Applicant Frequently Asked Questions
- What classes are you offering?
- Can I take courses on a non-matriculating basis?
- When are MBE applications due?
- When can I start the program?
- How long does it take to complete the program?
- What is the tuition?
- Are there in-state resident rates?
- What are the minimum requirements for admittance into the program?
- When will I hear if I’m accepted?
- Can I take courses as an undergraduate?
- Can I take a Bioethics class as a Senior Associate?
- Does the Program offer any funding for its graduate students?
- I live in NYC/Washington/any other far-away city. How easy is the commute?
- Can I transfer in credits I took at another university?
What classes are you offering?
Current course descriptions can be found here.
Can I take courses on a non-matriculating basis?
Yes. Students can take courses in the program on a non-matriculating basis. Non-matriculated students can enroll in up to 3 classes while shopping the MBE program. Students can only register for a course if they have no outstanding incompletes and/or have permission from the graduate program director or assistant director.
Please click here for the application to take courses only (without applying for admission).
When are MBE applications due?
We have rolling admissions, so you may submit your application at any time. For students wishing to pursue a dual-degree at Penn, please see the guidelines specific to the program.
Applicants can begin during the Fall, Spring, or Summer term.
How long does it take to complete the program?
9 courses are required; we offer courses during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters; you can take as few as 1 or as many as 4 courses each semester, depending on your schedule. Given that, the MBE can be earned in as little as 1 calendar year. MBE students who are also full-time professionals usually take 1 course a semester, thus earning their MBE in 3 calendar years.
The MBE program bills on a per course basis. For the 2011-2012 school year, one course costs approximately $5200 for tuition and fees.
Are there in-state resident rates?
All students enrolled in our courses are charged the same rate.
What are the requirements for admittance into the program?
The admissions committee considers all materials – transcripts, essays, letters of recommendations, and professional experience.
For students who have recently completed their BA/BS, we require a 3.5 GPA.
When will I hear if I’m accepted?
From completion of application to decision, please allow 3 months. Please call 215.573.0246 to check on the status of applications.
Can I take courses as an undergraduate?
Undergraduates are not generally permitted to take MBE courses. Please contact mbe-info@mail.med.upenn.edu for more information about our current undergraduate offering. Also, please see the Penn Bioethics 'Undergraduate Study in Bioethics' webpage for more information about undergraduate bioethics opportunities.
Can I take a Bioethics class as a Senior Auditor?
Senior Auditors are not permitted to register for MBE courses. You should contact the Penn College of General Studies for more information about bioethics opportunities.
Does the Program offer any funding for its graduate students?
Unfortunately, we do not have funding for MBE students. We do have a scholarship for MD/MBE students, and we have a small MBE Travel Fund that all current MBE students presenting at conferences can apply for.
I live in NYC/Washington/any other far-away city. How easy is the commute to Philadelphia?
We’ll let one of our commuting alum’s answer this for us:
"Commuting from NYC to the Penn Bioethics Masters Program was very easy. Amtrak is the quickest means of transportation, but the [Department] is a less than 10 minute walk from 30th Street Station. Driving is also a decent option - and parking is easy in the blocks surrounding the [Department]. In my experience, professors were very amenable to flexible arrangements. When it came time to write papers, they were very willing to chat by phone to answer my questions. This was a huge time saver! I would highly recommend the Penn Bioethics Program and would advise others not to think twice about commuting from NYC."
Can I transfer in credits I took at another university?
Students enrolled in the MBE program may receive transfer credit for 1 graduate course taken prior to their matriculation, if the credit was not used toward another degree.