Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program

The CBM program at CWRU enables highly motivated undergraduates to earn both their bachelor’s degree and a Master of Arts (MA) in Bioethics and Medical Humanities within 4 or 5 years. This accelerated pathway allows students to integrate advanced bioethics coursework into their undergraduate studies, maximizing their time and academic experience at CWRU.

• Dual Degrees: Graduate with both a bachelor’s and an MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities.
• Maintain Undergraduate Status: Continue to access undergraduate financial aid, housing, and extracurricular activities while enrolled in both programs.
• Enhanced Career Preparation: Gain advanced knowledge and skills in bioethics and medical humanities, strengthening applications for professional schools and future careers.
• Efficient Pathway: Complete two degrees in the time typically required for one.

• Total Credits: The MA program requires 30 credits. 
• Core Courses: Students must take BETH 401 Foundations in Bioethics and Medical Humanities I (6 credits)  in the fall and BETH 402 Foundations in Bioethics and Medical Humanities II (6 credits) in the spring.
• Flexible Courses: BETH 405 Clinical Ethics Rotations (3 credits total over 2 semesters), BETH 402C Bioethics and Medical Humanities Capstone (1.5 credits), and 13.5 credits of electives may be scheduled throughout your time in the program.
• Typical Schedule: Most students complete the MA coursework in two semesters—fall and spring of their fourth (senior) year. Review a sample plan here.

• Double-Count Limit: Up to 9 credits may be counted toward both degrees.
• Conditions:
  • Courses must be taken when enrolled in both programs. (Courses taken prior to MA enrollment cannot count towards the MA degree.)
  • Only graduate-level courses (400-level or above) are eligible.
  • Approval is required from both the MA program and undergraduate advising.
• Guidance: We recommend enrolling in no more than 18 total credits per semester once in the CBM program.

• Undergraduate Status: Students taking both undergraduate and MA courses typically maintain their financial aid package, housing, and other undergraduate benefits.
• Transition to Graduate Status (if necessary): Once a student completes their bachelor’s degree and if necessary, needs to continue with remaining MA courses, they become a graduate student, subject to graduate tuition and financial aid.
• Important Note: Financial aid eligibility and packages vary; consult with the financial aid office for personalized guidance.

• Eligibility: All CWRU undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree are eligible.
• Open to All Majors: The MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities welcomes students from any field, including:
  • Pre-health students who wish to strengthen their professional program applications while also enriching their health care training with a grounding in critical ethical issues and perspectives;
  • Pre-law students who hope to better understand the connection between bioethics, humanities and law as a way to enhance their law school applications; 
  • Nursing or Engineering students who are looking to enhance their knowledge with greater bioethics and humanities context;
  • Humanities students who are looking to prepare for a doctoral program or explore career path options;
  • Undecided students who are exploring for the next steps in their career paths.

• Credit Requirement: CWRU requires that students must have completed at least 60 undergraduate credits before applying.
• Application Timing: Apply in the semester before you plan to begin MA coursework—typically junior year for a senior start.
• Early Start: In exceptional cases, students may begin MA courses in the spring of their junior year with approval of the MA program director
   

• Fall CBM deadline to apply is March 1. 
• Spring deadline to apply is November 15 (students must be approved by the MA program director for a spring start).

View the application requirements.