NYU Grossman School of Medicine offers a dual MD/MA degree in bioethics in partnership with the NYU Center for Bioethics at NYU’s College of Global Public Health. The program educates students in the ethical issues that influence global health. It prepares them for careers as bioethicists in hospitals, medical schools, and other healthcare institutions; as public policy consultants; or as researchers in the field of bioethics.

As medicine has advanced, emerging diagnostic and therapeutic technologies have raised important ethical questions. The MD/MA in bioethics program explores the ethical implications of areas of science and healthcare such as the Human Genome Project, cloning, stem cell research, organ transplantation, and end-of-life care.

As students earn their MD/MA in bioethics, they take courses in environmental studies, public health, public policy, and law that emphasize multidisciplinary approaches to ethical issues.

All students take two core courses—Advanced Introduction to Bioethics and Advanced Introduction to Environmental Ethics. Students then personalize their coursework through various NYU graduate schools, including NYU’s College of Global Public Health, NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science, NYU Silver School of Social Work, NYU School of Law, and NYU Robert P. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Students also complete a master’s thesis project or practicum for the MA portion of their degree.

Timeline for Completing the MD/MA in Bioethics

The 32-credit MA in bioethics can be completed with the MD degree in four years. Students take MD courses in the first two years and enroll in MA courses full time in the third year.

During the year dedicated to the MA, students choose one of three independent study options: a thesis research project, a practicum experience in bioethics, or a hypothesis-driven research project with guidance from a faculty mentor.

In the fourth year, students resume medical training while completing a practicum or research project, as well as any additional courses of interest in bioethics. For the MA, students write a thesis describing their independent study project. If they choose the hypothesis-driven research track, students also present and defend their research before a thesis committee.

A portion of the credits you earn for completing the independent study requirement for the MA in bioethics can also be applied as elective credits or a scholarly concentration project that count toward the MD degree. Bioethics research may also fulfill requirements needed for the MD student honors program.

MD/MA in Bioethics Schedule

Year	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	Medical School Preclerkship Curriculum		Summer Research Fellowship
Year 2	Medical School Clerkship Curriculum		USMLE
Year 3	MA in Bioethics Curriculum		Medical School Curriculum
Year 4	Medical School Curriculum & MA in Bioethics Curriculum-Independent Study

MD/MA Program Application, Tuition, and Funding

Students apply to the MD/MA in bioethics directly through NYU’s College of Global Public Health with a separate, program-specific application in the spring of the second year at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Students receive an NYU Grossman School of Medicine scholarship to cover the cost of tuition for the MD degree program, provided each student maintains satisfactory academic progress in accordance with NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. For information about tuition rates, merit-based scholarships, and options for financing the MA in bioethics, contact NYU’s College of Global Public Health Admissions Officer Zachary Judy at zachary.judy@nyu.edu.

Contact the Program

For questions about the MD/MA in bioethics admissions process, contact NYU’s College of Global Public Health Admissions Officer Zachary Judy at zachary.judy@nyu.edu, Assistant Professor Daniel Fogal at Daniel.Fogal@nyu.edu, and Program Manager Amber Celedonio at amc1125@nyu.edu.

For information about the dual MD/master’s degree programs, contact Emily Wolschlag, dual degree advisor, at Emily.Wolschlag@NYULangone.org.