Situated in one of first and largest medical education departments in the world, Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE) students and graduates join a tradition of excellence going back to 1959. The UIC MHPE is globally recognized as a leader in HPE and has been offered around the world, in Brazil, India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and China.

The UIC MHPE features:

• A focus on educational leadership and scholarship
• World-class, interdisciplinary faculty
• Part-time online or onsite format options
• Application of learning within your own institutional setting
• A mentored thesis project
• An extensive international network of faculty, students, and alumni

Who is it for?

The MHPE program is designed for individuals who have a deep interest in HPE and desire the additional leadership and scholarship skills that will advance their education, research, and career. Students are health professionals from a diversity of fields and a range of career stages, from in-training to late career.
Our students are health professionals serving in or preparing for educational leadership roles in academia, healthcare organizations, professional societies, and international health agencies. Students acquire the knowledge and skills to develop and implement evidence-based educational programs, inspire and manage change in their institutions and organizations, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in HPE.

What should students expect to learn?

MHPE students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become leaders and scholars in HPE, developing proficiency in:
• Key education concepts and theories including curriculum design and implementation; instruction and learning; assessment of performance; and program evaluation
• HPE leadership, including organizational analysis and the use of tools for assessing, leading, and managing individual and organizational change in the HPE context
• HPE scholarship, including the use of scholarship and evidence to inform education leadership and practice; formulation of research questions and identification of appropriate methods to investigate them; and literacy in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches
• Communication and collegial interaction including oral and written communication; teamwork; giving and receiving feedback; and providing and seeking mentorship
World-class faculty share their expertise through teaching courses and serving as thesis advisors and committee members.

What are the MHPE program degree requirements?

The program is offered in two format options: an onsite (on-campus) intensive option (2 weeks onsite for each core course, 1 week for electives) or an online longitudinal option (8- to 15-week semester-long courses). Students in both formats participate together in a 1-week on-campus orientation course, 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. A hybrid accelerated option may be available to a limited number of students who have protected time to devote to the program, allowing them to complete all core courses in a single year.
Graduates complete 32 credit hours, including 5 mandatory core courses (18 credits), 3 or 4 electives (6-8 credits), and a thesis (6-8 credits).

The culmination and hallmark of the MHPE journey is the mentored thesis. Working closely with a DME faculty thesis chair and supervisory committee, students embark on an intensive research project that applies lessons from the MHPE program to address a local educational need or question or fills a broader gap in the scholarly literature.

The program is designed for professionals working full-time and completing the program on a part-time basis.   Part-time students should anticipate completing the program within 3 years. Generally, courses are completed within the first 2 years and the required thesis is completed by the 3^rd year.

Students who wish to pursue the program on a full-time or accelerated basis may indicate this when applying for the program. For example, this may be considered for students who are on sabbatical or have funding/significant release time to complete the program within two years.  In this format, it is possible to complete all or most courses within one year, although students will need the second year to complete the required thesis.

For more information about the UIC MHPE program and courses, please click here to download our brochure.

How do I apply?

Application deadline Fall 2024: December 1, 2023
Students are informed of application decisions in early March. The 1-week onsite introductory course (MHPE 505) takes place at the end of July.
A successful application will make a strong case for the applicant’s capacity to thrive in the MHPE program, which includes demonstrating evidence of their interest and engagement in education programs, initiatives, and projects. The admissions committee evaluates all applications based on scholarship potential, leadership potential, and communication skills. Given the diversity of candidates, the strength of an applicant can be demonstrated in a variety of ways. Applicants are judged on the strength of their accomplishments relative to norms of their career stage, profession, and specialty. Though scholarly publications and significant involvement in educational initiatives can serve as indicators of one’s potential to succeed in the program, they are not mandatory.
Upon application, students are asked to choose either on-campus or online as their preferred participation option. Students will be given registration preference for courses in the program format to which they are admitted.
Online tuition (2024): $838 × 32 credits = $26,816 plus fees
On-campus tuition: Varies depending on the number of credits taken per semester and Illinois residency. (Please contact Suah Cho for additional information.)

Apply Now