Bioethics and Medical Humanities/Law

Student talking with a patient
Master of Arts/Juris Doctor

About the Program

As the world of healthcare and medicine becomes increasingly complex, the opportunities to study and gain expertise in these areas expands exponentially. With a dual Master of Arts in Bioethics and Medical Humanities and Juris Doctor degree (JD) from Case Western Reserve, one of the top research universities in the U.S., you’ll learn to identify, assess and face head on the challenges impacting the medical and health law professions in the decades to come.

Offered jointly by the university’s School of Medicine and School of Law, our program will enhance your career prospects in health, medicine and law—preparing you to pursue a career as a clinical ethicist or a lawyer specializing in the ethical, cultural and policy dimensions of healthcare, technology and the life sciences.

What to Expect

In our dual-degree program, you’ll begin with one year of full-time study in law school,  where you’ll learn from faculty in our top-ranked health law program. In years two and three, you’ll continue your JD education, while adding the bioethics and medical humanities portion of your studies, gaining firsthand clinical experiences with leading scholars at the #1 private medical school in Ohio. 

Your JD and supplemental master’s, which can be completed in three years total, can open doors within the health law profession. And you’ll gain invaluable skills studying in our interdisciplinary program that will translate well to your career.

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Beyond the Classroom

Cleveland is known for its wide array of job opportunities in addition to its culture, food, and low cost of living. And Case Western Reserve is situated in the heart of University Circle, one of the city’s most energetic and culturally robust communities. From our campus, you’re just a short walk to some of Cleveland and University Circle’s most outstanding destinations—Severance Hall, home of the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra; Cleveland Museum of Art; Cleveland Botanical Garden; Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland; and Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Plus, you're in the heart of Cleveland's healthcare hub, with top hospitals such as Cleveland Clinic, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center and University Hospitals within walking distance, and MetroHealth Medical Center just a short drive away. We offer clinical rotations at these major academic medical centers to help you better understand applied bioethics in a hospital and at the bedside.


By the Numbers

3

years total to complete both degrees

160

clinical hours you'll complete

#13

Health Law program in the country, U.S. News & World Report

Tier 1

medical research school in the U.S., U.S. News & World Report

140+

first-year JD students

Admission Requirements

You must apply separately to—and be admitted by—each program. Current law students may apply to the dual-degree program before the end of their first year. Scholarships are available for both programs.

Each degree program will review applications separately and will make admission decisions separately. Timelines and due dates are different for each program. Please review each program's website for the correct date.

Application requirements typically include: 

  • ​​Online application through LSAC (also available for download)
  • Statement of purpose
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • CV or resume
  • GRE, MAT, MCAT, LSAT, DACT or GMAT scores 
  • Application fee
  • TOEFL scores (for all non-native English language speakers)

Contact Us

Leah Jeunnette
Leah Jeunnette, PhD
Director, MA in Bioethics and Medical Humanities Program
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Telephone

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