Our professional doctorate in bioethics (DBe) is a first of its kind and meets the growing need for advanced training in bioethics for those professionals that have increased responsibilities related to bioethics and health policy at their institution. Such individuals may serve as chair of a hospital’s ethics committee, perform clinical ethics consultations, have administrative oriented ethics work or are a steward for issues central to your institution’s mission and values. This degree offers healthcare professionals an opportunity to obtain a high quality doctorate through a hybrid delivery system (asynchronous online courses combined with blended courses that require 2-3 days of on-campus activity).
Curriculum
The Doctorate in Bioethics (DBe) is a professional doctoral degree and requires 57 credit hours of coursework, written and oral qualifying examinations, two capstone courses, and one capstone presentation (virtual or in-person). Matriculants in the doctoral program are required to maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
Students who enter with a previously earned master's degree in bioethics may transfer up to 27 credit hours (pending approval from program director), and are required to complete a minimum of three (3) required courses, five (5) elective courses, and the two (2) capstones at Loyola.
Required Coursework
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| BEHL 401 | Clinical Topics in Bioethics | 3 |
| BEHL 402 | Justice & Health Care | 3 |
| BEHL 404 | Biomedical Ethics and Law | 3 |
| BEHL 406 | Principles of Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| Ethics Care Continuum | |
| Ethics Consultation Simulation Seminar 1 | |
| Advanced Clinical Ethics Skills 1 | |
| Practicum in Clinical Ethics |
| Moral Theology for Bioethics | |
| Ethical & Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Leadership | |
| Catholic Bioethics and Social Justice | |
| Research Ethics | |
| Current Debates in Research Ethics | |
| Empirical Bioethics | |
| Global Bioethics |
| Systems Ethics Frameworks | |
| Organizational Ethics I: Business, Professionalism, and Justice | |
| Organizational Ethics II: Ethical Leadership Changing Healthcare Envrnmnt |
| Advancing Health Equity Practice 1 | |
| Social Determinants of Health and Bioethics |
| BEHL 423 | Doctoral Capstone I | 3 |
| BEHL 424 | Doctoral Capstone II | 3 |
| Total Hours | 57 |
Qualifying Examination
The qualifying examination students in the Bioethics Doctoral Program (DBe) should be completed after other coursework but prior to the Doctoral Capstone courses. This is an open book essay exam that should be an opportunity for the doctoral student to showcase their knowledge from the coursework they’ve already taken. After written responses are submitted, an oral exam is conducted online with the student and two faculty reviewers. This is an opportunity for the student to clarify and expand upon their written answers. The student will receive a letter from the graduate program director indicating successful completion of the written and oral exams.
Capstones
DBe students will take two doctoral capstone courses (BEHL 423 Doctoral Capstone I and BEHL 424 Doctoral Capstone II), each of which should result in peer-reviewed articles. Afterwards students will make a virtual or in-person presentation of their capstone work.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Participants who complete the program will be able to:
- Analyze common ethical challenges arising in clinical cases.
- Apply fundamental ethical principles and legal frameworks to clinical cases.
- Develop a credible argument regarding a current bioethical controversy.
- Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to advise healthcare professionals in a specialized area of bioethics such as clinical case consultation, research ethics, public health ethics, Catholic bioethics.
- Produce a manuscript for submission to a peer reviewed publication.
