For students preparing to enter medical school, understanding science is only part of the journey. The most effective doctors also understand how ethics, culture, and human values shape care. Columbia University’s Master of Science in Bioethics (BIET) program at the School of Professional Studies allows premed students to gain skills needed to explore profound questions while gaining practical insights that strengthen their medical school applications and prepare them for the realities of health care today.
“The Columbia Bioethics degree was one of the things that distinguished me in the medical school interviewing process,” said program alum Shami-Iyabo Mitchell, now a medical student, who was studying for the MCAT and applying to medical schools while enrolled in the BIET program. “During my interviews, I was able to articulate how my graduate school experiences would help to shape me into the physician that I hope to be for my future patients.”
Led by Dr. Robert Klitzman, BIET Program Director and Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the program examines the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of health care and the life sciences. Dr. Klitzman is a leading bioethicist whose work spans genetics, research ethics, and the doctor-patient relationship. Under his guidance, the program has developed a curriculum that connects theory to the real-world issues clinicians and researchers face every day.
A Curriculum That Builds Critical Thinkers
The M.S. in Bioethics is a 36-credit program that can be completed in one year of full-time study or at a flexible pace for those balancing other commitments. Students take five core courses and choose electives covering topics such as clinical ethics, policy and regulation, research ethics, and biotechnology. The program concludes with a master’s thesis, allowing students to apply what they have learned to a specific ethical challenge or area of interest.
For premed students, this structure is ideal. It offers a focused year of study that deepens their understanding of the ethical and cultural forces influencing medicine without delaying their path to medical school. Courses addressing informed consent, end-of-life decision-making, global health policy, and emerging technologies enable the kind of perspective future physicians need to navigate complex patient interactions and policy questions.
Students also have the opportunity to attend program-hosted events and discussions with experts and leaders in the field. Examples from this past year include a fireside chat with Dr. Klitzman and Dr. Anthony Fauci, and “From Coma to Consciousness: Are We Worried?” with Dr. Robert Klitzman and Dr. Joseph Fins, the E. William Davis Jr., M.D., Professor of Medical Ethics and Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Expert Faculty with Clinical Insight
Students in the BIET program learn from faculty who are leaders in medicine, law, philosophy, and public health. Many are clinicians themselves, or actively serve on hospital ethics committees, advise policymakers, or consult on emerging bioethical dilemmas. Their diverse backgrounds give students a broad understanding of how ethical reasoning is applied in research institutions, clinical practice, and global health organizations. This real-world perspective helps future medical professionals think critically and compassionately about the challenges they will face in their careers.
The Value for Premed Students
Adding a background in bioethics gives premed students a clear advantage. Participation demonstrates intellectual curiosity, compassion, and an awareness of the broader responsibilities of a physician. Alumni often describe how their bioethics training strengthened their empathy and sharpened their communication skills—qualities that medical schools consistently seek.
At the time of her graduation from the BIET program, Anna Vargo—who was preparing to enter Albany Medical College—reflected on how her Columbia experience had shaped her outlook. “I am most excited about finally getting practical clinical experience by applying what I’ve learned from this bioethics program,” she said. “We always talk about hypothetical clinical cases in class and how to respond, so I know that I am well-equipped to tackle the difficult situations that will arise at Albany Medical College, and throughout my career as a physician.”
A Bridge Between Science and Humanity
For students taking a gap year before medical school, the BIET program offers an opportunity to stay academically engaged while expanding their understanding of what it truly means to care for others. It encourages students to think critically about the choices doctors make, the systems that shape those choices, and the kind of physician they aspire to become.
About the Program
Columbia University’s Master of Science in Bioethics grounds students in interdisciplinary approaches and models to address pressing bioethical challenges such as stem-cell research and health-care reform. The program prepares students to act as responsible and responsive leaders in this new and ever-growing field. It also includes a concentration in global bioethics—the first of its kind in the U.S. Columbia’s Bioethics program offers a range of degrees and courses.
