MD/Master of Bioethics
Guidelines for Current and Prospective Medical Students
Considering the MD/Master of Bioethics Dual Program
Overview
The MD/Master of Bioethics program (MD/MBE) is designed to provide its graduates with the interdisciplinary training they will need in order to address the ethical, legal, and social challenges in health care today and in the future.
These guidelines offer prospective and current medical students specific information regarding components of the MD/MBE dual degree program. When students are accepted into the Master's in Bioethics program, they must take responsibility for following all regulations and policies of the Medical School and of the Master of Bioethics Program.Admissions Information
For Current Penn Medical Students
Admission to the MD/Master of Bioethics program is competitive, and the strongest applicants will have outstanding academic records.
There are two steps to applying:
- Registering for candidacy with the Combined Degree & Physician Scholar Programs Office
- Applying to the Master of Bioethics Program
1) When applying to the Master of Bioethics program, it is necessary to register as a candidate for the MD/MBE program with the Combined Degree Office by completing the Master's Program Registration Form for medical students. As part of this process you will be asked to review MD/MBE program policies. The Master's Program Registration Form should be submitted to the Combined Degree Office as early as possible. The Master of Bioethics program will not consider any medical student's application unless it has certified that the student has registered for candidacy with the Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Office.
2) The Master of Bioethics program information and application can be obtained at http://www.med.upenn.edu/mbe/. The Master of Bioethics program considers applications on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to contact Dr. Nora Jones, Assistant Director of Graduate Studies, at noralj@mail.med.upenn.edu for more information.
For Prospective Penn Medical Students
There will be opportunities for MD applicants who are invited to interview to interact with the Center for Bioethics before, during, or after the interview visit.
Admission to the combined MD/MBE program requires the completion of separate applications for the MD program and for the Master of Bioethics program. Admission to one degree program does not affect admission to the other.
The MBE application, and information describing the program, can be found at http://www.med.upenn.edu/mbe/. Candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Nora Jones to discuss the Master of Bioethics program.
Program Structure and Advising
Advising
Students will meet with the Director of Graduate Studies at the Center for Bioethics, Dr. Autumn Fiester, to develop a curriculum plan. Each student in the Master of Bioethics program will be assigned a faculty adviser, who will guide student course selection and research. Additional student supervision will be given by members of the Center faculty, as well as other faculty at Penn working in various areas of bioethics.
After a curriculum plan is developed, the student must meet with Helene Weinberg in the Medical School to discuss the plan and seek approval from the Medical School.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a staff member in the Financial Aid Office to discuss financial issues. (See tuition policy below.)
Program Requirements:
Nine course units are required for the MBE degree:
- Proseminar: Introduction to Bioethics (BIOE 601)
- Conceptual Foundations (BIOE 602)
- Final Project (BIOE 996, see Dr. Jones for more details)
- Six Electives (2 of which may be MD curriculum transfer credits)
Students who are matriculated in the MD/MBE program will have the option to earn transfer credit for two courses in the MD curriculum, ‘Doctoring’ and ‘Bioethics and Professionalism,’ contingent on the completion of supplemental work.
- To receive one MBE credit for 'Doctoring,' the following two courses must be completed: ‘Doctoring I’ and ‘Doctoring II,’ along with one supplemental 20-25 page research paper under the supervision of an approved faculty member. Please contact Dr. Fiester for more information.
- Additionally, to receive one MBE credit for ‘Bioethics and Professionalism,’ the student must write a 20-25 page research paper under the supervision of an approved faculty member and must also participate as a discussion leader in this course. A student must first seek approval from Dr. Fiester for the research topic and be matched with an appropriate faculty advisor.
Please note that if a student has not made arrangements prior to the course for this work to be counted as transfer credit, he/she cannot apply to use this credit toward the MBE degree.
Timing:
Every bioethics course in the masters program is held in the late afternoon, once a week for 12-14 weeks. Coordinating the Master of Bioethics course offerings with the demands of the MD curriculum will require careful attention to the guidelines described below.
With careful planning, it is possible to complete both the MD and the Masters in four years. To complete both degrees in four years, it will be necessary for the student to implement a schedule which takes into account the maximum number of courses which may be taken in a given semester.
Starting the Master of Bioethics program any later than the spring of the third year in Medical School will require that additional semesters be added to the standard timeline for Medical School in order to complete the degree. Students do have the option of taking a 5th year to complete the MD/MBE. However, there may be financial aid implications (see the MD/MBE Program Financial Aid description below for details).
Students must be proactive about any changes that diverge from the original schedule approved by the Medical School and the Master of Bioethics program. Some seemingly simple changes in course selection and timing may have the unintended consequence of adding additional semesters and increasing tuition. Be sure to consult with the Medical School and the Master of Bioethics program directors before making adjustments to your schedule.
The following are possible scheduling scenarios that an MD/MBE student might follow. They are based on the assumption that students will complete the requirements for two transfer credits.
Sample 1: Begin MD/MBE Spring of First Year
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | MD Curriculum | 1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
1 MBE credit |
| Year 2 | 1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
MD Curriculum | MD Curriculum |
| Year 3 | MD Curriculum | 1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
MD Curriculum |
| Year 4 | 2 MBE credits MD Curriculum |
1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
Sample 2: Begin MD/MBE Fall of Second Year
| Fall | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | MD Curriculum | MD Curriculum | |
| Year 2 | 1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
MD Curriculum | MD Curriculum |
| Year 3 | MD Curriculum | 1 MBE credit MD Curriculum |
1 MBE credit |
| Year 4 | 2 MBE credits MD Curriculum |
2 MBE credits MD Curriculum |
Tuition Policy
The School of Medicine tuition policy for the MD-MBE program seeks to minimize the additional financial burden for students enrolling in the program. The School of Medicine will cover the cost of 4 MBE required courses as long as the student has not taken any other university registered credits. Students who also take advantage of the 2 units of transfer credit (see details, above) from the medical school curriculum will only need to pay for 3 of the 9 course units required for the degree.
Students will be charged additional tuition for:
3 MBE graduate school courses
IF 2 credits have been earned via ‘Doctoring’ and ’Bioethics and Professionalism,’
AND
IF the School of Medicine is paying for 4 courses (which would happen as long as the student has not taken any other university registered credits)
Students will be charged for more than 3 courses if either of the above conditions are not met. Students with questions about credits earned or needed should contact Helene Weinberg. If the SOM is paying for 4 courses, these would normally be the first 4 the student takes with the exception of any courses taken during the summer.
Please note that the MD/MBE program guidelines are subject to change based on University or program recommendations and policy requirements.
MD/MBE Program Financial Aid
As soon as a student is considering the pursuit of an integrated dual degree program, financial aid counseling and planning is strongly advised. School of Medicine Office of Admissions and Financial Aid staff members are available to help explain program costs, the financial aid process, funding options, and how to apply for financial aid.
It is recommended that a medical student who needs to maximize his/her eligibility for loans takes 2 or fewer MBE courses per term. By taking 2 or fewer MBE courses each semester, a medical student can retain a School of Medicine scholarship and would have a Stafford eligibility of $40,500. If a student takes 3 or more MBE courses in a semester, the loan/scholarship system will automatically categorize him/her as a Graduate Student (not as a Medical Student), and the student would be eligible for a significantly lower amount of Federal Aid/Scholarship funds. A student who takes 3 or more MBE courses in a semester is not eligible for a School of Medicine scholarship and has a Stafford eligibility of $20,500.
There are a number of private loan programs which are available for students in meeting program costs if necessary. These funds are credit based and more costly. The School of Medicine Financial Aid Office lists preferred private loan lenders on the School of Medicine financial aid website. Students who anticipate applying for a private loan are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid to discuss options and determine the best program based on individual circumstances and prior borrowing.
Costs for each of the programs are updated annually on the financial aid website.
Please note that policies concerning curriculum and financial aid are subject to change. Additionally, though variations in the curriculum may be possible, any changes will need prior approval and may have financial implications.
For more information regarding the MD-MBE program, contact:
Nora Jones, PhD
Assistant Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Medical Ethics
University of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine
3401 Market Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia, PA 19104
noralj@mail.med.upenn.edu
215.573.4042
Autumn Fiester, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies
Center for Bioethics
3401 Market Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia , PA 19104-3308
fiester@mail.med.upenn.edu
215.573.2602
Amy Nothelfer, LSW
Coordinator for MD-Masters Programs
Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs
Suite 100 Annex (Room 104) Stemmler Hall
Philadelphia , PA 19104-6087
nothelfe@mail.med.upenn.edu
215.746.2359
Helene Weinberg
Registrar
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Suite 100 Stemmler Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6087
hweinber@mail.med.upenn.edu
215.898.4646
Gaye Sheffler
Director
Medical School Admissions / Financial Aid
Suite 100 Stemmler Hall
Philadelphia , PA 19104-6056
admiss@mail.med.upenn.edu
215.898.8001
