Curriculum
All semesters are eight weeks long: two eight-week semesters in the "Fall semester," two eight-week semesters in the "Spring semester," and one eight-week semester in the "Summer semester."
About Palliative Care Video
From Our Peers:
"There is a large demand for palliative care clinicians, but an insufficient number of individuals with the training to meet this need. The University of Maryland, Baltimore's Master of Science program has been developed by a world class leader in the field and comes at the right time to fill this gap in patient care in the U.S."
— Eduardo Bruera, MD, FAAHPM, Chair of the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Core-Required Courses
All students take the first four core courses, which results in an award of a Graduate Certificate.
- Principles and Practice of Hospice and Palliative Care
- Communication and Health Care Decision-Making
- Psychosocial, Cultural, and Spiritual Care
- Symptom Management in Advanced Illness
All students also take the last two required core courses below.
- Research and Outcomes Assessment in Hospice and Palliative Care
- Advanced Team-Based Palliative Care
Electives
Students select four electives. If student takes all four courses in a given track, this results in a second Graduate Certificate. Electives can be taken across tracks as desired.
To earn a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Hospice and Palliative Care:
- Advanced Pain Management and Opioid Dosing
- Advanced Non-Pain Symptom Management
- Advanced Disease State Management
- Clinical Management of Special Patient Populations
*Enrollment limited to physicians, advanced practice nurses, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants or with permission of Program Director.
To earn a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Administration in Hospice and Palliative Care:
- Hospice Leadership and Administration
- Palliative Care Leadership and Administration
- Practice Development and Strategic Planning
- Principles and Practice of Palliative Care Education
Psychosocial/Spiritual Track ▾
To earn a Graduate Certificate in Psychosocial/Spiritual Aspects of Hospice and Palliative Care:
- Advanced Decision-Making and Communication Skills
- Advanced Spirituality and Psychosocial Skills
- Self-Care
- Principles and Practice of Palliative Care Education
To earn a Graduate Certificate in Aging and Applied Thanatology:
- Death and Dying: Ethical and Legal Considerations
- Palliative Care (Than)
- Caring for the Bereaved
- Psychosocial Perspectives in Aging
