Marymount University

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary master's combines core strands of health professions education, clinical and bioethics, and medical humanities. You will study adult learning theory and curriculum design for health professionals, assessment and program evaluation, interprofessional education, and faculty development. Topics in ethics cover clinical decision-making, professionalism, research ethics, and health policy ethics. The humanities component explores narrative medicine, medical history, illness narratives, visual and performing arts in care, and the use of literature and reflection to foster empathy and communication skills.

• Core modules (examples): Foundations of Health Professions Education; Curriculum Development and Assessment; Educational Research Methods; Interprofessional Education and Collaboration; Clinical and Research Ethics.
• Humanities-focused modules (examples): Narrative Medicine and Patient Stories; Arts and Health; Medical Humanities Seminar.
• Applied and elective modules (examples): Teaching Practicum or Capstone Project; Leadership and Change in Healthcare Education; Qualitative Methods for Health Education; Technology-enhanced Learning in Clinical Education.

Students typically complete a practicum or a capstone research project that applies educational design, ethical analysis or humanities methods in a clinical or community setting. The programme is suitable for full-time or part-time study and emphasises small-group learning, reflective practice and project-based assessment.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Competitive applicants commonly have professional qualifications or experience in healthcare (nursing, medicine, allied health, public health) or a strong humanities background with demonstrated interest in health-related education or ethics. Typical application components include a personal statement describing educational and career goals, a current CV, and two academic or professional references. Some applicants will be invited to an interview. International applicants must meet the university’s English language requirements.

Career prospects

Graduates move into a range of roles that bridge clinical practice, education and ethical leadership. Common career paths include:

• Clinical educator or faculty developer in hospitals, health systems and universities
• Curriculum designer and assessment specialist for undergraduate and postgraduate health programmes
• Members of clinical ethics committees or ethics consultants within healthcare organisations
• Leaders of interprofessional education initiatives and continuing professional development
• Roles in patient education, community health programmes, medical humanities initiatives, and health communication

The programme’s applied capstone and practicum elements support portfolio building and networking with local health institutions, enhancing employability in both academic and clinical settings.

Why study at Marymount University

Marymount University combines a liberal arts tradition with professional preparation and a Catholic intellectual heritage that emphasises ethics, service and respect for the whole person. The university’s location near Washington, D.C., and adjacent to major hospitals, government health agencies and nonprofit organisations offers opportunities for placements, collaboration and exposure to diverse health systems. Class sizes are intentionally small, enabling personalised mentorship from faculty who bring clinical, pedagogical and humanities expertise. The programme is designed to be applied and career-focused, integrating hands-on practicum experiences with theoretical study so graduates are ready to lead educational, ethical and humanistic initiatives in a variety of health-care contexts.