University of Southern Indiana

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary master’s combines core education theory and practice with applied bioethics and medical humanities. Typical modules cover foundations of health professions education, curriculum design and assessment, instructional methods for adult learners, and evidence-based approaches to teaching and evaluation. The ethics component explores clinical ethics, public health ethics, research ethics and professional responsibility, using case-based and discussion-led formats. The humanities strand engages literature, narrative medicine, visual arts and history to deepen understanding of patient experience and clinician identity.

• Foundations of Health Professions Education – theories of learning, adult education principles and interprofessional education.
• Curriculum Design and Assessment – course and programme design, competency frameworks, assessment strategies and programme evaluation.
• Instructional Methods – simulation, clinical teaching, small-group facilitation and use of technology in learning.
• Clinical and Research Ethics – ethical frameworks, case analysis, consent, confidentiality and research integrity.
• Medical Humanities – narrative approaches, illness representation, ethics in literature and the arts, and reflective practice.
• Research Methods – qualitative and quantitative methods relevant to educational scholarship and ethics inquiry.
• Capstone Project or Thesis – an applied project, curriculum development initiative or research thesis that addresses an educational, ethical or humanities-informed challenge in health care.

Entry requirements

Applicants are typically expected to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. The programme welcomes clinicians (nurses, physicians’ assistants, allied health professionals), educators and candidates from the humanities or social sciences. Typical application materials include a personal statement outlining professional and academic goals, a current CV or résumé, academic transcripts and references. Relevant professional experience in health care, education or ethics is advantageous. Some applicants may be asked to attend an interview or submit a piece of written work.

Career prospects

Graduates develop the skills to work as clinical educators, curriculum designers, simulation coordinators, continuing professional development leads and faculty developers within hospitals, professional schools and health systems. The ethics and humanities focus also prepares alumni for roles on clinical ethics committees, in organisational ethics consultation, patient advocacy, medical communication and narrative medicine programmes. Other career pathways include academic research in health professions education, educational leadership in health services, instructional design for healthcare training and positions in policy or programme management where ethical reasoning and human-centred perspectives are valued.

Why study at University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana offers a student-centred learning environment with opportunities for applied practice in regional clinical settings and academic partnerships. The programme’s interdisciplinary structure supports collaboration between health professionals, educators and humanities scholars, and small cohort sizes enable personalised mentorship from faculty experienced in clinical education, bioethics and the arts in medicine. Flexible delivery options and practicum arrangements are designed to accommodate working professionals, while the capstone project emphasises practical, transferable outcomes that can be implemented in workplace settings.