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

Develop skills to provide compassionate, quality end-of-life care

Expand your caregiving skills and impact the quality of life of patients and families who are living with a serious illness through graduate programs in palliative care. The online PhD, MS, and Post-Baccalaureate Graduate Certificates in Palliative Care train working professionals to work in hospice and palliative care or expand their current skill set. Personalized plans of study allow students to gain an understanding of the physical, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of patients and families affected by serious illness.

Details, Dates & Deadlines

Program Details

Class Format

Online,

Program Length

Certificate: 9 months (up to 3 years allowed)
MS: 6 semesters minimum (up to 5 years allowed)
PhD: 36 months (up to 9 years allowed)

Cost/Credit Hour

Student Financial Services

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Master of Science (MS)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Palliative Care

Dates & Deadlines

MS/Certificate Spring Deadline: December 15
MS Summer Deadline: May 1
MS/Certificate Fall Deadline: July 15
PhD Fall Deadline: March 31

About the Program

Led by the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the palliative care program provides the skills needed to deliver compassionate, quality end-of-life care. Palliative care improves the quality of life for patients and their families facing life-threatening illnesses by preventing and relieving suffering through early identification and thorough assessment and treatment of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual problems.

Our learners come from a variety of fields, including social work, ministry, nursing, counseling, and more, as many encounter patients with life-threatening illnesses.

The post-graduate palliative care program prepares graduates to deliver confident, competent, and compassionate care to those with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses across the lifespan.

Graduate Degree Pathways

Certificates

Palliative care nurse sitting with bedridden patient

Choose from six graduate 12-credit post-baccalaureate certificate programs, which also serve as concentrations within our MS programs.

Learn more about the Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Master of Science

holding hands on a bed

Grow skills in the specialty practice of palliative care or add to your primary area of expertise.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Palliative Care

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Administrators and clinical staff sitting at a table

The first and only Doctor of Philosophy in Palliative Care program in the country develops outstanding researchers in palliative care.

Learn more about the Doctor of Philosophy in Palliative Care

From Our Peers

"Best practice in caring for individuals with a serious illness is provided by an interdisciplinary team of skilled professionals. Effective teams not only practice together, but also train together. The University of Maryland Master of Science in Palliative Care is an excellent opportunity for all hospice and palliative care practitioners to learn together, honing their skills to care for this vulnerable patient population."

"With the unprecedented growth of hospice and palliative care, it is critically important that practitioners acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to embrace these roles. Formal, as well as informal training opportunities are necessary to meet the growing complex needs of patients living with serious illness."

"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
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Meet Your Faculty

Our palliative care faculty members are dedicated professionals with expertise in clinical practice, psychosocial and spiritual support, education, research, and leadership. They serve in diverse roles, including professors, directors, consultants, and practitioners, across leading universities and health care organizations. Committed to advancing palliative care, they focus on innovative education, compassionate patient care, and comprehensive research initiatives.

View Faculty Bios

Next Steps

Your path to success starts here