Frequently Asked Questions

Applications for the fall 2024 are now closed. The deadline for applications for Spring 2025 is November 1. Please consult our website on these deadlines.

No. Previous study or experience in bioethics is helpful, but not necessary, though interest in the field is important. You will have the opportunity to describe your interest in bioethics in your personal statement and other application materials.

Yes. Students will be required to complete 5 core courses in the foundations of bioethics and major areas in bioethics. With the guidance and approval of the academic advisor, students will have opportunities to tailor their experience to their interests with elective coursework drawing on the vast resources of Columbia University and its affiliated schools. 

The minimum requirement for entry into the Master of Science in Bioethics degree program is a bachelor’s degree and demonstrated interest in the field of bioethics. An essential feature of the program is that our students come from diverse backgrounds but collectively share an interest in bioethics.

The Bioethics program is ideal for students who are interested in working in biomedical and health-related areas, including: mid-career professionals with other terminal degrees who are interested in expanding their knowledge of bioethics for work related roles such as IRB or Ethics committee membership or for assisting in burnout issues, recent undergraduates who plan to work in healthcare and related areas, pre-med students who wish to enrich their medical training, pre-law students who wish to further hone their analytical and critical thinking abilities and professionals in healthcare or related fields such as law, medicine, and nursing, as well as healthcare administration and research compliance.

Refer to the Admissions page for detailed information about the application process and deadlines. The Program hosts online information sessions which provide an opportunity to speak directly with members of our admissions team as well as meet the core faculty who teach in the program. Please contact bioethics [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (bioethics[at]sps[dot]columbia[dot]edu) if you have questions.

Yes. There is an option to complete the program full-time or part-time. Some mid-career professionals can take a sabbatical while completing the program full-time and return to their career with relevant experience they have gained from the curriculum. Some students also choose to continue their career while attending classes. 

The full-time program takes a minimum one year to complete and the part-time program takes up to 3 years to complete. Students may start the program in the fall or spring of each academic year. Most courses are offered in the evening, between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 PM ET. Synchronous online courses are offered during weeknights.

Schedules of the full- and part-time options are viewable on the website.

Yes. We offer a one-year, full time virtual option or a three-year, part-time virtual option where all instruction is offered remotely. Online required courses are offered in the evenings (Eastern Time) to accommodate working professionals. Students will select one of these options during the admissions process. 

We also offer a hybrid option where online students are welcome to come and attend in person courses for a semester after going through the necessary administration process required by the University.

Our students pursue many different career trajectories.  Many are mid-career professionals, such as physicians, nurses, lawyers, hospital administrators and IRB staff, and find that the program helps them advance in significant ways, becoming leaders in their institutions and in their fields, nationally and internationally.  Others students have recently graduated college and find that the program helps them immensely in gaining admission to medical school, law school, graduate schools in public health, philosophy, sciences, social sciences and other fields, or in obtaining jobs at medical centers, health care consulting companies, pharmaceutical companies and other areas.

Columbia University is a vibrant and diverse community consisting of the Morningside Campus, the Manhattanville Campus and the Medical Campus. As one of the seventeen prestigious schools affiliated with Columbia University, the School of Professional Studies where the Bioethics program belongs is expanding the reach and impact of an Ivy League education so more students can take their education and careers to the next level. View the Student Life page for more detailed information.

Every Bioethics student is matched with a primary academic mentor, a School of Professional Studies advisor, and a peer-selected “student or alumni buddy.”

We receive many applications, so decisions on some applications may be made with interviews. Please note that not all applicants will be interviewed and not being called for an interview should not be taken to suggest any judgment on the part of the admissions committee; admission can be granted in many cases without an interview. You will be contacted directly should the program require an interview via Zoom as part of the application process.

Please consult our Tuition & Fees page which has the most updated information on financial cost.

Yes, the Office of Student Financial Planning provides financial aid information and services, including document collection and counseling, for students in the School of Professional Studies. Please visit our website for more information.

In addition, the Bioethics program provides merit-based, Bioethics Honors Fellowships, funding to new students each year. Merit-based fellowship funding is assessed on the basis of the application submitted for admission. No fellowship application is required and no supplementary materials may be submitted for consideration. All admitted applicants are considered for merit-based fellowship awards during the admissions cycle.

Yes. International students may apply using the same materials as US students, and if necessary, submit an English proficiency exam score. International students should review the International Students and Scholars Office page.

International students accepted to the full time in-person program will need to provide proof of funding for tuition and living expenses in United States Dollars (USD). International students cannot study part time in-person due to visa regulations. 

If your first and native language is not English, you must provide official scores on the TOEFL or IELTS Academic. Applicant total scores must meet the Columbia SPS minimum requirement of 100 (TOEFL iBT) or 7.0 (IELTS Academic) to be admissible.