MPH in Bioethics
Baylor University's Master of Public Health in Bioethics equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to analyze, articulate, and address ethical challenges in population health, health policy, aging, biomedical innovation, and pandemic preparedness.
As a faith-based institution, Baylor University is uniquely positioned to offer an education that cultivates ethical reasoning, character formation, and a commitment to human dignity. The MPH in Bioethics aligns deeply with Baylor’s mission to integrate intellectual rigor with Christian ethical principles. Today more than ever, the world needs public-health professionals who are both technically competent and morally grounded. Baylor’s faith-informed approach offers exactly such formation.
For additional information about Baylor’s MPH in Bioethics, please contact Dr. Beth Lanning at Beth_Lanning@baylor.edu.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Baylor's MPH in Bioethics program will be well positioned for roles across public health practice, policy, research, aging services, healthcare delivery, and global-health organizations. Possible career trajectories include:
- Public-health ethics advisor or consultant
- Pandemic preparedness and response specialist
- Ethics coordinator within health systems or long-term care networks
- Human-subjects research oversight and compliance officer
- Policy analyst or public-health program leader
- Healthcare organization administrator with ethics expertise
- Academic or educator in ethics, health policy, and public health
Curriculum
Students pursuing the Bioethics concentration will complete Baylor's MPH core curriculum (15 hours) alongside specialized coursework in bioethics, health policy, law, and applied ethics. Applied learning is emphasized throughout the program, with students working directly with health systems, community partners, ethics committees, and public-health agencies.
The 42-hour degree plan is completed in 2 years.
MPH Core Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 5315 | Theoretical Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| STA 5300 | Statistical Methods | 3 |
| PUBH 5337 | Public Health Concepts in Epidemiology | 3 |
| PUBH 5378 | Policy and Administration in Public Health | 3 |
| ENV 5302 | Environmental Health | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 15 | |
Other Required Public Health Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 5379 | Research Methods in Public Health | 3 |
| PUBH 5348 | Applied Data Analysis for Epidemiology and Population Health | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 6 | |
Required Bioethics Courses
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| REL 5368 | Bioethics | 3 |
| REL 5385 | Current Issues in Bioethics | 3 |
| REL 4389 | Disability Ethics | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 9 | |
Bioethics Electives
Students will select two courses in their chosen topic or cognate area of interest.
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| REL 5370 | Neuroethics and Theology | 3 |
| REL 4393 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 4325 | Literary and Philosophical Perspectives on Medicine | 3 |
Practice Experiences
| Course Number | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PUBH 5V94 | Public Health Practicum | 3 |
| PUBH 5399 | Public Health Capstone | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDIT HOURS | 6 | |