University of Michigan

What you'll study

The programme combines core study in educational theory and practice with coursework in ethics, medical humanities and applied research methods. Core topics typically include curriculum design and assessment for health professions, learning sciences and adult education theory, qualitative and mixed-methods research, clinical ethics and bioethics, narrative medicine and history of medicine. Students also study contemporary issues such as interprofessional education, diversity and equity in health professions training, simulation and assessment technologies, and leadership for educational change.

Programme formats commonly include a mix of seminars, workshops and practicum work. You will complete a capstone project or scholarly portfolio that applies pedagogical or ethical scholarship to a real-world educational problem—examples include developing a new longitudinal curriculum, conducting an evaluation of clerkship assessments, creating humanities-based reflective programmes for trainees, or producing a clinical ethics consultation protocol. Electives allow tailoring toward education-focused research, clinical ethics consultation, or humanities-informed teaching.

• Typical modules: Curriculum Design & Assessment; Learning Sciences for Health Professionals; Clinical Ethics and Bioethics; Medical Humanities & Narrative Approaches; Qualitative Methods in Health Professions Research; Simulation & Assessment; Leadership in Health Professions Education.
• Assessment modes: research paper or thesis/capstone project, curriculum artefacts, reflective portfolios, presentations and observed teaching/practicum assessments.
• Delivery: full-time and part-time pathways are often available, with a combination of in-person seminars and online coursework to accommodate practising professionals.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The programme welcomes applicants from clinical backgrounds (medicine, nursing, allied health, dentistry, pharmacy) as well as candidates with degrees in the humanities, social sciences or education who can demonstrate a clear rationale for work in health professions education, ethics or humanities.

• Typical application materials: academic transcripts, CV, statement of purpose outlining educational and career goals, and two to three letters of recommendation.
• Professional experience: relevant clinical, teaching or scholarly experience strengthens an application; many successful applicants have prior experience in healthcare education, curriculum development or ethics committees.
• Additional requirements: some applicants may be invited for an interview or asked to submit a sample of written work. English language proficiency documentation is required for applicants whose first language is not English, in line with university policy.

Career prospects

Graduates move into roles that bridge clinical work, education and ethical leadership. Common career paths include clinician–educator positions in medical schools and allied health programmes, curriculum developer or director of teaching and learning, educational researcher, simulation centre lead, and roles in continuing professional development. Those with a focus on ethics may take posts on hospital ethics committees, clinical ethics consultation services, or policy roles in healthcare organisations and NGOs. Graduates with strong humanities training often develop programmes in narrative medicine, reflective practice and patient-centred communication across academic and clinical settings.

The programme also prepares students for further academic research (MPhil/PhD) in medical education, bioethics or health humanities, or leadership positions in health professions accreditation, workforce development and interprofessional education initiatives.

Why study at University of Michigan

University of Michigan offers a truly interdisciplinary environment that brings together faculty from the Medical School, Schools of Public Health and Nursing, and dedicated centres for bioethics and health professions education. Students benefit from access to diverse clinical settings across Ann Arbor and regional health systems, simulation and teaching facilities, and a strong culture of scholarship in medical education and ethics.

The university’s collaborative networks support mentorship and practical placements with experienced clinician–educators and ethicists, while research resources and library collections underpin high-quality scholarship. For professionals seeking to influence how health professionals are trained and to ground that work in ethical and humanistic perspectives, the University of Michigan provides both the intellectual breadth and applied infrastructure to advance those aims.