The Ed.D. in Health Professions Education is a 60 credit hour program intended to be completed within a 3 year time frame. This program is designed for practicing health professionals and educators who customarily have completed 36-60 hour master’s and post-master’s courses of study. The essential design of the doctoral program will consist of the following features:

Comprehensive Teaching Core

The comprehensive teaching core will focus on skills required to develop and implement courses in the health care professions. Course development is not a component of the didactic/field instruction of health professionals, and as such, is a skill needed prior to transitioning to higher education. Areas highlighted in the teaching core include instruction on curriculum development, evidence-based teaching, teaching/learning strategies, student characteristics that impact learning, and outcomes assessment. The teaching core is comprised of five courses worth 2-3 credits each, for a total of 13 credit hours.

Comprehensive Administration Core

The comprehensive administration core highlights the skills required to function as an administrator in a higher education institution. Courses focus on leadership skills, trending topics, legal and ethical issues, finance, and organizational culture. Knowledge in these areas will provide students with the skills to function in roles as department chairs and/or higher education administrators. The administration core is comprised of five courses that are 2-3 credits each, for a total of 13 credit hours.

Teaching or Administration Practicum

Students select to complete either the teaching or administration practicum, which allows them the opportunity to practice skills learned in the classroom in a real world situation. Students will either develop and implement teaching plans to college-level students, or will review and develop a strategic plan at an administrative level. By allowing students the opportunity to hone their skills through practical experience, the proposed program provides dynamic learning that prepares learners for the workplace.  Whether they select teaching or administration, this component of the curriculum is comprised of two, 2 credit courses, for a total of 4 credits.

Comprehensive Research Core

The comprehensive research core provides students with the skills to effectively develop and implement scholarly research in accordance with the demands of most higher education institutions. Students will take courses in advanced statistics, as well as both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Applied Research or Grant Writing Practicum

As part of the research core, students are required to complete either an Applied Research or Grant Writing Practicum. This practicum allows students to dig more deeply into the research or grant writing process as it applies to faculty within health professions education.  Whether students select applied research or grant writing, the practicum is comprised of two, 2 credit courses for a total of 4 credits.

The complete research core (including practicum) is comprised of seven courses of varying credit loads. Each student is required to complete 14 credits in the research core.

Dissertation Preparation and Completion

The dissertation is intended to address current and real concerns of the health professions/health professions educators in order to provide leadership and direction for evolving healthcare systems. The dissertation will customarily be guided by a committee comprised of three faculty members, each of whom will hold an earned doctorate. Additionally, the completed dissertation will be reviewed by an outside reader (approved by the department) who is particularly distinguished in the problem area of the research question. The dissertation will ordinarily carry 10 hours of doctoral credit.

Electives

Electives for the program were developed to help enhance students’ knowledge in one (or more) of the three identified core areas. Electives include courses focused on teaching, issues in administration, and research. Students will select electives as they look toward their future area of interest in higher education. There are currently six elective courses to choose from, each worth three credit hours. Each student is required to complete 6 credits of electives.

The distribution of courses identified above totals 60 hours of doctoral work. It is anticipated that all 60 hours will be completed at D’Youville College, although the college does recognize previous studies of students and may accept up to 12 hours of transfer credits if the courses are considered equivalent to those within the program.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Admissions Requirements:

• A completed master’s degree in a healthcare clinical or related field, with a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours with grades of B or better.
• A minimum graduate grade point average of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 system).

Admissions Materials:

•  A completed application (free).
• Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all institutions attended.
• Objective statement describing the applicant's personal interests and motivations, research focus, goals, and aspirations (500-1000 words; 3 page maximum).
• Writing sample that showcases the applicant's communication and critical thinking skills (minimum 3 pages; examples include graduate program coursework or an individual scholarly publication).
• Professional resume or curriculum vitae.
• Two letters of professional recommendation from graduate professors and/or employers/supervisors focusing on the candidate’s potential for success in a doctoral program.
• Candidates being considered for admission will be asked to complete a video interview with Health Professions Education Faculty.

Applications for admission are considered on a competitive basis.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

Candidates who do not meet the above criteria, but who have a graduate grade point average of 3.00 and show promise, will be reviewed on an individual basis by the admissions committee and may be admitted provisionally. While having provisional status, the student must meet all academic requirements of the program and must receive grades of B or better in the first four courses of the program.