Academic Program

Medical Education for Healthcare Professionals

Master's Degree

The Online Master of Education for Health Care Professionals is a joint program of the University of Cincinnati, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, and the University of Cincinnati, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. It is designed to provide advanced education to health care professionals in the area of medical teaching and learning, with an emphasis on adult learning, curriculum and teaching methods, and medical education evaluation and research.

The program is aimed at physicians and health care professionals with responsibilities and interests in teaching and/or educational research and at physicians in clinical fellowships who are seeking an advanced degree alternative to traditional MPH and MS graduate degrees.

The program requires 45 credit hours of part-time coursework. Additionally, one course each year is selected for application for twenty (20) hours of Category I Continuing Medical Education credit, which satisfies the yearly requirements of most medical licensing agencies.

Admission Requirements

Admission Guidelines and Prerequisites

Students who wish to be admitted to the Online Master of Education for Health Care Professionals program must meet all minimum requirements established by the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services for admission. The College has adopted the following minimum requirements for admission into a Master of Education Degree program:

  • The applicant must possess a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
  • The applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 at the undergraduate level leading to the Bachelor Degree. All calculations are based on a 4.0 scale.
  • Although GRE scores are only one factor considered in admission decisions, successful applicants are expected to have minimum GRE scores of 450 (Verbal), 520 (Quantitative), and a total of over 1000, as well as an Analytic Writing score of at least 4.0. (Note that the Verbal and Quantitative scores are scaled differently, so that a Quantitative score of 520 is similar in percentile rank to a Verbal score of 450.) Note: GRE scores are not required for applicants with an MD or PhD degree who were required to take the MCAT, GMAT, or GRE prior to admission to their doctoral degree program.
  • Candidates who do not meet one of the above admission requirements may be allowed conditional admission by the program directors based upon other factors, including but not limited to: undergraduate or graduate school grades or performance, recommendation letters showing support from director at applicant's institution, goals statement showing commitment to medical education in career goals and completion of the program to achieve those goals, and a telephone or personal interview.
    • Application Procedures

    Prospective students should apply online to the University of Cincinnati Graduate School. They should then apply to the program by mailing, faxing, or emailing the following documents to:

    Lea Alaee, Program Coordinator
    General and Community Pediatrics
    Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
    3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 2011
    Cincinnati, OH 45102

    Send these documents:

    1. Program Application: download from this site.
    2. A one-page goal statement of academic and professional goals. This writing sample will also be used as one of the criteria for evaluating the application.
    3. A Curriculum Vitae: Provide your CV with information relevant to your academic and professional work. It should include name; address; phone; email; colleges attended with degrees and dates conferred; professional experience and employment history; present employer and position; professional affiliations, publications, presentations, and grant-funded research projects as appropriate.
    4. Two letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant's professional abilities and medical education or research goals. Letters should be from the applicant's department chair, division director, and/or fellowship or residency director, as appropriate.
    5. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores: GRE scores are not required for anyone with an MD or PhD degree. All others must provide original copy of scores taken within the five year period preceding admission (original documents will be returned to the applicant). All sections of the General Tests are required. Scores must be provided to the program office. Applications will not be processed without GRE scores.
    6. TOEFL Scores: The program is conducted entirely in English, and mostly in written English, and appicants whose native language is not English must show adequate proficiency, particularly in written English. This proficiency will be judged from TOEFL scores, the one-page essay, and other communications with the program staff. Applicants who reside in a non-English speaking country must provide original scores from the TOEFL, Test of Written English and Test of Spoken English. Minimum required scores are: TOEFL - 550 (paper), 213 (computer-based), or 7980 (web-based); Test of Written English - 4.5; and Test of Spoken English - 50. Students who are unable to take the TOEFL may take any similar English language proficiency test available in their country.
    7. Transcripts: Provide official transcripts from all institutions from which a degree was granted. Applicants whose previous degrees were earned at the University of Cincinnati may substitute "on-campus" transcripts. International students should submit official, translated transcripts.
    8. Photograph: A black and white or color photograph suitable for professional use (i.e. biosketch) may be mailed or emailed. If available from your institution's website, the link may be provided as an alternative to mailing the photograph. Photographs may be used for a program book, but will not be made available to those outside the program or used in marketing materials without your express consent.
    9. Notification of Receipt: Applicants will receive email notification of receipt of application materials.

    Applications will only be processed when all items are received.

    Program Timeline

    Listed below are important stages that mark the progression leading to a Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction:

    • Application for admission
    • Notification of acceptance
    • Completion of course work
    • Completion of practicum e-portfolio and final master's project

    Application Information

    Application Procedures

    For admission information and application procedures, please see the Application Process for Master's Degree Programs in Teacher Education (pdf).

    Application Deadlines
    • Fall - August 1
    • Winter - November 1
    • Spring - February 1
    • Summer - May 1

    Program Requirements

    Graduation Requirements

    All requirements for the Online Master Education for Health Care Professionals must be completed within five calendar years of matriculation as a student in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (within seven years if matriculated prior to Fall 2007). Students are responsible for knowing the program's thesis and project delivery dates. The university dates for completion of these experiences must be adhered to in order to graduate in the quarter requested. The student must be registered for a minimum of one credit hour in the academic year in which she or he intends to graduate. In addition, the student must notify the Curriculum and Instruction program coordinator or designated secretary one quarter prior to the quarter of intended graduation. If the student registers and does not graduate, she or he must reapply for graduation.

    Financial Aid

    Financial Aid is not available through the program office. Applicants should refer to their own institutions for tuition assistance, or may contact the University of Cincinnati Financial Aid office to inquire about loan products.

    University Graduate Scholarships (UGS) may be available. You must register for 6 credit hours in the quarter in which you seek a UGS award, and the UGS will cover a maximum of 24% of the University of Cincinnati tuition. Cincinnati Children's tuition is not included in the calculation of the award. A UGS may be not be awarded in a student's first academic quarter. For more information, contact the program coordinator, below.

    There are some partial graduate tuition scholarships (University Graduate Scholarships) available every year. These are available on the basis of previous academic record. It is important to apply each academic year to obtain this scholarship. Summer quarter requires a separate application. Applications are available from the School of Education office (615 Teachers College at UC Clifton Campus) or by calling the office at 513-556-3600.