Healthcare ethics is an interdisciplinary field that exists in a globalized context, one that engages clinical, organizational, professional and research issues related to medicine, science, law, policy, social science and the humanities. At Duquesne University's Center for Global Health Ethics, you’ll come together with professors and healthcare ethics professionals to explore scenarios, issues and current events in healthcare ethics, and ask difficult questions that drive meaningful change in an array of ethics fields in healthcare. 
 
The center provides scholarly and professional training in healthcare ethics consistent with the Catholic, Spiritan identity of Duquesne University, based on the university’s liberal arts foundation. Duquesne is committed to an atmosphere that is open to diversity to celebrate education of the mind, heart and spirit.  We also cultivate academic excellence, ethically responsible judgment, and social justice in a globalized context. 
 
The center prepares you, as an emerging leader in healthcare ethics, with the relevant skills to work in the healthcare environment and to address the challenges of today and tomorrow collaboratively with professionals and organizations.  

Degrees & Programs

Two doctoral programs are available:
  • The Ph.D. is a research degree that combines academic and clinical education to train you in a systematic and critical manner to be a scholar in the field. Hence, the Ph.D. dissertation focuses on appropriate research and writing competencies.
  • The DHCE is a professional degree that combines academic and clinical education to train you in a systematic and critical manner to be a clinically oriented professional in the field. Hence, the DHCE project is a practical endeavor that focuses on those appropriate clinical and writing competencies.
The doctoral curriculum requires 12 courses (36 credits) beyond the master’s degree.
Two doctoral programs are available:
  • The Ph.D. is a research degree that combines academic and clinical education to train you in a systematic and critical manner to be a scholar in the field. Hence, the Ph.D. dissertation focuses on appropriate research and writing competencies.
  • The DHCE is a professional degree that combines academic and clinical education to train you in a systematic and critical manner to be a clinically oriented professional in the field. Hence, the DHCE project is a practical endeavor that focuses on the appropriate clinical and writing competencies.
The doctoral curriculum requires 12 courses (36 credits) beyond the master’s degree. Baccalaureate admission track requires 16 courses (48 credits) beyond the baccalaureate degree.
  • The School of Nursing and the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Center for Global Health Ethics offer a unique interdisciplinary Ph.D. in nursing ethics. This one-of-a-kind Ph.D. program combines doctoral courses in nursing and healthcare ethics. You can complete this online program in four years, with select residency requirements, including a study-abroad component.
  • Calculated credits:
    26 credits - Nursing
    12 credits - Healthcare ethics
    3 credits - Cognate
    6 credits - Dissertation
    = 47 total credits
  • The M.A. degree program includes a total of 10 courses (30 credits), one required course plus nine courses selected from the general healthcare ethics courses. The required course is a general graduate-level introduction to ethics, while you will choose the nine HCE courses with advisement according to your interests.
  • As a candidate for the master of arts in healthcare ethics, you will be eligible to receive a Master of Arts Scholarship through the Duquesne University McAnulty College and Graduate School that can reduce your degree costs by 25%. Please visit the graduate special awards website for specific details.
  • The M.A. program includes a total of 10 courses (30 credits), one required course plus nine courses you'll select from the general healthcare ethics and Catholic healthcare courses. The required course is a general graduate-level introduction to ethics, while you'll choose the nine HCE courses with advisement according to your interests. The research projects and the research essay in the courses will deal with topics related to Catholic healthcare.
Duquesne offers a joint degree in law and healthcare ethics because such a degree is attractive to anyone interested in pursuing jobs in health-related fields and will better qualify you for jobs in this expanding field.

The required experiences in clinical settings offered by the joint degree will enrich your appreciation of the various health-related practice areas and the range of legal issues you are likely to face in practice. The joint degree is structured so that you will be able to graduate in three to four years with both degrees if desired. 
The minor in healthcare ethics focuses on moral values and ethical dilemmas in regard to health, disease and healthcare. You will study these values and ethical queries, integrating a diversity of approaches with an attention to global concerns.

Course Planners

Course Planner for MA Degree in Healthcare Ethics

Choose 10 courses
  • HCE 643  EOL Care Ethics
  • HCE 645  Comparative Religious Bioethics
  • HCE 648  Clinical Ethics
  • HCE 649  Empirical Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 650  Beginning of Life Ethics
  • HCE 653  Genetics and Ethics
  • HCE 654  Research Ethics
  • HCE 655  Global Bioethics
  • HCE 658  Intensive Research in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 659  Normative Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 660  Research Writing in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 662  Organizational Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 690  Independent Study
Course Planner for PhD in Healthcare Ethics
Choose 16 courses
  • HCE 643  EOL Care Ethics
  • HCE 645  Comparative Religious Bioethics
  • HCE 648 Clinical Ethics
  • HCE 649  Empirical Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 650  Beginning of Life Ethics
  • HCE 653  Genetics and Ethics
  • HCE 654  Research Ethics
  • HCE 655  Global Bioethics
  • HCE 658  Intensive Research in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 659  Normative Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 660  Research Writing in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 662  Organizational Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 690  Independent Study

Students can also register for the following clinical rotations, as part of their curriculum.
  • HCE 646  Clinical Healthcare Ethics I  (CORE I)
  • HCE 647  Clinical Healthcare Ethics II  (CORE II)
  • HCE 681  Clinical Internship in HCE I (CORE III)
  • HCE 682  Clinical Internship in HCE II (CORE IV)
Course Planner for PhD in Healthcare Ethics
Choose 12 courses
  • HCE 643  EOL Care Ethics
  • HCE 645  Comparative Religious Bioethics
  • HCE 648  Clinical Ethics
  • HCE 649  Empirical Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 650  Beginning of Life Ethics
  • HCE 653  Genetics and Ethics
  • HCE 654  Research Ethics
  • HCE 655  Global Bioethics
  • HCE 658  Intensive Research in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 659  Normative Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 660  Research Writing in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 662  Organizational Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 690  Independent Study

Students can also register for the following clinical rotations, as part of their curriculum.
  • HCE 646  Clinical Healthcare Ethics I  (CORE I)
  • HCE 647  Clinical Healthcare Ethics II  (CORE II)
  • HCE 681  Clinical Internship in HCE I  (CORE III)
  • HCE 682  Clinical Internship in HCE II  (CORE IV)
Course Planner for PhD in Catholic Healthcare Ethics
Choose 16 courses
  • HCE 743  EOL Care Ethics
  • HCE 745  Comparative Religious Bioethics
  • HCE 748  Clinical Ethics
  • HCE 749  Empirical Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 750  Beginning of Life Ethics
  • HCE 753  Genetics and Ethics
  • HCE 754  Research Ethics
  • HCE 755  Global Bioethics
  • HCE 758  Intensive Research in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 759  Normative Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 760  Research Writing in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 762  Organizational Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 790  Independent Study

Students can also register for the following clinical rotations, as part of their curriculum.
  • HCE 746  Clinical Healthcare Ethics I  (CORE I)
  • HCE 747  Clinical Healthcare Ethics II  (CORE II)
  • HCE 781  Clinical Internship in HCE I  (CORE III)
  • HCE 782  Clinical Internship in HCE II  (CORE IV)
Course Planner for PhD in Catholic Healthcare Ethics

Choose 12 courses
  • HCE 743  EOL Care Ethics
  • HCE 745  Comparative Religious Bioethics
  • HCE 748  Clinical Ethics
  • HCE 749  Empirical Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 750  Beginning of Life Ethics
  • HCE 753  Genetics and Ethics
  • HCE 754  Research Ethics
  • HCE 755  Global Bioethics
  • HCE 758  Intensive Research in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 759  Normative Methods in HCE (required course)
  • HCE 760  Research Writing in Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 762  Organizational Healthcare Ethics
  • HCE 790  Independent Study

Students can also register for the following clinical rotations, as part of their curriculum.
  • HCE 746  Clinical Healthcare Ethics I  (CORE I)
  • HCE 747  Clinical Healthcare Ethics II  (CORE II)
  • HCE 781  Clinical Internship in HCE I  (CORE III)
  • HCE 782  Clinical Internship in HCE II  (CORE IV)

Meet Our Faculty

Dr. Joris Gielen

Dr. Joris Gielen

Eugene P. Beard Endowed Chair, Associate Professor and Director of Center for Global Health Ethics

Dr. Gerard Magill

Dr. Gerard Magill

Vernon F. Gallagher Chair & Professor, Center for Global Health Ethics

Dr. Peter Osuji

Dr. Peter Osuji

Assistant Professor, Global Health Ethics

Dr. Ian Tully

Dr. Ian Tully

Assistant Professor, Nursing & Global Health Ethics

Contact for more info

Center for Global Health Ethics