Introduction
Now accepting applications for the 2027 cohort!
The application deadline for Fall 2027 is December 15, 2026.
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.
Program Outcomes
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Integrate Theories
in the social sciences and health professions to define and understand challenges in health professions education, research, and practice
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Employ Research
including 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
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Explore Education Science
within the sociopolitical context of health care and health professions education, and translate educational science into practice
Program Structure
Click each tab to learn more about this program’s format, courses, and completion timeline.
PhD in HPE Format: Online
The PhD in HPE is offered as a part-time, online program only.
PhD in HPE Courses and Credit Hours
Credit Hours
The PhD in HPE degree requires 96 credit hours past the baccalaureate. 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, thus leaving 64 credit hours to complete the degree. (For more details, see FAQs.)
Courses
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 our other HPE programs; 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.
PhD in HPE Applied HPE Experience
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.
PhD in HPE Examinations
- 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.
PhD in HPE Dissertation
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 long does it take to complete the PhD in HPE?
While the specific program timeline will vary according to a number of different factors (i.e., if the student must complete 64 or 96 credit hours; how many credit hours a student takes each semester; etc.), the program is designed to be completed in approximately 6-7 years. Students are required to follow the Graduate College’s requirements for continuous enrollment. More information about continuous enrollment can be found here.
International Students
International students residing outside of the US can apply for the PhD in HPE program since it is fully online. For more information, please visit the Office of International Services.
PhD in HPE Tuition and Fees
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for the PhD in HPE program can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s website here: https://registrar.uic.edu/financial-matters/tuition-and-fees/
Funding
The program/department (DME) does not offer any funding at this time.
FAQs
Who is the PhD in HPE 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 pursue the program on a part-time basis, in conjunction with their regular employment, or in very rare cases full-time.
What are the electives offered in the PhD in HPE?
HPE course offerings, including core and elective courses, can be found here.
What is the difference between the MHPE and PhD in HPE?
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.
Why should someone pursue a PhD in HPE at DME?
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.
What are you looking for in applicants?
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.
How many courses/credits should I take each semester?
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.
What is advanced standing credit?
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 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.
Can graduates of the DME MHPE program apply?
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.
How much does the program cost?
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 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/.
Is there funding available?
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, will be supported in their applications by departmental and PhD program administration. PhD students may also be able to seek funding through their employers.
How many students are accepted each year?
At this time, we are only able to accept up to two students per year.
Can I also be considered for the MHPE when I apply?
Yes, you may be considered for the MHPE when you apply for the PhD in HPE program. You may mark that you want to be considered on your application.
Take the Next Step
Thank you to the UIC College of Education
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.