Palliative Care, Certificate, Master's, Doctoral/PhD

We offer several graduate 12-credit post-baccalaureate certificate programs, which also serve as concentrations within our MS program, including the following:

• Introductory Principles and Practice of Hospice and Palliative Care
• Clinical Aspects of Hospice and Palliative Care
• Leadership and Administration in Hospice and Palliative Care
• Psychosocial/Spiritual Aspects of Hospice and Palliative Care
• Pediatric Palliative Care
• Research in Palliative Care

Post-baccalaureate certificates are an excellent opportunity for all interprofessional providers to add an extra layer of expertise to their current skillset.

The 30-credit Master of Science (MS) in Palliative Care meets the educational needs of individuals who are currently working or wish to work in hospice and palliative care and want to gain a deeper understanding of the physical, psychological, spiritual and social needs of patients and families affected by serious illness. Learners are also able to earn two graduate certificates while completing the master's degree.

Graduates of this program are able to work in the specialty practice of palliative care or add this skillset to their primary area of expertise. This program is highly interprofessional, with learners from medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physician assistant, social work, chaplaincy, therapists, counselors, administrators, veterinarians, dentists, death doulas, child life specialists and more. Four elective pathways allow for personalization of the learning experience.

Launched in Fall 2021, the PhD in Palliative Care program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is the first Doctor of Philosophy in Palliative Care program in the United States.

The PhD in Palliative Care program is a completely online program that builds on the very popular online Master of Science and Graduate Certificates in Palliative Care at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). An interprofessional program designed for physicians, pharmacists, nurses, physician assistants, social workers, administrators, researchers, and others, the PhD in Palliative Care aims to develop outstanding researchers in palliative care, while concurrently honing skills in leadership, education, and engagement in the profession and the palliative care community.

The program requires the completion of 36 academic credits in addition to the 30 credits in the master's degree in palliative care, or builds on a student's existing master's or other graduate degree in a relevant field with substantial and current experience in palliative care.

Graduates will be well-equipped for positions in academia, leading tertiary care or palliative care centers, leading granting/funding institutions and foundations associated with palliative care, and working with accountable care organizations to identify patients who would benefit from palliative care.