The Certificate in Health Professions Education (CHPE) is offered through a partnership between the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and the School of Medicine. The program is designed for those involved in education, learning, and performance improvement in healthcare settings. The program includes faculty, future faculty, clinical educators, residents, and graduate students in health sciences fields such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, public health, clinical, and allied health professions. The program includes four graduate-level credit courses (12 total credit hours), and the certificate is an academic credential offered through the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies.
All courses are part of the CEHD graduate curriculum and may be applied to other degree programs such as a Master's degree. Each course is based on corresponding coursework taught in the CEHD but is focused primarily for healthcare educators. For example, instructional techniques include working not only in the classroom, but also at the bedside, and in the clinic. Class projects are designed for the healthcare environment.
For additional information about the program, contact Interim Program Director, Laura Parson.
The current course sequence is as follows:
ELFH 665: Foundations of Health Professions Education
This course provides a solid foundation to the profession of health education through a focus on professional roles and responsibilities, ethics and cultural competence, leadership and collaboration, and the adult learner. Additionally, as an introduction to the profession, this course includes an overview of teaching and learning in health professions education, instructional strategies, assessment, evidence-based practice, and research.
Key topics: Professional Foundations in Health Professions Education, Student Development Theories, Diversity, Helping Skills, Classroom Management
ELFH 675: Teaching and Learning in Health Professions Education
This course introduces the principles and theories of teaching and learning within health professions education. Within a health context, this course will cover planning and preparing to teach, student motivation and engagement, and assessing the teaching-learning environment.
Key topics: Planning and Preparation (learning theories, learning objectives, curriculum design, syllabi creation, lesson plan, assessment of learning), Student Motivation, Student Engagement
ELFH 676: Instructional Strategies in Health Professions Education
This course is designed to facilitate understanding of instructional strategies and their effective application in the classroom and clinical settings. Through a hands-on approach to learning, participants will learn to apply effective strategies that stimulate critical thinking and creativity, and promote cooperative learning. Teaching methods to be covered include presentation and facilitation skills, teaching at the bedside, appropriate use of instructional technology, and assessment of teaching effectiveness.
Key topics: Presentation Skills, Facilitation Skills, Active Learning Techniques, Clinical Teaching, Teaching with Technology, Formative Assessment of Learning
ELFH 685: Evidence-based Practice in Health Professions Education
Through a clinical model, this course covers evidence-based decision-making as it applies to assessment of teaching effectiveness, action research, scholarly research, and program evaluation. Coursework will be tailored to the interests and current role of the learner and culminate in a scholarly project where learners will demonstrate competence in evidence-based decision-making and Health Professions Education competencies.
Key topics: Evidence-based Decision-making, Assessment of Teaching/Instructional Effectiveness, Scholarly Writing, Action Research, Evidence-based Research, Program Evaluation
New students can begin courses in the fall, spring, or summer terms. The HROD Admissions Committee has five review cycles each year:
| Admission Cycle | Deadline for Submission of ALL Materials | Term for Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Admissions Cycle | June 15th | Fall |
| Spring Admissions Cycle | October 15th | Spring |
| Summer Admissions Cycle | February 15th | Summer |
Please note: If you cannot complete the application prior to the final admission cycle deadline, contact the HPE Program Director, Dr. Laura Parson, to determine whether space remains so that you can be considered for admission.
Admission is competitive. Meeting the GRE and GPA minimums does not guarantee acceptance into the program. The HROD Admissions Committee requires the following materials to make a decision about admission:
If you have questions about applying to the program, please email gradadm@louisville.edu or call Education Advising and Student Services at 502-852-5597.
Dr. Laura Parson
Clinical Assistant Professor
Organizational Leadership & Learning Faculty and Staff Listing
Once you are admitted to the program, you may request to transfer up to 6 credit hours, if the HPE Program Committee approves the request. Courses can be transferred only if they cover the same content as a course in our program. After approval, transfer requests are submitted to the School of Interdisciplinary and Graduate Studies..
The Certificate in Health Professions Education Program is aimed primarily at healthcare professionals who are currently educators in a healthcare environment and would like to become better educators. The Certificate program is especially beneficial for physicians, dentists, nurses, researchers, dental hygienists, and others interested in teaching, education, and training careers.
For information about tuition/fees, please visit the Bursar's Office website and go to their tuition/fees page.
Tuition remission is available to all full-time and most part-time University of Louisville employees. Books and/or other course materials must be purchased by participants.
Classes are held on the University of Louisville Health Sciences Campus. All courses are taught face-to-face and meet for two and one-half hours per week from 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., usually on Thursday evenings.
Courses in the Certificate in Health Professions Education program are taught face-to-face. However, the other seven courses in our Master’s Concentration in Health Professions are offered online or face-to-face.
The program consists of four graduate level courses, one course is taught each semester over a two-year cycle, a total of 12 hours of academic course credit.
Yes, this program is associated with a Master’s concentration in Health Professions Education. The four courses in this certificate can be applied to our master’s concentration. You can be concurrently enrolled in the master’s program and the graduate certificate programs
If you have a terminal degree, (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D.) you do not need to take the GRE.
Yes, the courses in the Health Professions Education program follow the University of Louisville Belknap semester schedule.
Applications must meet the standards of general admission to the University's Graduate School. Please follow the admission information to apply to the graduate school.
Yes, two of the Certificate program courses could be considered as electives, but are subject to the approval of your advisor if you want them to count toward a masters or doctoral program.