DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER:
Professor William Ruddick

The Center for Bioethics promotes a broad conception of bioethics, encompassing both medical and environmental ethics through conferences, workshops, public lectures, and graduate courses. A major focus of the Center is the Master of Arts Program in Bioethics. This degree program examines the current moral issues, principles, and categories in both medical ethics and environmental ethics with special attention to areas of mutual relevance and illumination. The goal is a broader bioethics that gives students a more comprehensive understanding of moral theory and practice in each field and in their conjunction.

In addition to course requirements, students engage in a practicum in one of the medical or environmental organizations in New York City—for example, the bioethics committees at the NYU Medical Center and associated hospitals, the Bellevue Clinic for Victims of Torture, the Council on the Environment of New York City, the Bronx River Alliance, or Riverkeeper. They subsequently write a master’s essay on the practicum (or, alternatively, expand a course term paper).

The program welcomes students at different stages of their education or careers, in particular:

• Recent college graduates who wish to explore bioethics, broadly conceived, before committing themselves to doctoral studies and/or professional work in medical or environmental ethics.
• Physicians, nurses, and health care administrators who want to go beyond the short, intensive courses or certificate programs at NYU and elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area.
• Medical students during or after completion of medical school who hope to serve on hospital bioethics committees or teach medical ethics after completing their residencies.
• People in the metropolitan area who want to think more clearly and systematically about moral issues debated in the media, legislatures, and other public arenas.

Full-time students can complete the program in three semesters—or, in some cases, in two semesters and a summer session. Part-time students may proceed at a slower rate.

Faculty

CORE FACULTY

Dale Jamieson, Professor, Environmental Studies and Philosophy (Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development). Ph.D. 1976 (philosophy), M.A. 1972 (philosophy), North Carolina; B.A. 1970 (philosophy and religion), San Francisco State.
Moral and political philosophy; environmental values and policy; philosophy of biology, behavior, and mind; aesthetics and philosophy of art.

William Ruddick, Arthur Zitrin Professor of Bioethics; Professor, Philosophy; Adjunct Professor, Psychiatry. Ph.D. 1964 (philosophy), Harvard; M.A. 1963, B.A. 1957 (psychology, philosophy, and physiology), Oxford; B.A. 1953 (English literature), Princeton.
Philosophy of science and medicine; professional and medical ethics; life and death.

AFFILIATED FACULTY IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS

Kenneth Berkowitz, School ofMedicine; Troy Duster,Sociology; HughEvans, School of Medicine; Stephen Field, School ofMedicine; Loren Greene,School of Medicine; SallyGuttmacher, Steinhardt School of Culture,Education, and Human Development; LoisKatz, School of Medicine; Alan Keller, School ofMedicine; Sylvia Law,School of Law; BradleyLewis, Gallatin School of IndividualizedStudy; Emily Martin,Anthropology; LiamMurphy, School of Law; Thomas Nagel,Philosophy; HelenNissenbaum, Steinhardt School of Culture,Education, and Human Development; Rayna Rapp,Anthropology; RichardRavesz, School of Law; John Richardson,Philosophy; VictorRodwin, Wagner Graduate School of PublicService; William Rom,School of Medicine; RichardRosner, School of Medicine; Melanie Shulman, School ofMedicine; Michael Strevens,Philosophy; SharonStreet, Philosophy; George Thurston, School ofMedicine; Peter Unger,Philosophy; J. DavidVelleman, Philosophy; Anthony Vernillo, College ofDentistry; Tyler Volk,Biology; JeromeWakefield, School of Social Work; Beth Weitzman, Wagner GraduateSchool of Public Service; RaeZimmerman, Wagner Graduate School of PublicService; Arthur Zitrin,School of Medicine.