Table 1 Characteristics of HPE doctoral programs in the U.S. and Canada
Institution United States | Degree title | Admission requirements | Published program duration | Credit hours | Graduation requirements | Delivery format | Program cost | Academic location | Website |
A.T. Still University – Mesa, AZ | EdD in Health Professions | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 2.5/4.0) • Curriculum vitae • Essay • TOEFL scores if applicable | 3 years | 55 | • Complete required courses • Research project | Online | $691 per credit hour | College of Graduate Health Studies | https://www.atsu.edu/doctor-of-education-in-health-professions-degree |
Allen College – Waterloo, IA | EdD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree or higher (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Completion of a statistics course • Interview may be required • Proof of English proficiency if applicable • Three recommendations • Writing sample • Statement of purpose | 3–4 years | 60 | • Complete required courses • Education-focused capstone project | Hybrid | $670 per credit hour | School of Health Sciences | |
Bellarmine University – Louisville, KY | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree or professional doctorate (GPA ≥ 3.2/4.0) • Minimum of 1 year in educator role and/or 3 years in a health professions practice role • Two references • Essay addressing professional goals • Curriculum vitae • Professional license • Interview • TOEFL scores if applicable | 3 years | 48 | • Complete required courses • Teaching practicum • Contemporary concepts seminars • Pre-dissertation seminar • Dissertation | Online | $855 per credit hour | College of Health Professions | https://www.bellarmine.edu/health-professions/graduate/phd-in-health-professions-education/ |
D’Youville University – Buffalo, NY | EdD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Two letters of recommendation • Statement of goals • Curriculum vitae • Writing sample • Interview | 3 years | 60 | • Complete required courses • Practicums • Dissertation | Online | $950 per credit hour | School of Health Professions | |
Eastern Virginia Medical School – Norfolk, VA | EdD/PhD in Medical and Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • One year teaching in medical health professions/higher education • Personal essay • Writing sample • Curriculum vitae • Two references • TOEFL scores if applicable | 3.5-4 years | 48 | • Complete required courses • Dissertation | Online | $956 per credit hour | School of Medicine | https://www.evms.edu/education/medical_and_health_professions_education/mhpe_doctoral_program/ |
Logan University – Chesterfield, MO | DHPE – Doctor of Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree or higher (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Curriculum vitae • Clinical license if applicable | 3–4 years | 60 | • Complete required courses • 2 preceptorship/ practicum • Applied research project | Online | $650 per credit hour | College of Health Sciences | https://www.logan.edu/academics/doctorate-health-professions/ |
MGH Institute of Health Professions – Boston, MA | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree or higher • Statement of goals • Curriculum vitae • Two letters of recommendation • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4 years | 66 | • Complete required courses • Onsite seminars • Dissertation | Hybrid | $1342 per credit hour | Center for Interprofessional Studies and Innovation | |
Rocky, Mountain University – Provo, UT | PhD in Health Sciences with concentration in Healthcare Professions Education | • Master’s or professional practice degree (GPA ≥ 3.4/4.0) • Two letters of recommendation • Statement of goals • Curriculum vitae • B- or better in a research methods or statistics course • ≥ 1 year in clinical practice • Healthcare license | 4 years | 70 | • Complete required courses • Onsite sessions • Dissertation | Online | $944 per credit hour | College of Health Sciences and Lifelong Learning | |
Seton Hall University – South Orange, NJ | PhD in Health Sciences | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Two letters of recommendation • Statement of goals and research/career interests • Curriculum vitae • Interview may be required • GRE scores if available • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4–8 years | 57 | • Complete required courses • Dissertation | Hybrid | $1354 per credit hour | School of Health and Medical Sciences | |
Simmons College – Boston, MA | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Curriculum vitae • GRE scores • Three letters of recommendation • Writing sample • Personal statement • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4 years | 48 | • Complete required courses • Capstone/Placement/Internship/Practicum • Dissertation | Hybrid | $1280 per credit hour | School of Nursing | |
Uniformed Services University – Bethesda, MD | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Military service or federal employee • Curriculum vitae • Three letters of recommendation • Personal statement • Research statement • GRE scores | 4 years | 144 | • Complete required courses • Portfolio • Practicum • Oral exam • Dissertation | Hybrid | Free for military and federal employees | School of Medicine | |
University of California San Francisco, CA / Utrecht University Medical Center, Netherlands | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Health professional with preparation in education or master’s degree in social or biomedical sciences • UCSF faculty or staff involved in health professions education • Publications in education research desirable | Maximum 6 years |  | • Complete required training activities • Monthly cohort virtual meeting • Annual progress interview in San Francisco • Thesis comprising 4–6 published research studies in peer-reviewed international journals • Thesis defense in Netherlands | Hybrid | A total of three tuition payments | School of Medicine | |
University of Houston, TX | EdD in Professional Leadership for Health Science Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 2.6/4.0) • GRE scores • Statement of interest • Curriculum vitae • Writing sample • Letters of recommendation • TOEFL scores if applicable | 3 years | 51 | • Complete required courses • Dissertation | Hybrid | Resident: $617 per credit hour Non-resident: $967 per credit hour | College of Education | |
University of Illinois Chicago, IL | PhD in Critical Pedagogies and Urban Teacher Education with a specialization in Health Professions Education | • Bachelor’s or master’s degree • Goal statement • Curriculum vitae • Three letters of recommendation • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4–6 years | 96/64 | • Complete required courses • Research project • Written and oral preliminary exams • Dissertation | Hybrid | $838 per credit hour | College of Education | https://education.uic.edu/academics/programs/critical-pedagogies/ |
University of Maryland Baltimore, MD | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree • Statement of proposed research • Curriculum vitae • Three letters of recommendation • Clinical license if applicable • Interview • TOEFL scores if applicable | 3–5 years | 60 | • Complete required courses • Onsite summer impact institute • Dissertation | Online | Resident: $761 per credit hour Non-resident: $972 per credit hour | Graduate School | |
University of Texas at El Paso, TX | PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences | • Master’s degree • GRE scores • TOEFL scores if applicable • Three letters of recommendation • Statement of goals and research interest • Interview | 3 years | 60 | • Complete required courses • Dissertation | Face-to-face | Resident: $505.05 per credit hour Non-resident: $1020.50 per credit hour | College of Health Sciences | |
Widener University – Chester, PA | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.0/4.0) • Statement of interest • Curriculum vitae • One letter of recommendation | 3 years | 57 | • Complete required courses • Teaching practicum • Dissertation | Hybrid | $990 | College of Health & Human Services | https://www.widener.edu/academics/graduate-studies/health-professions-education-phd |
Institution Canada | Degree title | • Admission requirements | Published program duration | Credit hours | • Graduation requirements | Delivery format | Program cost | Academic location | Website |
University of Calgary, AB | PhD in Community Health Sciences: Medical Education | • Master’s degree (GPA ≥ 3.3/4.0) • Statement of research interest • Letter of interest from a faculty member to be a supervisor • Two letters of recommendation • Completion of core courses and specialization courses or equivalents required at the master's level • Relevant work and/or research experience recommended • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4–6 years | 9 units minimum | • Complete required courses • Attend weekly Medical Education Journal Series and seminars • Thesis | Face-to-face | Citizens/residents: $3464 per year International: $8081 per year | School of Medicine | https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs/community-health-sciences-phd |
University of Ottawa, ON | Ph.D. in Education (Health Professions Education) | • Master’s degree with thesis in science, health sciences or related field • Minimum average of B+ • Letter of intent • Curriculum vitae • Two letters of recommendation • TOEFL scores if applicable | 5–6 years | 18 units minimum | • Complete required courses • Thesis | Face-to-face | Citizens/residents: $8091 per year International: $8811 per year | Faculty of Education | |
Western University – London, ON | PhD in Health Professions Education | • Master’s degree • Statement of research interest • A cover letter • Curriculum vitae • Two letters of recommendation • TOEFL scores if applicable | 4 years | 1.5 credits for courses only | • Complete required courses • Attend and participate in seminars • Thesis | Face-to-face | Citizens/residents: $8499 per year International: $9219 per year | Faculty of Health Sciences | https://www.uwo.ca/fhs/programs/hrs/fields/health_pro_edu.html |