Course information contained within the Bulletin is accurate at the time of publication in June 2025 but is subject to change. For the most up-to-date course information, please refer to the Course Catalog.
UBTH 5001. Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics I (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
This course introduces students to key ethical frameworks in bioethics, emphasizing their applications and limitations in addressing structural health inequities. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will engage with core bioethical principles alongside critical perspectives from social justice, feminist ethics, decolonial theory, and critical race theory. Topics include clinical ethics, public health ethics, research ethics, and policy ethics, with a focus on how bioethics can engage with systems of power and oppression. Students will develop foundational skills in ethical analysis, argumentation, and advocacy, preparing them for deeper engagement with health justice in subsequent coursework.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5002. Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics II (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
This class examines the evolution and impact of bioethics as a field, critically analyzing how bioethical principles and policies shape healthcare, law, and public health. Students will explore alternative ethical frameworks that center marginalized voices, lived experience, and community-driven solutions to contemporary health dilemmas. Key topics may include epistemic justice, the ethics of healthcare access, the role of activism in bioethics, and global perspectives on health justice. The course also emphasizes applied ethics and case analysis, preparing students to navigate real-world ethical challenges in medicine, research, and policy.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5022. Community Engagement and Health Justice (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
This course explores the theory and practice of community engagement in healthcare, research, and advocacy, centering ethical, structural, and political considerations. Students will examine historical and contemporary models of engagement, analyzing power, trust, and reciprocity in relationships between institutions and communities. The course emphasizes community-based participatory research (CBPR), service learning, and ethical frameworks for engagement, equipping students to build equitable partnerships that advance health justice. Through case studies and applied exercises, students will develop practical skills for working collaboratively with communities in ways that are ethically sound, culturally responsive, and justice-oriented.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5023. Community Engagement II (Professional Students). 2 Credit Hours.
This is the second of a two-course series that incorporates a hands-on, community-based approach that takes a holistic look at a community, analyzing both its strengths and challenges. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams and with a faculty advisor and community representative in different neighborhoods within the city of Philadelphia. Students will work in and with the community to learn how to identify the values underlying the community's strengths and challenges, and then use those that value-orientation to: perform a medical urban map, perform a needs assessment, analyze the bioethics dimensions and the social determinants of health and illness in the community, write a pretend grant to study health issues in the community, conduct oral histories with community members, and conduct photojournalism assignments, among other things.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of B- in UBTH 5022.
UBTH 5031. Health Care Policy and Economics (Professional Students). 2 Credit Hours.
To advance health justice, we must understand the nature of the system as it exists, and the incentives that work within it. This course focuses on the values, organization, funding, and logistics of health care delivery in the United States. Students will be introduced to the various agencies involved in health care delivery, and the major laws that impact health care economics. The class will stay abreast of major changes to federal and Commonwealth health care policy. The class will conclude with an exercise in advocacy that draws on knowledge and skills taught throughout.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5041. Critical Social Science and Urban Bioethics (Professional Students). 2 Credit Hours.
This course introduces students to the theories and methods of critical social science, such as critical medical anthropology (CMA). Students will gain an appreciation for the role and importance of political, religious, economic, and social lenses, and of understanding disease and illness as biocultural phenomena.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5082. Independent Study 1 (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
Working in conjunction with an advisor, students will craft and complete an independent study course on a topic or area of interest that is relevant to their professional development. This is the first of two independent study courses allowed for credit.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5101. Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics I (Graduate Students). 3 Credit Hours.
This course introduces students to key ethical frameworks in bioethics, emphasizing their applications and limitations in addressing structural health inequities. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students will engage with core bioethical principles alongside critical perspectives from social justice, feminist ethics, decolonial theory, and critical race theory. Topics include clinical ethics, public health ethics, research ethics, and policy ethics, with a focus on how bioethics can engage with systems of power and oppression. Students will develop foundational skills in ethical analysis, argumentation, and advocacy, preparing them for deeper engagement with health justice in subsequent coursework.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5102. Foundations of Health Justice and Bioethics II (Graduate Students). 3 Credit Hours.
This class examines the evolution and impact of bioethics as a field, critically analyzing how bioethical principles and policies shape healthcare, law, and public health. Students will explore alternative ethical frameworks that center marginalized voices, lived experience, and community-driven solutions to contemporary health dilemmas. Key topics may include epistemic justice, the ethics of healthcare access, the role of activism in bioethics, and global perspectives on health justice. The course also emphasizes applied ethics and case analysis, preparing students to navigate real-world ethical challenges in medicine, research, and policy.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5122. Community Engagement I (Graduate Students). 2 Credit Hours.
This is the first of a two-course series that incorporates a hands-on, community-based approach that takes a holistic look at a community, analyzing both its strengths and challenges. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams and with a faculty advisor and community representative in different neighborhoods within the city of Philadelphia. Students will work in and with the community to learn how to identify the values underlying the community's strengths and challenges, and then use those that value-orientation to: perform a medical urban map, perform a needs assessment, analyze the bioethics dimensions and the social determinants of health and illness in the community, write a pretend grant to study health issues in the community, conduct oral histories with community members, and conduct photojournalism assignments, among other things.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5123. Community Engagement II (Graduate Students). 2 Credit Hours.
This is the second of a two-course series that incorporates a hands-on, community-based approach that takes a holistic look at a community, analyzing both its strengths and challenges. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams and with a faculty advisor and community representative in different neighborhoods within the city of Philadelphia. Students will work in and with the community to learn how to identify the values underlying the community's strengths and challenges, and then use those that value-orientation to: perform a medical urban map, perform a needs assessment, analyze the bioethics dimensions and the social determinants of health and illness in the community, write a pretend grant to study health issues in the community, conduct oral histories with community members, and conduct photojournalism assignments, among other things.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Course Attributes: SI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of B- in UBTH 5122.
UBTH 5131. Health Care Policy and Economics (Graduate Students). 2 Credit Hours.
To advance health justice, we must understand the nature of the system as it exists, and the incentives that work within it. This course focuses on the values, organization, funding, and logistics of health care delivery in the United States. Students will be introduced to the various agencies involved in health care delivery, and the major laws that impact health care economics. The class will stay abreast of major changes to federal and Commonwealth health care policy. The class will conclude with an exercise in advocacy that draws on knowledge and skills taught throughout.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5141. Bioethics, Health Justice and the Social Sciences: Theory, Methods and Practice (Graduate Students). 2 Credit Hours.
This course provides an introduction to research methods and inquiry in bioethics and health justice, equipping students with the tools to critically examine and challenge health disparities. Students will engage with qualitative, quantitative, and theoretical methods, with a focus on ethical research design, power dynamics, and the role of social science in bioethics. Topics include community-based participatory research (CBPR), critical ethnography, narrative inquiry, and structural competency. By the end of the course, students will be able to design and critique research that advances health equity and ethical scholarship.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5182. Independent Study 1 (Graduate Students). 3 Credit Hours.
Working in conjunction with an advisor, students will craft and complete an independent study course on a topic or area of interest that is relevant to their professional development. This is the first of two independent study courses allowed for credit.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
UBTH 5189. Field Study I. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Students will identify a specific health justice or bioethics issue within Philadelphia or another urban setting and collaborate with academic, medical, and community mentors to develop and begin implementation of an innovative intervention aimed at improving health in a fiscally sustainable way.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5210. Special Topics: Social Science Approaches to Health Justice and Bioethics. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
This course features a rotating set of topics exploring the intersections of social sciences, health justice, and bioethics. Offerings are not part of the regular course listings and vary based on faculty expertise and emerging issues. Examples of past topics include cultural competency and humility in healthcare, the social construction of health and illness, and public perceptions of bioethics and health equity. Students will critically engage with theories and methods from disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, and political science to analyze ethical issues in healthcare and health policy.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5220. Special Topics: Clinical Bioethics and Health Justice. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
This course explores ethical challenges in clinical settings, with a particular focus on how health justice considerations influence patient care, provider decision-making, and institutional policies. Offerings vary by semester and may include topics such as clinical ethics consultation and decision-making, navigating conflicts in care, and pediatric and reproductive ethics. Students will examine real-world case studies, ethical dilemmas in medicine, and strategies for integrating justice-oriented approaches into clinical practice.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5230. Special Topics: Contemporary Issues in Bioethics and Health Justice. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
This course examines evolving and pressing issues at the intersection of bioethics, public health, and social justice. Topics will vary based on current events and faculty expertise but may include bioethics and political discourse, emerging public health crises and ethical responses, the role of activism in health justice, and the ethics of new medical technologies. Students will engage in policy analysis, ethical debates, and applied case studies to better understand how bioethics can address societal challenges.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5240. Special Topics: Research Ethics and Health Justice. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.
This course explores ethical considerations in research involving human subjects, with an emphasis on the ethical implications of health disparities, power dynamics in research, and community-based research ethics. Offerings will vary and may include topics such as the social determinants of health in research, IRB processes and research ethics in vulnerable populations, and strategies for fostering trust between researchers and communities. Students will examine case studies, ethical guidelines, and methodologies for conducting ethically responsible and justice-centered research.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5250. Advanced Topics in Health Justice. 3 Credit Hours.
Advanced Topics in Health Justice is a four-week survey course of contemporary issues and questions in bioethics. Students will complete a short introductory module and then select three topics modules based on their personal interests. Modules, developed by Center for Urban Bioethics core and affiliated faculty, may cover such topics as: harm reduction; anti-carceral violence prevention; maternal health equity; abolition and carceral health; and trauma informed care practices.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 5260. Advanced Topics in Bioethics. 3 Credit Hours.
Advanced Topics in Bioethics is a four-week survey course of contemporary issues and questions in bioethics. Students will complete a short introductory module and then select three topics modules based on their personal interests. Modules, developed by Center for Urban Bioethics core and affiliated faculty, may cover such topics as: ethics of AI in medicine and health care, bioethics and racism, limits of autonomy, bioethics publishing, history of bioethics, and the future of bioethics.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 9082. Independent Study 2 (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
Working in conjunction with an advisor, who upon approval can be from the Medical School, the CBUHP, or a dual-degree student's home department, the student will craft and complete an independent study course on a topic/area of interest relevant to professional development. This is the second of two independent studies allowed for MA in Urban Bioethics credit. Please see the MA in Urban Bioethics Handbook for the most recent description of allowable approaches to the independent study.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of B- in UBTH 5082.
UBTH 9182. Independent Study 2 (Graduate Students). 3 Credit Hours.
Working in conjunction with an advisor, who upon approval can be from the Medical School, the CBUHP, or a dual-degree student's home department, the student will craft and complete an independent study course on a topic/area of interest that is relevant to professional development. This is the second of two independent studies allowed for MA in Urban Bioethics credit. Please see the MA in Urban Bioethics Handbook for the most recent description of allowable approaches to the independent study.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of B- in UBTH 5182.
UBTH 9189. Field Study II. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Students will refine and evaluate their intervention, ensuring long-term sustainability and measurable impact.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of B- in UBTH 5189.
UBTH 9995. Thesis (Professional Students). 3 Credit Hours.
Working in conjunction with a thesis advisor, students will conduct an original research project (empirical or non-empirical) and produce a publishable-quality paper. The thesis should make a novel contribution to the field of bioethics and health justice by engaging with ethical analysis, policy implications, or applied health equity issues. Students are encouraged to explore topics that critically examine structural and systemic factors influencing health, ethics, and justice.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Law, Medicine.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
UBTH 9996. Thesis (Graduate Students). 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Working in conjunction with a thesis advisor, students will conduct an original research project (empirical or non-empirical) and produce a publishable-quality paper. The thesis should make a novel contribution to the field of bioethics and health justice by engaging with ethical analysis, policy implications, or applied health equity issues. Students are encouraged to explore topics that critically examine structural and systemic factors influencing health, ethics, and justice.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate, Law Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
