Loyola University Chicago

What you'll study

This doctoral programme combines rigorous coursework in educational theory and research methods with sustained engagement in ethics and health humanities. Core areas of study typically include curriculum design and assessment in health professions education, qualitative and quantitative research methods, programme evaluation, pedagogy for interprofessional learning, and advanced study in bioethics, narrative medicine and history of medicine.

• Research methods: advanced qualitative methods (ethnography, narrative analysis, grounded theory), applied quantitative methods, mixed-methods design, and implementation science.
• Health professions education: learning theory, competency-based education, assessment and feedback, faculty development, educational leadership and curriculum innovation.
• Ethics and humanities: clinical ethics, public health ethics, narrative medicine, medical humanities approaches, critical theory and humanistic inquiry as applied to clinical practice and education.
• Practicum and teaching: mentored teaching practica, curricular leadership projects, and supervised scholarship in educational settings across health professions.
• Dissertation: sustained original research that contributes to scholarship in health professions education, ethics or the medical humanities, developed with faculty mentorship and defended before a doctoral committee.

The programme is delivered through a blend of seminars, workshops, practicum experiences in clinical and educational settings, and independent research. Students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty across clinical departments, nursing, allied health, and university-wide humanities and ethics centres.

Entry requirements

• Academic qualifications: a recognised master’s degree in education, a health profession, bioethics, humanities, or a closely related field, or equivalent professional and scholarly experience.
• Professional background: applicants are expected to have relevant experience in health care or health professions education (for example, as clinicians, educators, administrators or researchers).
• Application materials: academic transcripts, a current curriculum vitae, a personal statement outlining academic and professional goals and proposed areas of research, a writing sample or project, and three letters of recommendation.
• Research fit and interview: a clear research interest that aligns with programme faculty is important; shortlisted candidates are typically invited to discuss fit and research plans with programme faculty.
• English language: where applicable, proof of English proficiency is required for international applicants in line with university policy.

Career prospects

Graduates of this PhD programme go on to careers that combine scholarship, leadership and teaching in health care and academic settings. Typical roles include:

• Faculty positions in medical, nursing and allied health schools, with responsibilities for teaching, curriculum development and research.
• Educational leadership roles such as director of medical education, director of clinical curricula, or director of faculty development.
• Research careers in health professions education, bioethics, or the health humanities in universities, research institutes, and healthcare systems.
• Clinical ethics consultation and leadership in institutional ethics programmes, policy roles related to professional regulation and accreditation, and positions in continuing professional development.
• Design and evaluation roles in instructional design, simulation centres, and interprofessional education initiatives within healthcare organisations.

Why study at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola offers a distinctly interdisciplinary and values-driven environment grounded in its Jesuit tradition, emphasising social justice, ethical reflection and the whole person. Students in this PhD programme have access to affiliated clinical sites, a broad range of faculty mentors across medicine, nursing, allied health and the humanities, and specialised centres focused on ethics and health scholarship.

The university supports doctoral research through structured mentorship, opportunities for teaching and practicum placements, and collaboration across campus libraries and research resources. Small cohort sizes and personalised mentoring foster close faculty–student relationships and collaborative scholarship tailored to the individual student’s research agenda and career goals.