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

Applicants should apply to the Genetic Counseling program and wait to accepted before seeking entry into our master of arts program.

The Graduate School does not require that admitted students complete an additional application to change or add programs. Our program requires application materials to approve your entry into our program, but you will not need to complete another online application, request official transcripts, or pay an additional application fee.

We require the following materials to evaluate applicants: a copy of your application to the Genetics Counseling program with all materials, including all letters of recommendations and transcripts (copies are fine); a letter of recommendation from a faculty member or employer who can address your interest in medical humanities and bioethics and your ability to do graduate level work; a one-page statement of purpose describing why you are seeking the dual degree program.

If English is not your native language, you must provide official scores from the TOEFL or IELTS standardized test that fulfill the requirements defined by The Graduate School. You are exempt from this requirement if you have previously completed a degree from an accredited institution where the primary language of instruction is English. This will be verified by your transcripts.

In addition to the application materials, you must complete a department transfer form (available here.) Please complete the top line to read "Application to transfer from Genetic Counseling to Genetic Counseling/Medical Humanities & Bioethics dual degree." This form must be submitted to us for program approval.

The form and all materials must be received by the application deadline—see below.

Tuition

The cost for the MH&B portion of your dual degree program is $17,000. Tuition is charged by the Graduate School at their rate. We then issue grants to reduce your tuition amount.

Contact

If after reading this you have any questions, please contact Graduate Program Coordinator Bryan Morrison.