Decision-makers in Catholic health care organizations routinely face issues of profound ethical importance in which the organization's deep commitments, both ethical and religious, as well as the well being of patients, the commitments of professionals, and losses and gains for many other parties are at stake. Making such decisions and advising others who make them requires a wide range of skills and understanding, from sophisticated ethical awareness and judgment skills to a knowledge of relevant theology and canon law, from concrete understanding of the organization's structure and dynamics to personal spirituality, communication skills, and insight into persons.

Anyone aspiring to such a role must bring many of these qualities from their previous life experience. But a well crafted graduate program can provide essential components to such preparation: (1) Skills in ethical awareness and judgment; (2) Opportunity to fill in other educational gaps through the broad resources of a major university; (3) Time for reflection and faculty support in integrating the several elements of this calling into a coherent whole.

Students pursuing a Masters degree in Health Care Ethics with the specialization in Mission/Ethics Leadership take six of their M.A. courses in the Philosophy department and an additional four elective courses in other departments of the university. Courses in Loyola's departments of Theology, Management, Organization Development, and Communication, as well as Loyola's Institute for Pastoral Studies and Institute for Health Law, will be available to students in the Mission/Ethics Leadership specialization; and a program of careful, personalized advising will guide them to choose the courses most suited to their particular needs.

For more information about this specialization in Mission/Ethics Leadership, contact us.