Widener University

What you'll study

This doctoral programme combines advanced study in health professions education, ethical theory and applied clinical ethics, and the methods of the humanities to prepare scholars for original research and leadership. The curriculum typically includes a mix of core seminars, methods training, elective specialisation, practicum experiences and a sustained dissertation project.

• Core topics: theories of learning in the health professions; curriculum design and assessment; competency-based education; faculty development and leadership in academic health centres.
• Ethics and applied ethics: normative ethical theory; clinical ethics consultation; public health ethics; research ethics and policy; moral distress and organisational ethics in healthcare settings.
• Humanities approaches: narrative medicine; medical history and cultural perspectives on illness; literature, visual arts and reflective practice; critical theory as applied to health care.
• Research methods: advanced qualitative methods (e.g. ethnography, narrative analysis, phenomenology); quantitative approaches relevant to education research; mixed methods design; programme evaluation and assessment techniques.
• Professional practice and pedagogy: practicum experiences in clinical teaching, ethics consultation or community-based humanities projects; mentoring in grant writing, scholarly publishing and leadership.
• Dissertation: students undertake original, supervised research that contributes to scholarship in health professions education, bioethics or medical humanities and culminates in a doctoral dissertation and public defence.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold a recognised master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field such as health professions education, nursing, medicine, public health, bioethics, humanities, social sciences or a closely related discipline. Professional experience in health care, education or ethics consultation strengthens an application and may be required for some candidates.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating strong graduate-level performance.
• A curriculum vitae or résumé outlining relevant professional and scholarly experience.
• Statement of purpose describing research interests, professional goals and fit with the programme.
• Letters of recommendation (usually two or three) from academic or professional referees who can speak to research potential and readiness for doctoral study.
• A writing sample that demonstrates analytic and scholarly ability; some applicants may be asked to submit a research proposal or sample publications.
• Interview with faculty may be part of the selection process.
• Proficiency in English as required by the university for applicants whose first language is not English.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue careers across academia, healthcare organisations and the broader health policy and non-profit sectors. Typical roles include:

• Faculty positions in health professions schools (medicine, nursing, allied health) teaching and leading curriculum development and educational scholarship.
• Educational leadership roles such as director of medical education, programme director, or faculty development lead.
• Clinical ethics consultants and ethics programme directors in hospitals, health systems or long-term care organisations.
• Researchers in health professions education, bioethics or medical humanities working in universities, think tanks or research institutes.
• Policy advisors, curriculum designers for continuing professional development, or leaders in interprofessional education initiatives.
• Public engagement and community humanities roles that bring humanistic inquiry into patient-centred care and health communication.

Why study at Widener University

Widener offers an environment structured for interdisciplinary doctoral study with close faculty mentoring, small cohorts and opportunities to work across health sciences, law, and liberal arts faculties. The university has established relationships with regional hospitals and health systems that support practicum experiences, ethics consultation placements and collaborative research. Students benefit from a focus on applied scholarship — emphasising translational research in education and ethics — and institutional support for grant development, conference participation and publication.

Additionally, Widener’s commitment to interprofessional education and community engagement gives doctoral candidates access to diverse clinical settings and populations for study and intervention, while the programme’s emphasis on humanities methods provides distinctive tools for exploring the lived experience of illness and ethical complexity in care.