phd in health professions education online

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Department of Medical Education

Phd in health professions education.

The Department of Medical Education (DME) is thrilled to announce the establishment of a new online PhD program in Health Professions Education (HPE). The PhD in HPE evolved from our successful former collaboration with the UIC College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The PhD in HPE also builds upon the success and strong reputation of DME’s Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE), as well as upon the department’s broader expertise in HPE research and teaching excellence.

Program Overview Heading link Copy link

What is the phd in hpe.

The PhD in HPE program will produce exemplary scholars who advance the field of health professions education by developing innovative research agendas that shape educational policy, standards, and practices, with the ultimate goal of improving healthcare. While the PhD in HPE will share course offerings with DME’s renowned MHPE program, it will include a greater emphasis on research design, data collection, and original scholarship for students who aim to serve as principal investigators in HPE studies in the future.

Who is this program for?

Typical students in the program may include students from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including MDs, other clinicians, and non-clinical educators, aiming to deepen their methodological training and increase their knowledge of the health professions education canon. The student body is also likely to be heterogenous in terms of career stage, and thus may include students ranging from trainees (e.g., residents and fellows) to administrators and leaders (e.g., program directors and deans).

The program is designed for students to have the option to pursue the program on a part-time basis, in conjunction with their regular employment or full-time.

What should students expect to gain?

After completion of the PhD in HPE, students will be able to:

• Integrate theories in the social sciences and health professions to define and understand challenges in health professions education, research, and practice
• Employ a range of relevant research designs, research methodologies, and other scholarly practices to advance the field of health professions education as an independent investigator and eventual leader of a research team
• Situate education and education science within the sociopolitical context of health care and health professions education, and translate educational science into practice
• Additionally, students will have the opportunity to make numerous connections with experts in HPE in order to grow their professional networks.

Program format and cost

What is the program format.

The PhD in Health Professions Education is an online program, though some courses included in the curriculum have short-term, in-person requirements.

What is the cost of the program?

The online tuition is currently $925 per credit plus fees (information about fees can be found on the UIC Registrar’s website). The program/department (DME) does not offer any funding at this time. Graduate funding at UIC is primarily provided to students who attend their programs on a full-time basis; as such, the majority of PhD in HPE students are not eligible for the most common ways that PhD students at UIC fund their graduate degrees. PhD students may be able to seek funding through their employers. Also, all full-time students who are eligible to apply for financial support (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, or assistantships) through the Graduate College will be supported in their applications by departmental and PhD program administration.

Degree Requirements Heading link Copy link

Students must achieve the following requirements to graduate with a PhD in Health Professions Education.

Details on hours

The PhD in HPE degree requires 96 credit hours past the baccalaureate (e.g. MD, PharmD, DPT). However, we anticipate that the majority of admitted students will be eligible to receive 32 hours of advanced standing credit for a previously earned relevant master’s degree (e.g. MHPE, MEd, or similar social science master’s) or advanced clinical degree (e.g., MDs), thus leaving 64 credit hours to complete the degree. (For more details, see FAQs.)

The program consists of several different categories of coursework: Foundational courses, Methodological courses, and HPE Area of Study courses. Many of these courses are shared with the MHPE program; however, students are also welcome to take other UIC courses with DGS and advisor approval.

To accommodate the heterogeneity of the expected student body, the curriculum aims to be quite flexible. Rather than being prescriptive about specific courses, the program focuses on the specific domains and competencies that were determined by program faculty to be fitting for rigorous, doctoral-level training in HPE. Specifically, students will work with their advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to develop programs of study based upon their scholarly and methodological needs.

Details of mentorship

Students must complete a mentored, Applied Health Professions Education Experience in order to better facilitate integration of coursework and their understanding of HPE concepts within applied settings. These experiences might include working on DME faculty members’ research projects, engaging in HPE journal editorial work, helping to teach a course taught by a DME faculty member, or something comparable.

There are 3 exams

• Departmental Qualifying Examination: This comprehensive exam will evaluate students’ knowledge of foundational readings within health professions education and their ability to synthesize and critique these readings.
• Graduate College Preliminary Examination: Students are required to draft a dissertation prospectus and defend this prospectus at a virtual hearing in front of their Preliminary Examination committee (and future dissertation committee).
• Dissertation Defense: Students are required to complete a written dissertation with a public, virtual oral defense before their dissertation committee and other members of the academic community.

Dissertation details

PhD in HPE students must complete a Dissertation research project. Dissertation research must include original data collection (i.e., the research needs to include the development of a dataset, identification of sample/analytic subject, etc.). The project can include one large project with multiple components or serial linked studies/experiments. The most common format for the dissertation is the multiple-article model (three publishable articles, plus an introduction and conclusion), though a single monograph is also acceptable.

How to Apply Heading link Copy link

The application deadline for Fall 2025 is December 1 st , 2024. Only two applicants are accepted each year.

All applicants submit materials via Online Application . The Department of Medical Education Admissions Committee will then develop a ranked short list for subsequent interviews with potential PhD advisors. Short-listed applicants will interview (via Zoom) with the DGS and two potential advisors, all of whom will submit reviews for the applicants, which will then be used to develop the final ranked list for admissions.

Please review the admission and application requirements before applying.

Applicants will be informed of admissions decisions in the spring. Please note that all admitted students will be required to attend the 1-week in-person introductory course (MHPE 506), which takes place at the end of July in Chicago.

Application requirements Heading link Copy link

Details on prior degree requirements.

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree.

A combination of a master’s degree in education, social science, or related fields and significant experience in a health professions setting or  A master’s degree in health professions education and/or an advanced professional degree in a health professions discipline.

Applying as a graduate of the Department of Medical Education MHPE program

Graduates of DME’s MHPE are eligible to apply to this program. However, since many of the courses are shared between the two programs, students in this group will need to take a larger proportion of their coursework outside of DME. If you have additional questions about how this works, please contact us for more information.

Transfer credits

Advanced standing credit determinations will be considered for applicants with master’s degrees in health professions education; master’s degrees in education, social science, or related fields; and advanced professional degrees in a health professions discipline. Admitted students may be eligible to receive 32 hours of advanced standing credit for a previously earned relevant master’s degree (or its equivalent; or an advanced clinical degree) toward the minimum 96 semester hours of credit requirement for the doctoral degree.

Transfer of graduate credits from other institutions will be handled on a case-by-case and course-by-course basis, pursuant to the transfer process described on the Graduate College website.

Read more on the policies around transfer of credit on the Graduate College website .

GPA details

Applicant’s previous grade point average must be above 3.75 on a 5-point scale or 3.0 on a 4-point scale.

Which tests to take

The GRE is not required for this program; however, applicants may submit their scores if they wish.

Applicants whose native language is not English must take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the exam of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson’s PTE Academic. The test score cannot be more than two years old. For English proficiency test score minimums, reporting requirements, and exemptions, see the UIC Admissions International Requirements page for more details.

• UIC Admissions International Requirements

Review for submitting

To be considered for the PhD in HPE, students must demonstrate either credentials or experience in health professions education. Additionally, applicants must be actively engaged in, or preparing for, health professions educations scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate this engagement through their application materials. Applicants must submit:

• UIC online graduate application  (All application materials must be submitted through the UIC online graduate application.)
• Registrar-issued transcripts from each college and professional school attended
• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Recommendation letters should address the applicant’s academic qualifications, research ability/experience, and ability to carry out advanced degree studies (including institutional/financial support, if available)
• Your background and/or experiences (past or present) that are relevant to the field of health professions education (these may include research, teaching, curricular development, administration, etc.).
• Future potential research agenda – please include at least one future project idea.
• Fit with program and why the applicant is pursuing the PhD in HPE at DME
• Applicant characteristics or experience likely to contribute to applicant success in the PhD program, including experience with online/virtual learning, prior graduate programs, institutional support, local mentorship, etc.
• If applicants are planning to pursue the degree in connection with their employment (i.e., part-time), they also must include a statement of how the doctoral program of study will fit in with their professional schedules and commitments.
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting research, teaching, and service experience, particularly in HPE

Read if you are applying from outside the United States

International applicants must follow all UIC Admissions International Requirements for graduate admission. Please visit the UIC Admissions website for more details.

The Office of International Services is working to obtain authorization to allow international students to be admitted to this new academic program. In the event that the authorization is not in place in time prior to the start of the term of admission, admitted international students may defer their admission until the following year.

Contact for more program info Heading link Copy link

Laura e. hirshfield, laura schaaf, thank you to the uic college of education heading link copy link.

In 2010, the Department of Medical Education, in collaboration with faculty in the College of Education, developed an area of emphasis within the PhD in Curriculum and Instruction for students interested in Health Professions Education and Curriculum. This concentration in Curriculum Studies/Critical Pedagogies and Urban Teacher Education (Health Professions Education Area of Emphasis) focused on the exploration of curriculum across multiple educational contexts. The program has successfully graduated a diverse set of students from a variety of social identities, professional backgrounds, and ranks within their profession.

The Department of Medical Education is extremely grateful for the long-term collaborative relationship it has had with the College of Education, especially with the CS/CPUTE program. The department will continue to support students who are currently enrolled in the Collaborative PhD program; however, DME will no longer admit new students into the HPE Area of Emphasis. Instead, the PhD in HPE will effectively replace this offering.

FAQs Heading link Copy link

Q: what is the difference between the mhpe and phd in hpe.

A: The PhD in HPE is similar in content to the MHPE, except that it focuses on developing in students a deeper methodological training, with increased independence and greater knowledge of the HPE canon. The goal of the PhD program is to shift students away from the more applied focus of the MHPE to a broader scholarly, theoretical approach. Specifically, the PhD in HPE shares course offerings with the MHPE program, but the program has a greater emphasis on research design, data collection, and original scholarship for students who wish to serve as principal investigators in HPE studies.

Q: Why should someone pursue a PhD in HPE at DME?

A:  DME’s PhD in HPE is focused on training our students to become independent researchers and scholars in health professions education. Graduates of the HPE PhD program would be particularly well poised to be hired by health professions scholarship units (or organizations and institutions that  “share a commitment to the production and dissemination of rigorous educational practices and research” ). Clinical faculty who are heavily involved in health professions education research that guides educational policy or practice may also find the degree valuable for deepening their research expertise.

Q: What are you looking for in applicants?

A: To be considered for the PhD in HPE, students must demonstrate either credentials or experience in health professions education. Typical students may include MDs, other clinicians (e.g., nurses and physical therapists), and non-clinical educators (e.g., student services or curricular affairs) aiming to deepen their methodological training and increase their knowledge of the health professions education canon. We welcome applicants from a variety of career stages. That said, all applicants must be actively engaged in, or preparing for, health professions educations scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate this engagement through their application materials.

Q: Is the program entirely online?

A:  No, not entirely.  Students are required to come to Chicago for the 1-week on-campus orientation course (MHPE 506), in which they are introduced to core course content and faculty and begin to develop the peer relationships that will form the basis of a lasting community of practice. For students who are not able to attend alternative opportunities for participation will be negotiated with course faculty members. Some MHPE courses may also have additional on-site components.

Q: How long does it take to complete the program?

A:  It’s hard to say, as it really varies based on a lot of different factors (i.e., if the student must complete 64 or 96 credit hours; how many credit hours a student takes each semester; when courses are offered and the availability in them; how long it takes the student to complete the exams and the dissertation; etc.).  The program will adhere to UIC Graduate College timelines for student completion of the program ( https://grad.uic.edu/doctoral-degrees/ ).

Q: How many courses/credits should I take each semester?

A:  It depends on your workload outside of the PhD in HPE. Most of our students will take the program part-time while they are working full-time; these students generally will take 4-6 credits per semester. Students should work with their advisor and PhD Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to develop a plan that works best for them.

Q: What is advanced standing credit?

A:  Admitted students may be eligible to receive 32 hours of advanced standing credit for a previously earned relevant master’s degree (e.g. MHPE, MEd, or similar social science master’s) or advanced clinical degree (e.g. MD, PharmD, DPT) toward the minimum 96 semester hours of credit requirement for the doctoral degree, thus making it 64 credit hours to complete the doctoral degree.  For consideration, the degree must be posted as completed on a transcript from an accredited institution, and, if international, equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree (as determined by the Graduate Admissions Office and the Graduate College).  Students who are not granted advanced standing credit will be required to complete 32 additional credit hours of 400-level and 500-level coursework in related areas.  A minimum of 16 of these credit hours must be letter-graded courses (A to F), rather than project or thesis credits. For more information on advancing standing credit, please see the UIC Graduate College website :

Q: Where can I learn more about the coursework taken in the program?

A:  The program consists of several different categories of coursework: Foundational courses, Methodological courses, and HPE Area of Study courses. Many of these courses are shared with the MHPE program; however, students are also welcome to take other UIC courses with DGS and advisor approval.

For more information about the above mentioned MHPE coursework please contact Laura Schaaf ([email protected]).

Q: Can graduates of the DME MHPE program apply?

A: Yes, graduates of DME’s MHPE are eligible to apply to this program. However, since many of the courses are shared between the two programs, students in this group will need to take a larger proportion of their coursework outside of DME. If you have additional questions about how this works, please contact us for more information.

Q: How much does the program cost?

A:  The cost of the program varies depending on how many credits you need to complete.  The program requires at least 96 credits from the baccalaureate or at least 64 credits from the master’s degree.  Doctoral students who have previously earned a relevant master’s degree (or its equivalent) from UIC or another accredited institution or health professionals with advanced degrees (e.g., MD, DO, DDS, PA, DPT, etc) may possibly be granted 32 semester hours of credit toward the doctoral degree if approved by the program and the Graduate College at the time of admission. The 32 hours are subtracted from the total hours required for the degree.  Degree equivalency from foreign institutions is determined by the Office of Admissions. To calculate online tuition please see the UIC Registrar’s Graduate Tuition and Fees website:   https://registrar.uic.edu/financial-matters/graduate-tuition-and-fees/ .

Q: Is there funding available?

A: The program/department (DME) does not offer any funding at this time. The majority of PhD in HPE students are not eligible for the most common ways that UIC PhD students fund their graduate degrees; specifically, funding is most often made available only to full-time graduate students. That said, full-time students who are eligible to apply for financial support (e.g., scholarships, fellowships, or assistantships) through the Graduate College https://grad.uic.edu/funding-awards/ will be supported in their applications by departmental and PhD program administration. PhD students may also be able to seek funding through their employers.

Q: How many students are accepted each year?

A: At this time, we are only able to accept up to two students per year.

Health Professions Education, Doctoral/PhD

Gain the academic skills needed to conduct educational research, lead educational programs, institutions, curricula, and organizations in the health and medical professions..

The PhD in Health Professions Education provides the next generation of health professions faculty advanced training in education. This program aims to provide students with the necessary tools to further develop interprofessional health profession course and curricular design, research, and assessment skills. Learners will build on existing health professional competencies gained through their professional education. Topics such as educational theory and using educational research to advance knowledge in teaching and the learning in health professions are core to this program. The primary discipline will serve as one lens through which educational theory and phenomena can be examined. After the completion of this program graduates will continue their careers with the tools necessary to adequately prepare health professions students to impact the health of our diverse society. Applications for admission to the fall term are due by February 1.

• Application Instructions

Details, Dates & Deadlines

Program details, class format, program location.

Predominantly online

Program Length

36-60 months

Credits to Complete

Cost/credit hour.

In State: $798 Out of State: $997

• Online application
• $75 application fee
• Official transcripts
• 3 Letters of recommendation
• Current CV or resume
• Master’s degree or higher in the health professions or a related field
• Proof of English language proficiency for international applicants
• Statement of professional goals and proposed research interests
• Proof of current professional license for applicants who are clinically practicing
• Practice-based experience, working a minimum of 2 years in one’s clinical profession
• No GRE required 

Dates & Deadlines

Fall Deadline: February 1

Career Outlook

As the demand for health professionals and health education programs continues to grow nationwide, so does the need for well-prepared health professions faculty who have advanced training in educational theory, instructional strategies in the health professions, and related assessment methods. The Health Professions Education curriculum is intentionally designed to formally prepare learners with the foundations needed to engage in educational scholarship, curricular design, assessment, program evaluation, and institutional leadership. 

Admission Guidelines

Admission requirements for the PhD in Health Professions Education are listed below: 

• An  official application
• 75.00 application fee
• No GRE Required
• Submit proof of current professional licenses for applicants who are clinically practicing (Applicants may upload a pdf/copy of the license directly to the admissions portal) 
• Submit official transcripts from all former institutions
• You must possess a master’s degree or higher in the health professions or related field
• Statement of proposed research topics and how the degree will support your career plans and trajectory (no longer than 2 pages)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Current CV/Resume
• Practice-based experience, working a minimum of 2 years in one’s clinical field or profession
• English Language proficiency assessment (TOEFL or IELTS), as applicable

The professional licenses requirement may be waived for individuals whose profession does not require a license to practice, and they will still be considered for admission.

Partial Fulfillment Credit

For applicants who may have taken courses at other accredited graduate schools that appear to be similar to HPE required coursework, requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. After a review of the syllabus, grade received, and discussion with the Program Director, one of the following could be an outcome:

• Acceptance of the course credits towards the transfer credit allowance (up to 6 credits);
• Examination for competence, with a plan for independent study;
• Independent study for gap areas; or,
• Requirement for enrollment in UMB's HPE course

Please feel out the transfer credit   to initiate the process. 

Program Structure

The PhD in health professions education consists of a total of 60 credits. The instruction will occur predominantly online utilizing distance learning technologies in addition to a mandatory on-site residency to be taken in tandem with the beginning of the program and conclusion. The mandatory In person (residency) will require students to attend four consecutive days of face-to-face lectures, training, discussions, and presentations at UMB’s campus in Baltimore, MD.

Program Completion Timeline

• The degree is designed for completion within three academic years, and its online format increases its accessibility to students.
• Participants can start the program in the fall term only.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the PhD in HPE program will be prepared to apply the skills that they have acquired to higher education employment in their profession, the private sector, as well as local, state and government positions in healthcare and education.

Graduates of the PhD in HPE will:

• Advance theory through the generation and dissemination of rigorous educational research and scholarship.
• Demonstrate proficiency in curriculum design, delivery, and evaluation.
• Work effectively in interprofessional research
• Demonstrate academic and executive-level administration and leadership skills needed to lead higher education programs, institutions, agencies, and organizations in the health professions.
• Demonstrate evidence-based teaching and assessment methods at the course or program level.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply analytical skills to improve educational programs and institutional effectiveness.
• Participate in the broader national and global health professions community to improve health professions education.

Hear from a few of our students

Program Contacts

Nina Jackson Admissions Counselor  [email protected] 410-706-6489

Violet Kulo, EdD, PhD PhD, HPE Leadership Certificate Program Director [email protected]  

Karen Gordes, PhD, PT, DScPT MS, HPE Teaching Certificate Program Director [email protected]

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