Health Professions Education (CERT)

Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education
Unit:  School of Medicine
Program Webpage 
Academic Plan Code(s): HLTHCGRO

Program Information

Beginning Spring 2025, this program is completed entirely online.

The certificate in Health Professions Education is offered through the School of Medicine. The program is designed specifically for faculty, future faculty, residents, fellows, and graduate students in the health sciences, including medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, clinical and allied health professions. The program includes four graduate-level credit courses (twelve (12) total credit hours) leading to an academic credential.

All courses are part of the School of Medicine graduate curriculum and may be applied to other degree programs, such as the master's degree in Health Professions Education. Each course is focused on education in both the clinical learning environment and the didactic or classroom environment. For example, instructional techniques include working not only in the classroom but also in clinical settings. Class projects can be designed for both didactic and clinical education.

Program Purpose: To promote effective clinical teaching and student instruction in various health sciences educational settings and develop skills in designing education activities, curriculum development, and programmatic assessment.

Admission Requirements

The HPE Admissions Committee requires the following materials:

• Complete the online application to the Graduate School.
• Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work.
• Unconditional admission requires a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 for all coursework taken at the undergraduate and/or graduate degree-granting institution; or a terminal professional degree (e.g., MD, DO, DMD, DNP, PhD, EdD).
  • Applicants with a GPA less than 2.5 at the undergraduate/graduate level may inquiry about conditional admission
• International applicants with transcripts that are not in English, in addition to submitting official copies of native language records, must also submit a notarized, verbatim translation in English prepared by an appropriate university or government official. The records must show both the degree granted and all coursework taken during the course of study. Applicants who are submitting transcripts from outside the United States must verify their records by submitting them to one of the following organizations: World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and other NACES approved evaluators found here https://www.naces.org/members.
• Students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by successfully completing one of the following:
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination – minimum score: 6.5
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination – minimum scores: 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL
  • Duolingo English Test with Subscores examination – minimum score of 105 and exam must have been taken after January 1, 2020
  • Note: International students who have earned a degree from an accredited college or university in the U.S. are not required to complete the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.
• One letter of recommendation. Personal references (e.g., family, friends) are not accepted.
• Personal goal statement written by the applicant that is a clear, substantive description of your goals within health professions education (approx. 1-2 pages).
• Current Resume/CV

Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum does not guarantee acceptance into the program.

Program Requirements

The current required courses are as follows (courses can be taken in any order):