Other students intend to use the degree as a springboard to continued education in medicine, law, or some other career track. Students must finish within 60 months, excepting approved leaves of absence. Beyond these required courses students choose either a didactic track or a research track. In the didactic track, there is no research project and students are simply required to take 21 elective hours of their choosing in addition to the required courses. Students choosing the research track will identify a project advisor and committee who will oversee the research.
Research projects can be primarily analytic or a combination of empirical and analytic.
The remaining 10 credits can be filled by electives of the students choosing. Despite the growing prominence of bioethics, potential students should recognize that the MA degree is intended to enhance the student's current or future professional activities and is not intended as a sole or primary means to securing a job in a sub-specialty of health care.