PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Health Professions Education Certificate can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. To be eligible for admission into the HPE program, an individual must be an employee of the federal government (either civilian or uniformed).
The Advanced Foundations in Health Professions Education (A-FHPE) is meant for individuals who wish to enhance their skills in leadership, research, and teaching, by taking all of the core coursework for the MHPE degree without the research requirements (i.e., no Master’s Thesis requirement). The A-FHPE serves to provide students with an in-depth understanding of concepts and challenges learned in the MHPE.
CURRICULUM
Completion of 27 credit hours from the list of core courses, a minimum of 6 credit hours from the list of elective courses, 10 credit hours of Practicum experience, and a portfolio submission will lead to the awarding of the A-FHPE. The A-FHPE extends beyond the FHPE by requiring students to take all of the core coursework for the MHPE degree without the research requirements (no thesis).* Students enrolled in the A-FHPE also complete the practicum, seminar, and portfolio. The expectation is that the A-FHPE is completed within two academic years; part-time learners are expected to complete a minimum of 3 courses (i.e., 9 credits) in an academic year.**
*Note: USU graduate courses are based on quarter credit hours. One (1) traditional semester credit hour is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credit hours
**Students must maintain a 3.0 (B) average or better throughout graduate training to remain in good academic standing.
CORE COURSES (27 CREDITS)
MED 500 Leadership Roles in HPE - 3 credits
MED 505 Quantitative Research Methods in HPE - 2 credits
MED 506 Principles of Online Instruction - 3 credits
MED 507 Qualitative Research Methods in HPE - 3 credits
MED 550 Learning Theories - 3 credits
MED 555 Teaching Methods - 3 credits
MED 560 Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation - 3 credits
MED 565 Curriculum Development - 3 credits
MED 605 Leadership Seminar - 2 credits
MED 605 Mixed Methods Seminar - 2 credits
ELECTIVE COURSES (6 CREDITS)
Choose MED 502&504 and 2 elective credits, OR a minimum of 6 elective credits from the following courses:
MED 502 Philosophies of Science - 2 credits
MED 503 Practice of Assessment of Competence - 2 credits
MED 504 Principles of Instruction in Clinical Education - 2 credits
MED 605 Rhetoric and Academic Writing - 2 credits
MED 605 Meet the Experts Seminar - 2 credits
MED 605 Survey Design Seminar - 2 credits
MED 605 Grant Writing Seminar - 2 credits
MED 605 Teaching with Technology Seminar - 2 credits
MED 800 Fundamentals of Systems Thinking - 2 credits
MED 802 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in HPE - 3 credits
MED 803 Advanced Quantitative Research Methods in HPE - 3 credits
MED 804 Advanced Instructional Methods and Curriculum Development - 3 credits
MED 805 Advanced Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation - 3 credits
MED 806 Advanced Leadership Roles in HPE - 3 credits
PRACTICUM (10 CREDITS)
MED 400 Master’s Practicum in HPE - 10 credits
PORTFOLIO
The A-FHPE program also requires students to prepare a portfolio that demonstrates evidence of their learning pertaining to each HPE competency.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution.
- Applicants must be Active Duty Military Personnel or a Civilian Federal Employee (*Exceptions to this rule can occasionally be established through an official MOU between USU and an organization that wishes to enroll students in the HPE program.)
- Complete college transcripts and transcripts of all previous graduate studies (if applicable).
- A complete employment history.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members under whom the applicant has studied.
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, taken no more than two years before the time of application (though you may request a waiver; in some circumstances the HPE Admissions Committee can waive such a requirement).
Apply for admission using the USU application portal. Specifically:
- Complete the HPE Personal Statement following the instructions below.
- Visit the USU Registrar at https://registrar.usuhs.edu, which will bring you to the homepage of Empower, our Registrar's system. Click on "Applications" at the top (not "USU-SSO Login"). On the next page, select "GEO Application."
- Begin the formal USU application process, including submitting required official transcripts (college-onward), three letters of recommendation (for part-time applicants, one letter must be a letter of support from your supervisor), and a GRE score from within the last two years (though you may request a waiver; in some circumstances the HPE Admissions Committee can waive such a requirement).
Personal Statement Instructions:
For all applicants:
- Please answer the following questions. In total, your answers should be no longer than 2 pages, single-spaced, 12-point font.
- Why are you applying to the HPE program?
- How has your background prepared you to succeed in the HPE program?
- How will you use the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired in USU’s HPE program to help you accomplish your career goals?
- Please tell us anything else you would like us to know that might be pertinent to our evaluation of your application for admission to the HPE program.
For MHPE and PhD students only:
- Please share your research interests by answering the following prompts.
- Outline your research interest(s) (please be brief; no more than 500 words).
- Why are you interested in pursuing this line of research (please be brief; no more than 250 words)?
Instructions for submission:
- Please name your personal statement using the following file naming structure:
- Last Name_First Initial_Personal Statement
- Please email your personal statement as a PDF file, using the guidance provided in the application for emailing.
- In the text box below type: “please see attached personal statement.”
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Apply by December 1st to begin courses in the Summer Term (mid-May).
FINANCIALS
TUITION AND FEES
Tuition: $0
Fees: $0
Books: $0
Equipment: $0
Tuition and fees are waived for students. Civilian students do not incur service obligation to the United States government after the completion of their graduate studies.
All officers are strongly encouraged to seek official clarification from their respective personnel offices.