Dual-Graduate Degree Program with Genetic Counseling

Our program emphasizes the interdisciplinary study of bioethics through the humanities and the values-oriented social sciences. The goal of the program is a rigorous master's level education in the legal, historical, philosophical, and cultural contexts of medicine. Graduates will be able to use their multidisciplinary understanding of medicine in their teaching, advising, and ethical decision making.

Logistics

This program is designed to fit with your Genetic Counseling program. The core courses (MHB 401-406) meet in the evening, from 6 to 9pm, once weekly. The Special Topics lectures meet every Thursday from noon to 12:45pm, and the lectures are often recorded and made available for download for those unable to attend. All classes meet on Northwestern's Chicago campus.

Curriculum

Our curriculum generally consists of ten course units: six three-hour courses, two years of a weekly one-hour lecture series, two tutorials, and an MA thesis. However, we count your Genetic Counseling ethics course towards the program, so GC students are required to complete only nine MHB units. Below is a graphical representation of the curriculum, as it is commonly taken. You must complete each of the six core courses (in green), but it is your choice whether to omit the tutorials (two purple boxes) or a year of Special Topics (three yellow boxes). Click on a course's title for its description.

Admissions

Applications to the dual GC/MHB program are handled by the Genetic Counseling program. Applicants should indicate in their application that they are interested in pursuing the dual-degree program and are required to submit two additional documents: a letter of recommendation from faculty or an employer who can address your interest in bioethics and/or the medical humanities and your ability to do graduate-level humanities work, and a one-page statement of purpose describing why you are seeking a masters of arts degree in Medical Humanities & Bioethics. Please mind the requirements and deadlines listed on the Genetic Counseling program's application page. If you have any questions about the two requirements mentioned above, please contact MHB Graduate Program Coordinator Bryan Morrison. For all other application questions, please contact the Genetic Counseling program.

Tuition

The cost of pursuing the master of arts degree as a Genetic Counseling student is about one-half the cost of pursuing it as a single degree. Genetic counseling students entering in Fall 2012 will pay $25,730 total for the degree (versus approximately $52,00 as a single degree). Some need-based financial aid may be available.