University of Texas at San Antonio

What you'll study

This interdisciplinary master’s emphasises three complementary strands: health professions education, clinical and biomedical ethics, and medical humanities. Core coursework typically covers educational theory and instructional design for adult learners; assessment and program evaluation; research methods in education with both quantitative and qualitative approaches; and foundational topics in clinical ethics and bioethics.

• Health professions education: curriculum development, learner assessment, simulation and feedback, interprofessional education, and educational scholarship.
• Ethics: clinical ethics consultation, ethical frameworks in healthcare policy, research ethics, end-of-life decision-making and professionalism.
• Humanities and narrative approaches: narrative medicine, literature and medicine, visual and performing arts in clinical education, reflective practice and cultural competence.
• Research and capstone: courses in research design and methods, a practicum or supervised teaching placement, and a capstone project or thesis that applies educational, ethical or humanities methods to a practical problem in a health setting.

The programme is usually available in flexible delivery formats, including on-campus, hybrid and online options, and can be taken full-time or part-time to accommodate practising clinicians. Electives allow specialisation in areas such as interprofessional education, healthcare leadership, curriculum evaluation or qualitative research methods.

Entry requirements

Applicants typically need a recognised bachelor’s degree. Candidates with degrees in the health professions (medicine, nursing, allied health), social sciences, humanities or education are welcome; relevant professional experience is an advantage for clinical and practice-focused applicants. Typical application materials include:

• Official academic transcripts from previous postsecondary study
• A statement of purpose outlining professional goals and reasons for pursuing the degree
• A current curriculum vitae or résumé
• References or letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees
• Evidence of English language proficiency if the applicant’s prior study was not in English

Some applicants may also be invited for an interview. Admissions decisions consider academic preparation, professional experience, fit with programme aims and the applicant’s capacity to complete a research or capstone project.

Career prospects

Graduates use the degree to advance careers in health professions education, ethics consultation and scholarly work in the medical humanities. Common roles include:

• Clinical educator or faculty member in medical, nursing or allied health schools
• Curriculum developer, assessment specialist or simulation centre instructor
• Clinical ethics consultant or member of hospital ethics committees
• Medical writer, patient-education specialist or programme manager in healthcare organisations
• Researcher in health professions education or health humanities, or progression to doctoral study

Graduates are prepared to work in academic medical centres, teaching hospitals, community health systems, professional associations and educational departments within health organisations.

Why study at University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA provides an environment that supports interdisciplinary collaboration between education, ethics and humanities scholars and clinicians. Located in a large and diverse health ecosystem, the university has connections with regional hospitals, clinics and health systems, offering opportunities for practicum placements and applied projects in real-world clinical settings.

The university emphasises research and community engagement, with faculty who bring experience in curriculum design, clinical ethics consultation and humanities-based approaches to healthcare. Students benefit from a culturally rich learning environment in San Antonio, access to professional networks across the city’s healthcare institutions and flexible study options to balance professional commitments with graduate study.