Chatham University

What you'll study

This master’s combines theory and practice across three linked domains: health professions education, clinical and bioethics, and the medical humanities. Core topics include contemporary educational theory and pedagogy for adult learners; curriculum design and programme evaluation; assessment and feedback strategies; qualitative and mixed-methods research methods; ethical reasoning and clinical ethics consultation; narrative medicine, literature and visual arts in healthcare; and interprofessional education.

• Educational theory & pedagogy: adult learning principles, instructional design, competency-based education, reflective practice.
• Assessment & curriculum development: learning outcomes, formative and summative assessment, objective structured clinical examinations, programme evaluation.
• Ethics: clinical ethics, ethics consultation, public health ethics, ethics policy analysis and case-based deliberation.
• Humanities & narrative approaches: narrative competence, literature and medicine, visual thinking strategies, arts-based approaches to empathy and communication.
• Research methods: qualitative methods (interviews, thematic analysis), quantitative basics for educators, educational scholarship and evidence-informed teaching.
• Capstone or practicum: an applied project, curriculum development portfolio or practicum placement in an educational setting or ethics service that demonstrates integration of education, ethics and humanities.

The programme is typically offered with flexible delivery to accommodate working professionals, with a mix of seminars, workshops, practicum placements and mentored independent scholarship. Students learn through case studies, simulated teaching sessions, ethics rounds and reflective writing.

Entry requirements

Applicants are expected to hold an accredited bachelor’s degree. The programme is designed for clinicians and allied health professionals (for example physicians, nurses, physician associates, pharmacists, physical therapists), but graduates from related fields in social sciences, humanities or education with relevant experience are also welcome.

• Official transcripts from undergraduate and any postgraduate study.
• A current CV or résumé demonstrating professional experience—clinical practice, teaching experience or involvement in ethics/humanities activities is an advantage.
• A personal statement outlining your reasons for pursuing the degree, relevant experience and proposed areas for study or capstone work.
• Two professional or academic references commenting on suitability for graduate study and potential for leadership in education or ethics.

Some applicants may be invited to an interview (in person or virtual). Where English is not the applicant’s first language, proof of English proficiency may be required according to university policy.

Career prospects

Graduates leave equipped to work as educational leaders and practitioners across clinical and academic settings. Typical roles include:

• Clinical or faculty educator in hospitals, health systems and universities
• Curriculum developer or programme director for pre‑ and post‑licensure education
• Simulation centre coordinator or assessment lead
• Clinical ethics consultant or member of an ethics committee
• Coordinator of interprofessional education and training initiatives
• Medical humanities practitioner: leading reflective practice, narrative workshops or arts-based education
• Educational researcher or scholar pursuing further doctoral study

Alumni work in diverse settings including hospitals, community health organisations, universities, continuing professional development providers and ethics advisory services.

Why study at Chatham University

Chatham offers a small, interdisciplinary learning environment that emphasises applied learning and reflective practice. The programme draws on faculty with combined expertise in clinical practice, ethics, humanities and educational scholarship, enabling close mentorship and tailored capstone projects. Students benefit from Chatham’s connections to the wider healthcare community in the region, opportunities for practicum placements, and a campus culture that values sustainability, social responsibility and the arts.

The programme’s flexible format is geared to accommodate working professionals, with a curriculum designed to translate directly into improved teaching, assessment and ethical decision-making in clinical contexts. Support services for professional development, library access and research guidance help students turn practicum experiences into publishable scholarship or demonstrable institutional change.