Three Ways to Apply
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until that year’s class is fully enrolled.
The Medicine, Society and Culture (MSC) concentration is open only to full-time students.
Candidates can pursue their Bioethics and Medical Humanities Master of the Arts (MA) in Medicine, Society and Culture in three ways:
- As a standalone program;
- As part of a CWRU dual degree; or
- As part of a CWRU program for undergraduates, Integrated Graduate Studies.
Standalone
Candidates who wish to earn the MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities through the MSC track must meet the requirements for admission to the MSC track, whether enrolling only in that track or as part of a dual degree program. Those who wish to earn joint degrees also must earn separate admission to the other degree program.
The requirements for the MA degree in the MSC track include:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university prior to matriculation;
- Strong academic record;
- Results from one of the following standardized tests: GRE, MAT, MCAT, LSAT or GMAT; If an applicant has extensive professional experience, test results may be waived.
- Demonstrated commitment to at least one of the track’s areas of focus (e.g. relevant coursework, professional experience, and/or extracurricular or volunteer activities);
- Three letters of recommendation from individuals who know the candidate well and can provide insight about probable success in the MSC program; and
- A Statement of Objectives. This brief statement (no more than 1,000 words) should detail the reasons for applying, expectations of the program, and, if applicable, ways the candidate expects to apply the knowledge and experiences gained after graduation.
For more information about these requirements, visit the “How to Apply” section of the bioethics website.
Candidates whose admissions materials indicate significant promise will be contacted for an interview with a faculty member. These may take place in person, via videoconference (e.g. Skype, FaceTime, etc.) or telephone.
Dual Degree
Candidates who wish to earn the MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities' MSC track along with another degree must apply separately to both programs. That is, the individual must meet all of the above requirements for this track, as well as those for the other degree.
At this time, candidates can earn the MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities program with master’s degrees in:
- Nursing;
- Public health; and
- Social administration (MSSA; known elsewhere as an MSW).
They also may combine the Bioethics and Medical Humanities MA with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Juris Doctor (JD) as well.
To learn more about these offerings, please visit the Dual Degree Programs page of the bioethics website.
Integrated Graduate Studies (IGS)
Case Western Reserve’s Integrated Graduate Studies (IGS) program gives select undergraduates the opportunity to enroll in a master’s or doctoral degree program before completion of the baccalaureate degree. Upon admission to IGS, these students can take courses for the graduate degree during their senior year, often leading to the simultaneous award of both degrees. In some cases, the master’s degree is completed soon after the undergraduate degree.
To learn more about requirements and deadlines, visit the Integrated Graduate Studies page on the School of Graduate Studies website. The deadline for applying for the MSC track through IGS is the same as the final IGS deadline (typically March 1).
For questions about admission through any of these programs, please email msc@case.edu.