• MS Degree Requirements
• Curriculum

Program Description

The Program in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety, coordinated by the Institute for Healthcare Studies (IHS), offers a Master of Science degree designed for both clinical and non-clinical professionals who want to focus their career development on these important areas in health care. It is a part-time program, and students are expected to obtain the degree in 18 months. Coursework includes offerings in community health, epidemiology and biostatistics, and health services research. This part-time MS program serves working professionals, medical students and Fellows. Kevin Weiss

Since the advent of the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization’s National Patient Safety Goals in 2000, hospitals have placed a greater emphasis on assessing quality of care and preventing medical errors. This has generated demand for both clinical and administrative professionals to acquire knowledge, skill and competence in the fields of healthcare quality and patient safety.  The goal of the MS program in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety is to educate healthcare clinicians and administrative professionals to become effective healthcare quality and patient safety practitioners, researchers, and thinkers. 

The MS degree provides comprehensive training, enabling students to become more competitive candidates for leadership positions in clinical settings, academia, government and policy bodies, or professional associations. Those will benefit from the MS in Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety may be mid-career professionals who wish to enhance their skills and insight, or medical students who wish to prepare themselves for leadership positions in Quality and/or Patient Safety Offices. In accordance with individual academic and professional goals, students complete either a mentored Thesis project or the two-phase Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Capstone Class that integrates and applies concepts learned in coursework through student-defined group projects.

Applicants should contact the program or see www.medschool.northwestern.edu/ihs/education/master/index.html to learn about program-specific requirements for admission.

Faculty