Dual-Degree: Master of Science in Bioethics and Master of Science in Social Work

Columbia University’s Master of Science in Bioethics and Master of Science in Social Work dual-degree program prepares professionals to take leadership roles:

  • as social workers who can develop, deliver, and evaluate services, drawing on strong foundational knowledge, frameworks, and skills in bioethics, which can help in assisting patients with advance care planning, in performing clinical ethics consults, and in aiding institutional policy-making, and
  • as bioethicists who have also acquired clinical training in social work, which can help in performing clinical ethics consults.

How Does It Work?

  1. Obtain admission to M.S. in Social Work (MSSW) and M.S. in Bioethics separately.
  2. Complete generalist year MSSW coursework full-time, online, or in person at the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) during your first year, as well as a bioethics course at SPS. 
  3. Spend your second year taking M.S. coursework in bioethics at SPS—full-time or part-time, online or in person.
  4. Complete specialized year MSSW coursework full-time, online, or in person at CSSW, as well as another bioethics course at SPS.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the dual-degree program advance their careers at a range of fields, including:

  • Health care
  • Nonprofit/international NGOs
  • Educational settings
  • Governmental agencies
  • Academic settings

Program features include:

  • Full-Spectrum Career Services | Gain access to both the SPS Career Design Lab and CSSW’s Office of Career and Leadership Management, which offer lifelong support.
  • In-Person or Online Classes | Complete the program fully online, fully in person, or through a combination of online and in-person study, studying with physicians, lawyers, philosophers, and others.
  • Specialized Career Opportunities | Cross-disciplinary training in social work and bioethics can expand your knowledge and skills and broaden your career prospects.
  • Global Alumni Networks | Become part of two global alumni networks.
  • Columbia University Resources | Develop a network across Columbia institutes and centers affiliated with both schools.
  • An Advanced Cohort | Join an elite network of highly motivated professionals.

Graduates of the dual-degree program will be prepared to address questions including:

  • How do we balance patients’ best interests with their autonomy if patients and/or their families are refusing medical care or wanting more care than their physicians recommend?
  • How to triage and allocate scarce resources?
  • How should hospitals and other health institutions decide whether to mandate vaccines, masks, or other measures for employees?
  • Should patients undergo medical treatment or research if it also poses risks to them, and how should we proceed in such cases?

Master of Science in Bioethics

Master of Science in Social Work