The Master of Arts in Bioethics is a complementary, not terminal or professional degree (such as a Masters in Business Administration [MBA] or Public Health [MPH]). People admitted typically have a primary professional identity in a health-related field, another graduate/professional degree, or have applied to a primary graduate or professional degree program to pursue concurrently (e.g., Nursing, Social Work, Law, Pharmacy, Public Health, Veterinary Medicine). Unfortunately, it is not an option for concurrent UW medical students due to conflicting course schedules; UW medical students may take the MA before or after completing their MD.
For more information about concurrent degree programs, see Graduate School Policy 1.5: Concurrent Degree Programs.
Apply here. If you would like to take our courses before you apply, you may transfer up to 12 credit hours of BH courses taken prior to acceptance into the graduate program. You may take these courses if you are already enrolled in a UW Graduate program, or by registering as a graduate non-matriculated (GNM) student (see the instructions for registering as a GNM student).
Requirements
Advisor & Director Meeting
We strongly encourage you to meet the Director of Graduate Studies and Advisor prior to applying to the program. To arrange meetings via Zoom, contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Nancy Jecker, at nsjecker@uw.edu. Contact the Advisor, Ms. Melissa Cox, at mdcox@uw.edu and/or Book an Advising Appointment.
Admissions Timeline
- Mid-February: admissions decisions are conveyed through the MyGrad program and are final.
- March 1: if you have been admitted, you must accept, decline, or defer the offer on MyGrad program, your admission decision is final.
- Late-September: if you have been admitted and accepted, begin your autumn coursework
Transfer Credits and Graduate Non-Matriculated Students
You may take up to 12 credit hours of BH courses prior to your acceptance into the graduate program. You may take these courses if you are already enrolled in a UW Graduate program, or by registering as a graduate non-matriculated (GNM) student (see the Graduate School: Graduate Non-Matriculated Students). To register as a GNM student, you must apply and meet with the advisor, Melissa Cox, by the deadlines that follow, see: Book an Advising Appointment.
Apply for GNM Status and Book an Advising Appointment by:
| Quarter |
Deadline |
| Autumn |
August 15 |
| Winter |
December 15 |
| Spring |
February 15 |
Our flexible two-year, in-residence program provides students with the foundational knowledge, skills, and experience to enrich their careers and broaden their competency in bioethics. The program offers training in research and clinical aspects of bioethics as well as empirical and normative methods of analysis. Students have the opportunity to study with diverse and well-respected faculty from the University of Washington, the Treuman Katz Pediatric Bioethics Center, and the Seattle Veteran’s Health Administration. The program helps prepare students to teach, publish, and conduct research that incorporates bioethical analysis.
The 2022 Wylie Burke Endowed Scholarship for Diversity supports UW undergraduate and/or graduate students from diverse social and experiential backgrounds, who are working in interdisciplinary space to study the social, ethical, and policy implications of health research and/or healthcare. The $1,000 scholarship seeks to cover costs of tuition, books, fees, travel to professional meetings, and other educational expenses. Apply by May 15, 2022 here. If you have questions, please email mdcox@uw.edu.
