Health Professions Education, Certificate, Master's, Doctoral/PhD

Gain a better understanding of how people learn, selections of instruction and assessment within curricula, the development of curriculum and other leadership theories needed to advance the field of health professions education. 

Delivered entirely online, our curriculum provides learners a deeper knowledge and understanding of the historical and current foundations of learning, curriculum theory, as well as practical application of leadership approaches in higher education.

As a student of the Health Professions Education Leadership graduate certificate, you will examine current pedagogical and leadership theories and challenges faced by health professions programs, curricula, and institutions. Graduates will walk away with the knowledge and skills needed to lead educational programs, institutions, agencies, and organizations in the health and medical professions.

Gain evidence-based knowledge, skills, and approaches required to teach the next generation of health professions learners with the Health Professions Education Teaching graduate certificate.

Delivered entirely online, our curriculum provides learners a deeper knowledge and understanding of the historical and current foundations of learning, instructional strategies in the health professions and related assessment methods. 

As a student of the Health Professions Education Teaching graduate certificate, you will examine current pedagogical theories and challenges faced by health professions programs, curricula, and institutions.

As the demand for health professionals and health education programs continues to grow nationwide, so does the need for well-prepared health professions faculty who have advanced training in educational theory, instructional strategies in the health professions, and related assessment methods. The Health Professions Education curriculum is intentionally designed to formally prepare learners with the foundations needed to engage in educational scholarship, curricular design, assessment, program evaluation, and institutional leadership.

The MS in Health Professions Education is a 32-credit degree credential with two concentrations: educational research and educational leadership. This program aims to provide students with the necessary tools to further develop interprofessional health profession course and curricular design, research, and assessment skills.

Coursework is delivered fully online and designed for full-time working clinical professionals in healthcare, public health fields, and social work, as well as others who are integral to the healthcare education mission. 

The PhD in Health Professions Education is a 60 credit, 3-year intensive doctoral program of study for health professionals who hold more than 2 years of practice experience and a master's degree or terminal professional degree equivalent. The focus is education leadership, research, and teaching skills. 

The instruction will occur predominantly online utilizing distance learning technologies in addition to a mandatory on-site residency to be taken in tandem with the beginning of years 2 and 3 in the program. The mandatory In person (residency) will require students to attend four consecutive days of face-to-face lectures, training, discussions, and presentations at UMB’s campus in Baltimore, MD.

Admission requirements for the PhD in Health Professions Education are listed below: 

• An official application
• 75.00 application fee
• No GRE Required
• Submit proof of current professional licenses for applicants who are clinically practicing (Applicants may upload a pdf/copy of the license directly to the admissions portal) 
• Submit official transcripts from all former institutions
• You must possess a master’s degree or higher in the health professions or related field
• Statement of proposed research topics and how the degree will support your career plans and trajectory (no longer than 2 pages)
• 3 letters of recommendation
• Current CV/Resume
• Practice-based experience, working a minimum of 2 years in one’s clinical field or profession
• English Language proficiency assessment (TOEFL or IELTS), as applicable

The professional licenses requirement may be waived for individuals whose profession does not require a license to practice, and they will still be considered for admission.

Partial Fulfillment Credit

For applicants who may have taken courses at other accredited graduate schools that appear to be similar to HPE required coursework, requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis. After a review of the syllabus, grade received, and discussion with the Program Director, one of the following could be an outcome:

• Acceptance of the course credits towards the transfer credit allowance (up to 6 credits);
• Examination for competence, with a plan for independent study;
• Independent study for gap areas; or,
• Requirement for enrollment in UMB's HPE course

Please feel out the transfer credit to initiate the process. 

As the demand for health professionals and health education programs continues to grow nationwide, so does the need for well-prepared health professions faculty who have advanced training in educational theory, instructional strategies in the health professions, and related assessment methods. The Health Professions Education curriculum is intentionally designed to formally prepare learners with the foundations needed to engage in educational scholarship, curricular design, assessment, program evaluation, and institutional leadership.