Health Professions Education, PhD

Overview

A master’s degree (e.g., MHPE, MPH, MEd, or MS degree) is a prerequisite for the PhD in HPE. Learners entering the program without an MHPE or USU’s MEd-HPE should expect to complete all masters level coursework before beginning the PhD level coursework. The PhD degree is meant to serve those select students with the desire to be at the forefront of the scholarship, leadership, and teaching of health professions learners. The PhD in HPE provides additional education and training in the three broad areas of HPE: (1) research; (2) leadership; (3) education (e.g. teaching, learning, and assessment). The dissertation requires more focused and thematic investigation (i.e., a series of related studies) with demonstration of expertise in research methods in HPE. The leadership and teaching curricula are also more challenging, requiring a higher level of mastery than the MHPE. The PhD in HPE is targeted toward deans (associate, senior, and vice level), chairs, vice chairs of research and education, directors of research and teaching programs, and other leaders in health professions education to further enhance their knowledge and skills beyond the core areas of the MHPE program. Like the MHPE program, the doctoral degree places emphasis on the practical application of core principles. Ultimately, graduates are expected to serve as leaders, scholars, and educators in the DoD’s health professions programs.

The PhD in HPE is sequenced to be completed in four years on a full-time basis. Part-time learners are expected to complete the PhD in HPE in five to six years. The program requires 24 months of full-time study -- or 36 months of part-time study -- beyond the MHPE degree. The satisfactory completion of a dissertation is required for graduation (resulting in at least four papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals), as are completion of a written portfolio, oral exam, and oral dissertation defense.

 

*Note: all three programs in HPE can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. To be eligible for admission into any of the HPE programs, an individual must be an employee of the federal government (either civilian or uniformed).

Degree Requirements

Complete the following:

HPE 500	Leadership Theories in Practice	2
HPE 502	Philosophies of Science	2
HPE 503	Practice of Assessment of Competence	1
HPE 504	Principles of Instruction in Clinical Settings	2
HPE 505	Quantitative Research Methods in HPE	2
HPE 506	Principles of Online Instruction	2
HPE 507	Qualitative Research Methods in HPE	2
HPE 550	Learning Theories	2
HPE 555	Teaching Methods	2
HPE 560	Measurement, Assessment and Evaluation	2
HPE 565	Curriculum Development	2
HPE 600	Research Bootcamp I	2
HPE 601	Research Bootcamp II	2
HPE 602	Teaching with Technology	2
HPE 603	Reflections on Leadership	2
HPE 604	Rhetoric and Academic Writing	2
HPE 605	Mixed Methods Research Seminar	2
HPE 606	Advanced Mixed Methods Research Design	2
HPE 607	Grant Writing Seminar	2
HPE 608	Meet the Experts Seminar	1
HPE 610	Leadership and Followership in Teams: A Social Psychology Perspective	1
HPE 800	Fundamentals of Systems Thinking	2
HPE 611	Accept, Reject, or Revise? Becoming a Reviewer and Author in Health Professions Education	2
HPE 801	Advanced Theories in HPE	2
HPE 802	Advanced Qualitative Research Methods in HPE	2
HPE 803	Advanced Quantitative Research Method in HPE	2
HPE 804	Advanced Instruction and Curriculum Development in HPE	2
HPE 805	Advanced Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation in HPE	2
HPE 806	Advanced Principles of Leadership in HPE	2
HPE 807	Advanced Online Learning and Instruction within HPE	2
HPE 400	Master’s Practicum in HPE	1 - 9
HPE 911	Doctoral Practicum in HPE	1 - 9
HPE 905	Master’s Thesis in HPE	1 - 9
HPE 910	Doctoral Dissertation in HPE	1 - 9
HPE 912	Independent Study in HPE	1 - 9
	Electives
Total Credit Hours:		108

Students must complete a minimum of 108 credit hours which includes required elective and research courses not shown above.

One (1) credit of elective is required.