Program Overview

Master of Arts in Applied Ethics & Policy

The Duke Master in Applied Ethics & Science Policy teaches students how to thoughtfully identify, analyze, and propose solutions to address cutting-edge and historical developments in science, medicine, technology, and policy. The program provides a foundation in the history, philosophy, legal, social, and theoretical approaches to bioethical analysis, as well as an introduction to science and health policy.

Eligibility

All Duke second-year medical students are eligible to apply.

Length of Program

Students usually take a year before or after their third year of medical school. The program is typically completed by undertaking the course work full-time during the fall and spring semesters, followed by a capstone project or thesis during the following summer term. The program is, however, highly flexible in the scheduling of degree requirements, especially in the case of joint degree students.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition for the MA degree is set by Duke Graduate School.

• All Duke Medical School students will be eligible for a 50% merit scholarship from Science & Society.
• In addition, MD students may be eligible to receive a $10-15,000 tuition subsidy from the Medical School for third-year studies.
• Science & Society also grants substantial scholarships as Leadership Awards to applicants who demonstrate the greatest potential to become leaders in making scientific advancements more accessible, just, and better integrated into society.

Deadlines

• March 16 – Application for Leadership Award & MA Admission deadline
• May 29 – Final deadline for fall admission

Application Procedure/Requirements

In addition to standard application requirements, medical students may substitute their MCAT scores used for admission to the Duke Medical School.

Curriculum & Research Experience

• Required core courses (12 credits):
  • Science Law & Policy
  • Clinical Bioethics and Policy
  • Law Research and Bioethics
  • Contemporary Issues
  • Colloquium
• Electives (15 credits): courses selected from across Duke schools and departments.
• Capstone Project or Masters Thesis (9 credits): Students have the option to either spend 10 weeks with a host organization engaged in work related to bioethics or science policy or to write a master's thesis

Featured Alumni

Ishaq Winters ’18 received a joint M.D./M.A. degree at Duke University School of Medicine with a prior B.S. in Biochemistry and minor in Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. Ishaq hopes to not only become familiar with these topics but also become a proponent of change within our healthcare system.

• Ishaq graduated from Duke Medical School and is a Hospital Resident at the Yale School of Medicine.