Alvernia University

What you'll study

This master’s combines education theory, clinical ethics and humanities approaches to health care. Core topics include educational design and assessment for health professions, principles of clinical and research ethics, narrative medicine, qualitative methods, leadership in healthcare education, and the role of arts and humanities in patient-centred care.

• Foundations of Health Professions Education – adult learning theory, curriculum development, competency-based education, and assessment methods.
• Clinical and Research Ethics – ethical frameworks, informed consent, end-of-life decision-making, conflict of interest, and ethics consultation processes.
• Health Humanities and Narrative Practice – narrative competence, literature and medicine, visual arts in medicine, reflective practice and empathy development.
• Qualitative and Mixed Methods for Education and Ethics – research design, interviewing, focus groups, thematic analysis and applying findings to practice improvement.
• Leadership and Scholarship in Health Professions Education – project management, educational scholarship, interprofessional education, and policy implications.
• Capstone Project or Thesis – an applied educational intervention, ethics consultation project or humanities-informed research study supervised by faculty.

Modes of study typically mix seminars, workshops, practicum placements or supervised teaching, and a substantial independent project. The programme emphasises applied learning, reflective practice and interprofessional collaboration.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised bachelor’s degree. Preference is given to applicants with a background in a health profession, allied health, nursing, medicine, public health, social work, or the humanities. Relevant professional experience in clinical care, teaching, administration or ethics consultation strengthens an application.

• Transcripts showing completed undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.
• A personal statement outlining professional goals, interest in education/ethics/humanities, and a proposed focus for the capstone or thesis.
• Two professional or academic references that can speak to the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
• Evidence of relevant professional experience or a CV/resumé. Interviews may be requested for some applicants.

International applicants may need to provide proof of English language proficiency. Specific prerequisite coursework or examination requirements are assessed at admission and may vary depending on an applicant’s background.

Career prospects

Graduates pursue a variety of roles that bridge clinical practice, education and ethics. Typical career outcomes include:

• Clinical educator or faculty in nursing, medicine and allied health programmes.
• Curriculum developer, assessment specialist or director of educational programmes within hospitals and training institutions.
• Clinical ethics consultant or member of hospital ethics committees, and roles in research ethics oversight.
• Patient experience and quality improvement roles that integrate humanities-informed approaches to care.
• Further doctoral study in health professions education, bioethics, medical humanities or related fields.

The programme is intended to prepare graduates to lead educational change, contribute to policy-making in clinical ethics, and apply humanities methodologies to enhance communication, professionalism and patient-centred care.

Why study at Alvernia University

Alvernia’s Franciscan liberal arts tradition emphasises service, ethical leadership and whole-person care—values that align directly with study in health professions education, ethics and the humanities. The university’s small class sizes allow close mentorship from faculty with experience in clinical practice, ethics consultation and education scholarship.

• Interdisciplinary learning environment that brings together clinicians, educators and humanities scholars.
• Opportunities for practicum placements and collaborative projects with regional healthcare institutions.
• Faculty who support applied scholarship and career-focused capstone work tailored to professional goals.
• A campus culture that values reflection, community engagement and ethical practice in healthcare.

Prospective students should contact the programme office to discuss fit, routes for part-time study and how prior experience can be credited toward the degree.