About Bioethics: College of Health Sciences: Arizona

Mission
Program Description
Degree Descriptions
Dual Degree Options
Accreditation

Portrait of Program DirectorGreetings from the Program Director
Research, education, and health care have always gone hand-in-hand. New discoveries are made and technologies developed in the laboratory, taught in the classroom, and applied in the clinic. The process is a never-ending one and each component of this 'health care continuum' is important. We must continue to strive for better technologies and treatments, become better teachers of future generations of health care providers, and learn improved ways to practice and care for patients. Midwestern University (MWU) is committed to this process. Through our various colleges, we have been training students to become health care providers since 1900. In 1996, MWU opened its Glendale, Arizona, campus by starting the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1997, the Physician Assistant Program began followed in 1998 by the College of Pharmacy–Glendale.

In 1999, the College of Health Sciences began an Occupational Therapy Program and the Biomedical Sciences Program, offering degrees in Bioethics and Health Professions Education.

Our part-time program in Bioethics is specially designed to accommodate the working professional. Classes are offered at convenient times, and the curriculum is designed to serve the specific needs of health care providers. In addition, those interested may take individual courses in the Biomedical Sciences Program as a "non-degree" candidate to either sample the curriculum or learn about a specific topic. Courses may be audited or taken for credit as a non-degree student on a space-available basis.

A premium is placed on interdisciplinary education and integrating all aspects of the health care continuum. Therefore, students from all disciplines of health care (physicians, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, dentists, researchers, etc) study together with health care administrators, lawyers, social workers, clergy, and other interested individuals.

The mission of the Biomedical Sciences Program is to provide opportunities for training at all levels of the "health care continuum" in the laboratory, classroom, and clinic. The program offers a dynamic learning experience that fosters disciplined thinking and self-directed learning. The courses of study will provide the academic foundation on which to make discoveries in the laboratory, sound ethical decisions in the clinic, and effective teachers in the classroom who are training future health care professionals.

We look forward to partnering with you, the patient-care providers of our community. Come grow with us in this exciting new academic environment. Please feel free to visit our beautiful campus in Glendale or call the Biomedical Sciences Program (623/572-3620) for more information.

Leonard B. Bell, Ph.D.
Director, Biomedical Sciences Program

Mission
The mission of the M.A. and Certificate in Bioethics program is to augment the professional experience and skills of students by providing substantial training in the theory and practice of ethical decision-making within the health care arena. The program should also provide the graduate with credentials needed for increased opportunities and advancement within their current career.

In keeping with Midwestern University's commitment to excellence in education, the faculty of the Biomedical Sciences Program personally commit themselves to:

  • Effective teaching using state-of-the-art technology;
  • Continuing their own personal education and development;
  • Participating in interdisciplinary research and publications; and
  • Demonstrating leadership within their own professions and communities.

Program Description
The Biomedical Sciences Program offers a variety of part-time and full-time master-level degree programs in biomedical science, health professions, education, and bioethics. The professional roles that graduates can expect to experience are highly dependent on their current professional activities and future career goals. Completion of a degree program may enhance the students' current profession or provide the skills necessary to launch new career opportunities.

The Biomedical Sciences Program was developed to respond to:

  1. The need to train qualified laboratory research personnel;
  2. The recent need for qualified educators in health professional programs; and
  3. The ever-growing number of ethical issues related to health care practice and management; reproductive technologies; and the cultural, social, and religious diversity in the provision of health care.

To meet these objectives, the Biomedical Sciences Program offers curricula leading to a master's level degree in Bioethics (42 quarter-hours). In addition, an academic certificate program (30 quarter-hours) in Bioethics is also available.

Students have the opportunity to improve their GPA, fill in "gaps" in their undergraduate transcripts, and demonstrate their proficiency at taking graduate-level courses. The M.A. degree in Bioethics should not be viewed as a terminal degree or a means to secure a job in a subspecialty of health care. Rather, this program is designed to enhance the on-going career and/or practice of those already involved in providing therapeutic, legal, and spiritual care to patients.

The specific goals of the degree programs within the Biomedical Sciences Program are:

  1. To broaden the base and depth of biomedical and scientific research conducive to competent scholarly inquiry and analysis;
  2. To provide a thorough and practical understanding of educational strategies used in health professions education;
  3. To provide a thorough and practical understanding of ethical decision-making in the practice and administration of health care;
  4. To provide an experiential base that prepares health care providers and educators to perform functions and duties commensurate with new and emerging roles of health care professionals; and
  5. To provide an advanced educational track that will encourage life-long learning.

Bioethics Program Degree Descriptions
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Bioethics
The curriculum leading to the M.A. degree in Bioethics is designed to provide the student with a deeper understanding of the ethical issues related to patient care and health care practice, as well as methods for addressing these issues. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, chaplains, lawyers, administrators, social workers, pharmacists, physician assistants, allied health personnel, health professions students, and other interested professionals. Applicants usually have a bachelor’s level or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university, though some individuals with significant undergraduate coursework and relevant professional experience may be admitted.

The 42 quarter-hour curriculum can be completed in as little as 15 months, and must be completed within a period of 60 months, excepting approved leaves of absence. The course instruction includes 12 credit hours of required courses, including: Introduction to Medical Ethics, Foundations of Bioethics, Philosophy of Medicine, and Ethics of Research and Experimentation. Beyond these required courses students opt for a research or didactic track. In the research track, the student is required to perform an approved research project (12 credits). Prerequisite to the research project are two independent studies (one credit each) that enable the student to develop a proposal for the project. The proposal includes the specific objectives and methods of the project. Sixteen additional credits must be taken as electives. In the didactic track, there is no research project and the student is required to take 30 elective hours in addition to the required courses. Bioethics students interested in acquiring additional educational skills may take certain electives in the Health Professions Education program as well.

The goal of the M.A. degree program is to augment the professional experience and skills of students by providing substantial training in the theory and practice of ethical decision making within the health care arena. The program should also provide the graduate with credentials needed for increased opportunities and advancement within their current career.

Certificate in Bioethics
The curriculum leading to the Professional Certificate in Bioethics is designed to provide the student with a deeper understanding of the ethical issues related to patient care and health care practice, as well as methods for addressing these issues. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including physicians, nurses, chaplains, lawyers, administrators, social workers, pharmacists, physician assistants, dietitians, and other interested professionals. There is no degree requirement for entry into this program.

The 30 quarter-hour curriculum may be completed in as little as 12 months, and must be completed within a period of 60 months, excepting approved leaves of absence. To complete the 30-credit hour requirement, students may take any of the required or elective courses in the bioethics curriculum, except for research project credits. Students wishing to switch to an M.A. degree in Bioethics after completing courses in the Bioethics Certificate curriculum will be required to reapply to the Biomedical Sciences Program and meet all admission requirements for the M.A. degree program. Successful completion of the Certificate in Bioethics curriculum does not automatically qualify the student for admission into the Master of Arts in Bioethics program.

The goal of the Certificate in Bioethics program is to augment the professional experience and skills of the student by providing training in the theory and practice of ethical decision making in the health care arena. The program may also provide the graduate with credentials needed for increased opportunities and advancement within their current career.

Dual Degree Options for Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Cardiovascular Sciences, Podiatry, and D.O. Students
The Biomedical Sciences Program is now offering an educational opportunity to current and incoming bachelor-track physician assistant (PA), occupational therapy (OT), cardiovascular science (M.S.CV), podiatric medicine (D.P.M.) and medical (D.O.) students. Students accepted into the programs may now also apply to the Biomedical Sciences Program as dual-degree candidates in either Bioethics or Health Professions Education. The following policies apply:

  1. The applicant must apply and be accepted into the clinical program and Biomedical Sciences Program separately. Only applicants meeting minimum entrance requirements for both degree programs will be given an option for the dual-degree program.
  2. The clinical degree program shall be considered the primary degree program and the Biomedical Sciences Program the secondary degree program. Continuity of the primary degree program must be maintained.
  3. The length of the secondary program shall be extended for a duration of time sufficient to complete the secondary degree program. This is usually three to six months (for PA, OT, and CVS students) and may be individualized to accommodate availability of desired courses, academic proficiency, type of tract desired in the Biomedical Sciences Program (i.e., research or didactic tract, if applicable), and student preferences. The Biomedical Sciences Program degree must be completed within a total of 60 months from initial matriculation.
  4. The student must maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirements of each program. Failure to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA in either program will result in the student being given an academic warning or placed on academic probation. This may result in deceleration or temporary suspension from the secondary degree program.
  5. The number of credits required for completion of the Biomedical Sciences Program is degree-specific as stated above (see degree descriptions). Some courses from the student's clinical degree program may be deemed suitable for credit in the Biomedical Sciences Program degree program. If approved, these courses may be substituted for elective credit in the Biomedical Sciences Program up to a maximum of six (6) credits. No Biomedical Sciences Program tuition will be charged for these credits.
  6. In addition to the established quarterly tuition for the clinical degree program, students enrolled in a dual degree shall pay tuition to the Biomedical Sciences Program on a per credit basis. Dual-degree students accepted into the Biomedical Sciences Program at any time before graduation shall receive a 30% discount on the normal Biomedical Sciences Program per credit hour charge during their matriculation in the primary degree program and for up to 12 months following completion of their primary degree program. Quarterly Biomedical Sciences Program tuition is determined by the number of credits for which the student is registered.

Accreditation
Midwestern University has been continuously accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1993. (30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602) The most recent action by HLC/NCA (1997-1998) resulted in a 10-year accreditation renewal. The State of Arizona Board of Private Postsecondary Education has approved all current degree programs at Midwestern University, GlendaleŠArizona Campus.

All degrees are conferred under the authority granted by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA).