Undergraduate Minor in Bioethics

The Minor in Bioethics is designed for students aspiring toward careers in the health sciences and the health professions. The program is the only undergraduate minor available from the School of Medicine, and is one of the oldest programs of its kind in the United States. The curriculum for the Minor in Bioethics addresses ethical issues in health care, health policy, public health and the conduct of health sciences research; introduces ethical theories and methods of ethics analysis; and instills an appreciation of social and cultural issues that frame bioethical concerns. Course formats vary from small seminars that afford opportunities for peer learning to larger lecture-driven courses. The curriculum is taught by faculty from diverse disciplinary backgrounds who are experts in their respective fields.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY

The Wylie Burke Endowed Scholarship for Diversity supports UW undergraduate and/or graduate students from diverse social and experiential backgrounds, who are working in interdisciplinary space to study the social, ethical, and policy implications of health research and/or healthcare. The $1,000 scholarship seeks to cover costs of tuition, books, fees, travel to professional meetings, and other educational expenses. Apply by May 15th. 

More Information

Program Entry Requirements:

  1. You must have declared a major and
  2. Be a junior or be on track to be a junior
  3. Completed at least 45 credits

How to Declare the Minor:

  1. Email bhadvise@uw.edu the following info:
    • Name as it appears on your UW transcripts
    • NetID
    • Student Number

The advisor will complete the One Departmental Signature Change of Major/Minor form on the Change of Major/Minor page. 

Director of Undergraduate Studies

Michelle Montgomery, PhD, MA, MPP
Email: montgm2@uw.edu 
Office hours: Thursdays, 12-1:30 pm 

Advisor

bhadvise@uw.edu

The Minor in Bioethics Program Manual includes:

  • Program Entry Requirements
  • How to Declare the Minor
  • Registration
  • BH 499: Independent Study
  • Faculty
  • UW, SOM, and BH Policies
  • Requirements
  • Adding a Course to the List of Approved Electives
  • Approved Elective Courses
  • Applying for Graduation

Undergrad Courses

This course is an examination of the ethical problem of allocating scarce medical resources. We will emphasize the fundamental principles of...
This course examines the moral grounds for the view that social inequalities in health are unjust using contemporary literature from moral...
This course introduces students to select biotechnology innovations and invites consideration of the ethical and policy implications...
This course examines the history of ideas, policies, and practices associated with eugenics and human genetics from the late nineteenth...
This course examines problems in bioethics from diverse global standpoints, including East Asian, Sub-Saharan African and Western. Our...
This course studies the major normative ethical theories, including both teleological and deontological approaches. We emphasize moral...
This course offers a case-based approach to ethical topics in medicine, such as abortion, genetic testing, physician-assisted death, and...
This course introduces students to bioethical questions that arise in public health, population health, and global health, situating ethical...