IRVING, Texas (09/18/2025) – The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts at the University of Dallas is proud to announce the launch of its new Master of Arts in Medical Humanities, a graduate program designed for students who seek to understand both the technical and human dimensions of medicine. Rooted in UDallas’ Catholic intellectual tradition, the program offers an interdisciplinary approach to health and healthcare, preparing graduates for advanced roles as healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers.
“Medical humanities programs have grown rapidly nationwide as institutions, healthcare providers, and patients recognize the need for care that treats the whole person, not just the illness,” said William Cody, the graduate director of the Master of Arts in Medical Humanities. “The University of Dallas is uniquely positioned to provide this kind of education, uniting a proven record of rigorous preparation in the biological and physical sciences, reflected in medical school acceptance rates nearly twice the national average over the past two decades, with a nationally recognized foundation in the humanities.”
He added that the new degree program will be particularly valuable in serving the North Texas community: “The new MA in Medical Humanities will enable students to connect scientific knowledge with human experience, preparing future physicians and healthcare providers to bring greater empathy, insight, and effectiveness to their work, and ultimately raising the quality of healthcare in North Texas.”
The new degree builds upon UDallas’ established strengths in the sciences and humanities, drawing on resources from both the undergraduate Constantin College of Liberal Arts and the Braniff Graduate School. The curriculum integrates coursework in biology, ethics, philosophy, literature, and public health policy to equip graduates with the tools to address healthcare issues from multiple perspectives.
In addition to the new master’s degree, the Braniff Graduate School is also launching a Graduate Certificate in Bioethics in partnership with the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC). This 10-credit program combines seminars and courses taught by both UD faculty and NCBC ethicists, offering students rigorous formation in bioethical issues at the intersection of medicine, philosophy, and theology. Designed for both students nearing the completion of an undergraduate degree and preparing for careers in medicine or research, as well as physicians, clinicians, and professionals seeking advanced bioethics training. The certificate provides a pathway to further graduate study, with credits transferable to the University of Mary’s Master of Science in Bioethics, while equipping participants to address urgent ethical questions in healthcare today.
Associate Professor of Theology Irene Alexander, who serves as the graduate director of the bioethics certificate program, said, “I’m excited that UD will be offering this high-level education in Catholic bioethics to form students who will become the next generation of professionals on the front lines of health care. This program of studies ensures that decisions affecting the dignity of the human person in medicine will be made with wisdom, prudence, and above all, the love of Christ.”
As part of the certificate curriculum, the University of Dallas will host the NCBC Graduate Seminar in Bioethics on Sept. 20–21, 2025, at its Irving campus. This intensive two-day seminar, led by ethicists from the National Catholic Bioethics Center, provides students and professionals with a foundation in key bioethical principles and contemporary issues in medicine.
Located between two major medical centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, UDallas is uniquely positioned to connect students with a broad range of clinical, research, and policy environments. With few graduate-level Medical Humanities programs available nationwide, UD’s offering fills a critical gap in higher education while creating new opportunities for students seeking competitive advantages in healthcare careers or further academic study.
Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open for the fall 2025 semester, which begins Aug. 27, and for the spring 2026 semester, which begins Jan. 21. The
program is offered in flexible formats to serve both full-time students and working
professionals.
About the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts
The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts at the University of Dallas offers a distinctive range of master’s and doctoral programs in the liberal arts, philosophy, politics, and the humanities, all rooted in the Western intellectual tradition and UD’s Catholic mission. Located in Irving, Texas, Braniff provides a vibrant academic community for students committed to pursuing truth, wisdom, and virtue in service to the common good. For more information, visit udallas.edu/braniff.
