Clarkson University

What you'll study

This master's combines coursework in health professions education with applied medical ethics and humanities perspectives. Students study theory and practice across three interlocking themes: pedagogy for health professionals, ethical analysis and decision-making in clinical settings, and the interpretive approaches offered by the humanities (narrative, history, visual arts).

• Foundations of Health Professions Education — adult learning theory, curriculum design, and instructional strategies for clinical and classroom settings.
• Assessment and Evaluation — developing assessment tools, workplace-based assessment, feedback methods and programme evaluation.
• Clinical Ethics — ethical frameworks, case consultation skills, policy and organisational ethics, and approaches to controversial clinical topics.
• Medical Humanities — narrative medicine, literature and medicine, arts-based methods for empathy and reflection, and cultural contexts of care.
• Educational Technology and Simulation — use of simulation, digital tools and blended learning to enhance clinical education.
• Research Methods for Education and Ethics — qualitative and quantitative methods, scholarly approaches to curriculum research, and ethics scholarship.
• Practicum / Capstone Project — an applied project or supervised placement that integrates education, ethics and humanities in a clinical or educational setting.

The programme is delivered through a mix of seminars, workshops, case-based learning and mentored practicum experiences, with options for part-time or flexible study to accommodate working professionals.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Clinical professionals (for example, physicians, nurses, allied health practitioners) and graduates in humanities or social sciences with relevant experience are all welcome.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating prior tertiary study.
• Professional CV outlining clinical, educational or related experience.
• A personal statement describing motivation for study and proposed areas of focus.
• References (academic and/or professional) attesting to suitability for postgraduate study.
• Some applicants may be invited to an interview or asked to provide a sample of scholarly or reflective writing.

Applicants whose primary language is not English will normally need to demonstrate proficiency in English in line with university regulations.

Career prospects

Graduates enter a range of roles across clinical, educational and organisational settings. Typical career paths include:

• Clinical educator or programme lead in hospitals, medical schools, nursing schools and allied health departments.
• Curriculum developer, assessment specialist or instructional designer for health professions programmes.
• Clinical ethics consultant or member of hospital ethics committees, contributing to policy development and case consultation.
• Academic roles in health professions education and interdisciplinary humanities programmes.
• Leadership roles in continuing professional development, quality improvement and patient-centred care initiatives.

The degree also supports those pursuing further research or doctoral study in medical education, bioethics or health humanities.

Why study at Clarkson University

Clarkson offers a small-cohort, interdisciplinary environment that encourages close mentorship and applied learning. The programme draws on faculty with combined experience in clinical practice, educational scholarship and humanities research, enabling supervision of projects that bridge practice and critical inquiry.

• Interprofessional opportunities with regional hospitals and health services support real-world practicum placements and collaborative projects.
• Flexible delivery options and a focus on applied outcomes make the programme suitable for working professionals seeking immediate impact on teaching and clinical practice.
• Access to research resources across the university and opportunities to engage with initiatives in ethics, health policy and community engagement.

Overall, the programme is designed to equip graduates with the pedagogical, ethical and interpretive skills needed to lead educational innovation and promote humane, ethically informed healthcare.