Master of Science in Bioethics Degree Program

Capstone Experience

A mentored, hands-on capstone ethics experience complements the Master of Science in Bioethics (MBE) program, tailored to each student’s professional expertise and interests. Our program participants are paired with faculty who are actively working on the front lines of bioethics. 

Working in collaboration, students actually see and participate in the type of bioethics they will be practicing after graduation. They gain practical, real-life understanding applying what they have learned as they work alongside a bioethics leader in their area of concentration.

Mentored Practical Experience

The capstone experience is a mentored practical experience tailored to each student's professional expertise and interests culminating in a poster presentation in May. Our program participants are paired with faculty who are actively working on the front lines of bioethics.

Working in collaboration with their mentor, students actually see and participate in the type of bioethics they will be practicing after graduation. They gain practical, real-life understanding applying what they have learned as they work alongside a bioethics leader in their area of concentration.

Capstone Seminar

The Capstone Seminar engages intentionally-small sections of students led by a Seminar leader on a weekly basis with occasional larger group meetings on Zoom which bring together speakers and students from multiple sections to share content and increase networking opportunities. The part-time sections meet in the evening hours.

Placement Options

Placement options for the program’s capstone experience are designed with the program director and faculty to align with each student’s professional expertise and bioethics interest. Options include: 

• Clinical Bioethics: working in a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital with an ethics consultant, ethics support services and clinical ethics committees. 
• Research Bioethics: working in a research compliance office; reviewing study protocols; attending IRB meetings; working with data safety monitoring boards and consent monitors 
• Public Policy: working with a state agency such as the Dept. of Public Health on ethical aspects of crisis standards of care. 

All candidates will have the opportunity to tailor a field experience for their specific professional interests.

Capstone Symposium

Each year Harvard Medical School and the Center for Bioethics communities recognize and celebrate graduating Master of Science in Bioethics students and their capstone projects. Capstone mentors, faculty, alumni, members of the HMS community and prospective students are in attendance. The capstone symposium program features an address by a keynote speaker followed by a poster presentation and reception.

• Virtual Capstone Symposium: April 30, 2024 at 7pm ET on Zoom with keynote speaker, Katherine R. Peeler, MD, MA
• In-Person Capstone Symposium: May 7, 2024 at 3pm ET in TMEC with keynote speaker, M. William Lensch, PhD

Please note: Access to the Harvard Medical School Quad is currently restricted to Harvard ID holders. Harvard University police and security staff are on site to screen IDs at each of the access points to the Quad. Individuals should be prepared to show their Harvard ID cards when requested. Access to HMS campus buildings is not impacted. Pedestrian access between Longwood Avenue, Shattuck Street, and Huntington Avenue may be minimally affected. The Center for Bioethics is working with security staff in preparation for the In-Person Capstone Symposium.

2024 Capstone Symposia Booklet