Religious Studies (Thesis): Bioethics (M.A.) (45 credits)
Offered by: Religious Studies (Faculty of Arts)
Degree: Master of Arts
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Religious Studies; Bioethics is offered in collaboration with the Biomedical Ethics Unit. The program focuses on the conceptual frameworks and tools to address fundamental questions about life and the interventions by healthcare in research, policy and practice. The program includes a thesis and practicum on bioethics.
Thesis Courses (24 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOE 690 | M.Sc. Thesis Literature Survey. | 3 |
M.Sc. Thesis Literature Survey. Terms offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 A comprehensive literature survey in the general area of the thesis topic, to be completed in the first semester. | ||
| BIOE 691 | M.Sc. Thesis Research Proposal. | 3 |
M.Sc. Thesis Research Proposal. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent work under the supervision of the thesis advisor(s) leading to a thesis proposal. | ||
| BIOE 692 | M.Sc. Thesis Research Progress Report. | 6 |
M.Sc. Thesis Research Progress Report. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A status report on the progress in the thesis research. | ||
| BIOE 693 | M.Sc. Thesis. | 12 |
M.Sc. Thesis. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Independent work under the supervision of the thesis advisor(s) leading to a thesis manuscript. | ||
Required Courses (12 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOE 680 | Bioethical Theory. | 3 |
Bioethical Theory. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Overview of moral theoretical approaches to bioethics, as well as explorations of critical responses, meta-ethical foundations, methodological questions, and ethical issues arising in bioethics scholarship. | ||
| BIOE 681 | Bioethics Practicum. | 3 |
Bioethics Practicum. Terms offered: Winter 2026 Four hours per week supervised placement within health care settings (e.g., intensive care, family practice, clinical ethics committees). In addition, students shall be assigned for the last month of the term to a single intensive placement. Participation in rounds, case discussions, and a weekly seminar. | ||
| RELG 571 | Ethics, Medicine and Religion. | 3 |
Ethics, Medicine and Religion. Terms offered: Winter 2026 The seminar will discuss a variety of topics related to medicine and religion from the point of view of ethics, such as the pact of care between a patient and a physician, the Hippocratic oath, the notions of autonomy and vulnerability, the definitions of personhood and human dignity, the question of rights for people with cognitive disabilities, the debate about the role of religion in bioethics. | ||
| RELG 645 | Methods in Religious Studies. | 3 |
Methods in Religious Studies. Terms offered: Fall 2025 Theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of religion, including: historical studies/textual hermeneutics; ritual/performance studies; and religion and modernity. | ||
Complementary Courses (9 credits)
9 credits at the 500 or 600 level, deemed necessary or accepted by the base faculty for the granting of a master's degree, in consultation with the supervisor.