Master of Science in Bioethics

Through an online MS in Bioethics, you will gain career-changing skills that will allow you to guide ethical decision-making in a variety of fields.

Health care is at its best when the dignity of the human person is the guiding principle. With a Master of Science in Bioethics, you will gain the confidence and skills to navigate and communicate through critical and complex ethical situations. Our bioethics program will provide you with an ethical framework — and the ability to apply that framework — to fields including medicine, law, business, and public affairs. Through a strong partnership with the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC), you have two options for earning your master's degree — by building on your NCBC certification through our partnership or pursuing the full-length MS in Bioethics degree through the University of Mary. Whichever track you choose, you'll advance your career while advancing the practice of ethical decision-making.

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

Get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission to the University of Mary.

National Catholic Bioethics Center

The National Catholic Bioethics Center provides education, guidance, and resources to the Church and society to uphold the dignity of the human person in health care and biomedical research. Learn more about their work and the two-day seminar hosted at the University of Mary.

At a Glance

$84,810

Average annual salary for medical scientists.

Program Length

2 years

Format

Online with up to four visits to our main campus in Bismarck, ND depending on your choice of track.

Tuition per Credit

$670

Is This the Degree For Me?

Who It’s For

Established health care professionals interested in engaging with ethical dilemmas arising from technological innovation in medicine, such as those associated with the field’s increasing dependence on artificial intelligence
Newcomers to health care seeking a holistic framework for evaluating contemporary debates surrounding euthanasia, induced abortion, and other controversial medical services
Clergy, chaplains, educators, business leaders, attorneys, and policymakers desiring to gain insight into the historical, philosophical, and theological dimensions of fraught bioethical issues

Career Paths

Health Care Leader
Church Leader
Ethics Committee Member (Policy Analysis & Development)
Education Leader
Research Leader
Compliance Officer
Policymaker

What You’ll Learn

Through our MS in Bioethics, you’ll gain a deep understanding of Christian principles and the ability to integrate those principles in a wide range of clinical, research, educational, and policy settings. Once you graduate, you’ll be prepared to:

Integrate the philosophical and scientific underpinnings of faith and reason into a framework for ethical decision-making.
Apply the ethical decision-making framework to areas of clinical practice, education, and research including but not limited to the following topics:
- Informed consent in research and treatment
- Confidentiality and the health care provider-patient relationship
- Cultural and religious diversity among patients and practitioners
- Suffering, death, and dying
- Experimentation and new technologies in health care and science
- Reproductive technologies
- Access to and allocation of medical resources
- Fraud and abuse
- Intellectual property
- Regulatory affairs

Concentration Options

You’ll have the opportunity to further align your course of study with your unique goals by incorporating a specialized certificate track into your degree plan.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)/MS in Bioethics

If you’re a BSN-prepared nurse with a particular commitment to patient advocacy and care improvement, we encourage you to consider pursuing a dual graduate degree in bioethics and either nursing leadership or nursing and health care informatics. Our newly developed master’s programs in nursing and bioethics each integrate advanced interdisciplinary coursework with targeted practical preparation to equip candidates for crucial roles at the intersection of biomedical research, nursing education, health care policymaking, and clinical practice.

Program Details

Program Information

Please visit our catalog for admission requirements and a full list of our courses.

Your first step is to get in touch with any questions or submit a simple application for admission. After acceptance to the University as a candidate for graduate studies, we will assist you every step of the way toward acceptance into your academic program so you can enroll and begin your classes!

2025 NCBC SEMINAR IN BISMARCK

August 8-9
University of Mary Main Campus
Bismarck, ND

If you are serving or have served our country, we sincerely thank you. Our military services office is here to work closely with active duty, retired, reserve, and eligible family members qualified for military benefits. Learn how we can help you with the application process and review the benefits you have earned.

For a full list of fees, visit our Tuition and Fees page.

The University of Mary is committed to putting your educational goals within reach. Learn what scholarships you qualify for.

We welcome students from various backgrounds, including transfer students from institutionally accredited colleges and universities recognized by the US Dept. of Education and those with military or career and work experience.

How do I show my previous college, military, or work experience?

Official transcripts (if applicable) from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 should be submitted directly to the Office of Admissions.
- Did you graduate from the University of Mary? Then we’ll get your Mary transcript for you!
- At most other schools, you can request transcripts by going to the National Student Clearinghouse or by contacting the registrar’s office.
  - Have your transcripts sent to:
    Office of Admissions
    University of Mary
    7500 University Drive
    Bismarck, ND 58504
  - Or request to send electronic transcripts to registrar@umary.edu.
NCBC transcripts should be requested by emailing info@ncbcenter.org or calling 215-871-2013.
Students with previous career or work experience can earn credits for prior learning.
- You can choose to test for prior learning credits — we convert your test scores into college credit.
- You can request a portfolio review for prior learning credits. You’ll assemble documentation to show your experience, which will be reviewed and evaluated by an experienced faculty member.
Military experience can count towards a degree.
- If you are Active duty, National Guard, Reserve, or a Veteran from the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy, you can request your transcript through Joint Services Transcript.
- Air Force personnel should contact the CCAF to receive your transcript.
- If you already have your CCAF degree, check out our Air University Associate to Baccalaureate Cooperative page to see how you can apply your degree to get a bachelor’s degree at the University of Mary.

What will I need to apply?

All of our programs require you to fill out the general application form in addition to submitting the application fee and your transcripts.
Any program-specific requirements you’ll need to submit in addition to the items listed above can be found in our catalog.

At the University of Mary, we review every application on an individual basis, ensuring that the materials you submit are evaluated with care and attention. Reach out to us if you have any questions in filling out your application.

Get Started Today

Apply Online