Graduate Studies’ graduate study Plan B. The degree
is completed with 27 credit hours. It can be earned full-time
in one year or part-time in a maximum of three years. According
to Graduate Studies, full-time status requires registration
for a minimum of nine credit hours per semester.
Foundations in Bioethics I and II
In the first year of study, all graduate students in the MA
in Bioethics program are required to complete the interdisciplinary
core of 12 credit hours (the equivalent of four courses), extending
over two semesters. This core seminar, “BETH 401: Foundations
in Bioethics I” (six credits), and “BETH 402: Foundations
in Bioethics II” (six credits), is taught by faculty in
the Department of Bioethics. The course covers ten basic topic
areas in bioethics: death and dying; the therapeutic relationship;
methods and theory in bioethics; organ transplantation; health
care justice; defining "health care needs"; reproduction
and fertility; families, babies and children; research ethics;
genetics. The class meets twice per week in the evenings for
seminar sessions (two hours per session.)
Clinical Ethics Rotation
All students must complete a 3-credit-hour core Clinical Ethics
Rotation. Students are exposed to clinical cases as they arise,
hospital ethics committees and ethics consultation programs,
institutional review boards (IRBs), and hospital policies covering
“do not resuscitate” orders (DNR), advance directives,
withdrawal of artificial feeding, organ procurement and transplantation,
and medical futility. They will become familiar with the clinical,
psychological, social, professional, and institutional contexts
in which ethical problems arise.
While there will be some didactic and seminar sessions, students
will spend most of their time observing rounds in relevant services
(e.g., intensive care units, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.) with
leading clinicians. Schedules will need to be somewhat individualized
to meet student needs, allowing for a minimum of 8 hours of
clinical experience per week during two 10-week rotations. The
current locations for this course are MetroHealth Medical Center,
University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic Foundation,
and St. Vincent’s Charity Hospital. Students complete rotations
at all sites and also spend thirty percent of each rotation
at the Hospice for the Western Reserve. A preceptor will be
available and responsible for each hospital. The rotation has
the following objectives:
· Students will be able to identify, analyze, and understand
ethical issues as they develop.
· Students will gain an understanding of methods of health
care delivery in the hospital setting.
In addition to spending 8 hours per week in clinical settings
during two 10-week rotations, students must fulfill hospital
core rotation requirements, attend preceptor meetings, maintain
a clinical “log” of rotation experiences, and attend
five didactic
seminars.
Electives
Students must complete 12 credit hours of electives chosen from
courses offered across the University.
For more information contact the:
Department of Bioethics
CWRU School of Medicine
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4976.
Phone(216)368-6196 fax (216)368-8713
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