Bioethics

Master's Degree 

The Department of Philosophy allows a special master’s degree focused in bioethics: A field of knowledge dedicated to questions of morality  and values pertaining to modern life sciences, especially with regard to medicine, health services, genetics, and human biology. 

Program Objective 

To train students at a high academic standard to philosophically and practically address difficult bioethical challenges, which affect everyone involved with modern medicine, especially professionals in medicine, nursing, biological research and legal experts at the juncture between medical ethics and law. 

Admission Criteria and Program Options 

The program is open to bachelor's degree holders who have completed their studies with a minimum grade point average of 76. Those without a bachelor's degree in philosophy will be required to complete supplementary studies totaling 6 AC in the first year of their degree, as detailed below:

31122 Foundations of Western Thought – 2 AC (Annual based credit)

31102 Introduction to Modern Philosophy – 2AC

31512 Introduction to the Philosophy of Science – 2AC (or 31105 Logic)
 

The curriculum is spread over two years (a total of four semesters including supplementary studies) and is concentrated into a face-to-face study day on campus once a week, alongside a number of courses that will be taught asynchronously during the week according to the schedule that suits the students themselves.

Bioethics studies take place in both tracks: Track A (with research) and Track B (without research). Outstanding students will be able to continue to doctoral studies as part of the combined track. Admission of students to the research track will be contingent on their achievements in their first year of master's degree studies and on the assessment of the head of the program (or the designated advisor) that the students are capable of writing an independent research paper of the required quality.

 
Track A – Research-Based Track 

Credit and Seminar Requirements 

16 AC (annual-based credits) (32 SC – semester-based credits) including at least two courses with a seminar paper as specified below: 

8 AC (16 SC) – required courses:

31487 Introduction to Moral Philosophy (2 AC)

31443 Key Texts and Arguments in Bioethics (with an emphasis on personal guidance - 2 AC)

31645 An Applied Bioethics Seminar (2 AC)

99015 Bioethics, Medicine and Law (in the Faculty of Law, 2 AC) 

8 AC (16 SC) – selected seminars or lectures for the master’s degree in Philosophy, among which are: 

• one course with emphasis on personal guidance 
• one seminar 
• Departmental colloquium attendance. 

Language proficiency 

1. English at the master’s degree level (details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter).
    
2. The departmental committee chair or advisor are authorized to mandate an additional foreign language. 

Thesis guidelines 

See School of Graduate Studies Rules and Regulations in the introductory chapter. 

Final exam for the master’s degree 

The final exam is based on the thesis and its underlying bibliography. 

Jewish studies 

As per general requirements for master's degree (see introductory chapter) 

 

Research proposals are to be submitted by the end of the first year of study 
and no later than the end of the fall semester of the second year. 

  

Track B – Non-research track 

Credit and Seminar Requirements 

20 AC (40 SC) – that include at least three courses from which a seminar paper must be written, as specified below: 

8 AC (16 SC) – required courses:

31487 Introduction to Moral Philosophy (2 AC)

31443 Key Texts and Arguments in Bioethics (with an emphasis on personal guidance, 2 AC)

31645 An Applied Bioethics seminar (2 AC)

99015 Bioethics, Medicine and Law (in the Faculty of Law, 2 AC)

12 AC (24 SC) – selected seminars or lectures for the master’s degree in Philosophy, among which are: 

•  One course with emphasis on personal guidance 
   
•  Two seminars 
   
• Departmental colloquium attendance. 

Final exam for the master’s degree 

31763 Final exam based on bibliographic material as determined by the department (only in the second year). 

Jewish studies 

As per general requirements for the master's degree (see introductory chapter). 

Language proficiency 

English at the master’s degree level. (Details on placement tests, course levels and exemption eligibility criteria – see introductory chapter). 

  

Further details on the programs are available on the Department of Philosophy website