Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education at the University of Indianapolis equips health professionals with the skills to transition into teaching roles in academia. Through online coursework, students gain expertise in adult learning, instructional design, curriculum development, and teaching practices. The program offers flexibility with optional courses in higher education, online course design, and standardized assessments, preparing graduates for diverse careers in health professions education.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Overview:

The Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education (HPE) at the University of Indianapolis is designed to provide a comprehensive program to prepare health professionals to successfully transition from practice to teaching in academia. The HPE graduate certificate is especially appealing to individuals who want to bolster their teaching skills without pursuing a doctoral degree.

Objectives:

• Describe andragogy (the method and practice of teaching adult learners)
• Define and use various instructional methodologies
• Critique and design curricula
• Describe and/or use at least one or more of the following: methods for assessing educational outcomes; methods for designing, implementing, and evaluating online courses; or the history and current state of higher education in the United States
• Demonstrate competency in a supervised teaching program

Outline:

Program Content:

• Foundations of Adult Learning
• Instructional Design and Delivery
• Curriculum Development in Health Sciences
• Teaching Practicum
• Higher Education and the Professions (optional)
• Designing an Online Course (optional)
• Standardized Assessments in Health (optional)

Program Structure:

• The HPE graduate certificate requires the completion of 15 credit hours (or five classes).
• Students must take all of the following courses:
• HSCI 510 Foundations of Adult Learning (3 credits)
• HSCI 610 Instructional Design and Delivery (3 credits)
• HSCI 611 Curriculum Development in Health Sciences (3 credits)
• HSCI 619 Teaching Practicum (3 credits)
• In addition, students must choose one of the following:
• HSCI 612 Higher Education and the Professions (3 credits)
• HSCI 613 Designing an Online Course (3 credits)
• HSCI 639 Standardized Assessments in Health (3 credits)

Course Schedule:

• The graduate certificate in Health Professions Education is delivered in a completely online format, making it accessible to students regardless of geographic location.
• The online delivery allows students to work toward set deadlines on a schedule that works for them.

Individual Modules with Descriptions:

• HSCI 510 Foundations of Adult Learning (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of adult learning.
Topics include:
• Andragogy (the method and practice of teaching adult learners)
• Learning theories and models
• Instructional design for adult learners
• Assessment of adult learning
• HSCI 610 Instructional Design and Delivery (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of instructional design and delivery.
Topics include:
• Instructional design models
• Learning objectives
• Instructional strategies
• Assessment of student learning
• HSCI 611 Curriculum Development in Health Sciences (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of curriculum development in health sciences.
Topics include:
• Curriculum design models
• Curriculum evaluation
• Curriculum implementation
• HSCI 619 Teaching Practicum (3 credits): This course provides students with an opportunity to apply the principles and practices of teaching in a supervised setting.
Students will work with a mentor teacher to develop and deliver instruction to health professions students.
• HSCI 612 Higher Education and the Professions (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the history, structure, and governance of higher education in the United States.
Topics include:
• The role of higher education in society
• The different types of higher education institutions
• The governance of higher education institutions
• HSCI 613 Designing an Online Course (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of designing and delivering online courses.
Topics include:
• Online learning platforms
• Instructional design for online learning
• Assessment of student learning in online courses
• HSCI 639 Standardized Assessments in Health (3 credits): This course provides an overview of the principles and practices of standardized assessments in health.
Topics include:
• The different types of standardized assessments in health
• The uses of standardized assessments in health
• The development and validation of standardized assessments in health

Assessment:

• Students will be assessed on their knowledge and skills through a variety of methods, including:
• Quizzes
• Exams
• Papers
• Presentations
• Teaching demonstrations

Teaching:

• The HPE graduate certificate is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are dedicated to providing students with a high-quality learning experience.
• The faculty members use a variety of teaching methods, including:
• Lectures
• Discussions
• Case studies
• Simulations
• Role-playing
• The faculty members are also available to provide students with individual support and guidance.

Careers:

• The HPE graduate certificate can prepare students for a variety of careers in health professions education, including:
• Faculty member at a health professions school
• Instructional designer
• Curriculum developer
• Assessment specialist
• Education consultant