The Department of Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics and Medical Epidemiology (BBME) in partnership with the MU Center for Health Ethics offers a Graduate Certificate in Health Ethics, which may be completed completely online or through articulation with graduate or professional coursework in either the residential or executive modes.

The health ethics certificate prepares students to understand the ethical issues clinicians face in healthcare services delivery. It is important for managers to know the real-world issues faced by physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Examples are decision-making capacity, informed consent, end of life care, and patient information confidentiality.

While there are multiple educational offerings which may result in certificate acquisition, students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours from the approved list below.

Health Ethics Certificate Courses

Required - six credits

  • HMI 7564: Health Ethics Theory
  • HMI 8565: Healthcare Ethics

Elective Course Options - six credits

  • HMI 7567: Health Organizational Ethics
  • HMI 7566: Health Informatics Ethics
  • HMI 8574 - Health Care Law (campus course)
  • HMI 8575 - Health Policy and Politics (campus course)
  • LAW 5615 - Health Care Law: The Regulation of Providers
  • HMI 8485 - Problems in HMI: Applied Bioethics Practicum (Independent Study)
  • HMI 8515 - Problems in Medical Ethics and Clinical Ethics Consultation Practicum

For course descriptions, see http://catalog.missouri.edu/courseofferings/hmi/. Current students may check MyZou for up-to-date schedule information.

Apply to the Health Ethics Graduate Certificate Program

Certificate-seeking students apply to the Graduate Certificate Program in Health Ethics by completing and submitting the Graduate Studies online application. The application and admission requirements include:

  • A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
  • Transcripts
  • Current resume or curriculum vitae
  • A personal essay that (a) outlines the applicant's professional plans and career objectives, (b) explains how educational, work, or other experiences led to the decision to pursue a graduate certificate in health informatics, and (c) includes specific issues and challenges in health care that are of strong personal interest
  • A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for the last 60 hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework
  • International students whose native language is not English must submit test scores from TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) of 100 or better on the internet based exam or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) of 7.0 or better, or Duolingo scores of 120 or better
  • Application fee of $40
  • If one or more elements of an application for admission fall short of the above standards (e.g., GPA is less than 3.0), then the Admissions Committee may approve "Conditional Acceptance" into the graduate certificate program
  • An interview (either on-campus or by telephone) with program faculty may be requested
  • Standardized test scores, such as the GRE, are not required