Applied Ethics & Policy (AM)

Program Code: G-AEP-AM
Degree Designation: Master of Arts
Department: Duke Initiative for Science & Society/Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
Website: scienceandsociety.duke.edu/learn/ma

Program Summary

The Initiative for Science & Society, founded in 2013, is a campus-wide initiative at Duke dedicated to interdisciplinary education scholarship, and policy engagement relating to the integral role of science in law, policy, social institutions, and culture. Science & Society offers a Master of Arts in Applied Ethics & Policy, a program that teaches students how to identify, analyze, and propose solutions to address cutting edge and historical developments in science, medicine, technology, and policy. The program provides a foundation in the history, philosophy, legal, social, and theoretical approaches to bioethical analysis, as well as an introduction to science, tech and health policy. The degree had been previously named the MA in Bioethics & Science Policy, but in December 2024, the Board of Trustees approved Science & Society’s application to change the name of the degree to reflect the evolution of its curriculum and focus.

A distinguishing feature of the program is the option for students to select a topical area in which to concentrate their advanced studies. These concentrations represent existing or emerging areas of knowledge that pose complex questions about the relationship between science, technology, ethics, and society. The two concentrations are Bioethics & Science Policy and Tech Ethics & Policy. Students can also concentrate in both or opt to not have a concentration.

Science & Society offers a host of workshops and programs to deepen master's students' understanding of the field, help them consider career options, and connect them with leaders in bioethics and science policy and with other departments on campus.

Science & Society also offers a JD/MA degree in cooperation with the Duke Law School. During their first semester at the Law School JD students may apply to participate in the joint degree, and obtain both degrees within three years. The MA is also available as a concurrent degree for PhD students, who may apply after completing their prelim exams.

Academic Requirements

The MA in Applied Ethics & Policy requires a minimum of 36 credits, and can be earned in one year on a full-time basis (3 full semesters) . Students in good standing who have completed the core requirements can elect to return for a fourth semester for research and/or electives.

Requirements include:

• 5 required core courses (15 credits)

• 4 elective courses (12 credits): Students may select electives from an extensive list of options from across the University.

• 1 Capstone Project (9 credits): Each student will complete a capstone project under the guidance of a faculty mentor, either an in-depth research paper, a field placement (“practicum”), with a written report analyzing the experience and integrating concepts learned in the program, or through participation in an Applied Ethics+ project. The capstone project is designed to demonstrate that a student has acquired extensive knowledge of current thinking in bioethics, tech ethics and policy; has collected, synthesized, and reflected on these issues; and has developed competence in scholarly writing.