Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theology and Health Care Ethics

About

Students who are interested in both bioethics and theological ethics and who wish to write a dissertation on bioethics from a theological perspective should consider Saint Louis University's joint Ph.D. in Theology and Health Care Ethics, offered by the Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics and the Department of Theological Studies. Unlike a dual degree, this SLU program offers one degree: a Ph.D. in Theology and Health Care Ethics. All joint Ph.D. students take a three-semester, 150-hour clinical practicum to gain experience working in a clinical setting. Students interested in the clinical ethics concentration can complete an additional advanced practicum in which students are placed in active clinical ethics consultation services for 300-plus hours. In addition to these fieldwork opportunities, most Ph.D. students graduate with two or more publications. Graduates will be able to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the foundational disciplines, methods, topics and issues in health care ethics required for the scholarly analysis of issues in the field.  Graduates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the theories and methods that structure the study of theology and religion. Graduates will be able to demonstrate a proficiency in formulating original, normative theological arguments on topics related to theology and health care ethics. Graduates will be able to demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, develop and bring to successful completion an original, sustained and coherent independent research project that contributes to the field (i.e. the dissertation). Graduates will be able to demonstrate an ability to generate appropriate job search materials (i.e. curriculum vitae, teaching portfolio, writing sample). Non-coursework requirements include reading comprehension of French or German (or another language with approval of both programs), three research tools requirements in Library Database Skills, Medical Terminology and Statistics and Study Design, and written and oral comprehensive exams. Graduates of this program are highly qualified candidates for academic jobs in theology departments, religion departments or bioethics centers, as well as administrative jobs in mission and ethics in health care institutions. 

Career Path 

Graduate career path includes Department Chair (Theology/Bioethics/Health Humanities), Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Health Care Ethics), Research Director (Theology & Bioethics), Scientific Journal Editor (Theology/Ethics Focus), Academic Advisor (Graduate-Level Theology/Health), Curriculum Developer (Ethics & Theology Programs), Graduate Program Coordinator, Clinical Ethicist, Patient Rights Advocate, Palliative Care Ethics Specialist, Hospital Ethics Committee Director, End-of-Life Care Ethics Specialist, Genetic Counseling Ethics Consultant, Mental Health Ethics Consultant, Public Health Ethics Specialist, Policy Analyst (Health Care Ethics & Theology Focus), Government Affairs Specialist (Health Policy), Public Health Policy Advisor, Legislative Ethics Consultant, Regulatory Affairs Director (Health Care), Global Health Ethics Specialist, International Development Ethics Advisor,Health Care Compliance Officer, Corporate Ethics Director (Health Care/Pharma), Biotech Ethics Consultant.