Overview

The interdisciplinary Graduate Programs in HPE is a signature activity of HPE. These programs are geared towards busy health professionals in the military health system with most of the programs being offered online through a blended learning format primarily consisting of asynchronous instruction with occasional synchronous sessions offered after duty hours. Through this format, busy health professionals can participate in our graduate programs while working full time at their military treatment facility or other location.

The overarching goal of the Graduate Programs in HPE is to educate practitioners who will serve as academic leaders (e.g., deans, program directors, department heads) and will contribute to the continuous advancement of health professions education, leadership, and research. Students enrolled at the HPE certificate and degree programs have four different program options:

• I-FHPE/FHPE: Introduction to Foundations in HPE (I-FHPE) and Foundations in HPE (FHPE). The I-FHPE and FHPE are certificate programs designed to be a stepping stone toward the MHPE, MEd-HPE, or PhD.
• MPHE: Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE). The MHPE program is the cornerstone of the Graduate Programs in HPE; it provides broad scholarly experience in the theory and practice of HPE by providing learners with the opportunity to participate in a series of formal courses, conduct and publish original research, and obtain practical experiences to further enhance their leadership and educator skills.
• MEd-HPE: Master of Education in Health Professions Education (MEd-HPE). The MEd-HPE degree program is structured around educational innovation and scholarship of teaching. After taking foundational courses in our HPE program, students are expected to develop and present an innovation project in one of the following domains: teaching, curriculum development, mentoring and advising, assessment, and educational leadership and administration.
• PhD in HPE: Doctor of Philosophy in Health Professions Education (PhD in HPE). The PhD in HPE is the highest academic degree one can attain in HPE; it is meant to serve those select learners who desire to be at the forefront of the scholarship, leadership, and teaching of health professions students and residents. Although a master’s degree (e.g., MHPE, MPH, MEd-HPE, or MS degree) is not a prerequisite for the PhD in HPE, it is highly desirable.

All graduate programs offered through the HPE are typically completed on a part-time basis. To be eligible for admission into any of the HPE graduate programs, an individual must be an employee of the federal government, either civilian or uniformed. Exceptions to this rule can occasionally be established through an official MOU between USUHS and an organization that wishes to enroll students in the program.

The Graduate Programs in HPE are built around 18 competencies within three domains: Education, Leadership, and Research. These competencies guide the instruction of our HPE Graduate Programs and what students can expect to learn from their specific program.

This image depicts a circular diagram outlining various skills and activities categorized under Leadership, Research, and Education.

Under Leadership, the listed skills are:

• Apply leadership theory
• Negotiate and resolve conflict
• Collaborate in teams
• Reflect on practice
• Mentor and develop

Under Research, the listed activities are:

• Review scholarship
• Apply theory
• Design research
• Defend research
• Disseminate scholarship
• Write grants
• Research ethically

Under Education, the listed activities/skills are:

• Teach with technology
• Evaluate programs
• Assess learners
• Develop curriculum
• Apply teaching methods
• Develop teaching philosophy

At the center of the wheel is the "HPE Uniformed Services University" logo.

"Stacked" Program Structure

The two HPE certificate programs and three degree programs are structured as “stacked” programs with the requirements for one contributing to the requirements for the next. This means that all of the coursework required for the I-FHPE contributes to the FHPE, and FHPE coursework contributes to the MHPE and MEd-HPE degrees.

This image outlines the requirements for different levels of a PhD in HPE program, including nested programs:

• IFHPE: Requires 3-5 courses.
• FHPE: Includes all IFHPE requirements plus 3-4 additional courses.
• MEd-HPE: Includes all FHPE requirements plus additional coursework, a portfolio, and a culminating project.
• MHPE: Includes all FHPE requirements plus additional coursework, a portfolio, a practicum, and a thesis accepted for publication.
• PhD in HPE: This is the highest level, requiring all MEd-HPE or MHPE requirements, plus additional coursework, an expanded portfolio, an additional practicum, and a specified number of accepted papers (3 for MHPE path, 4 for MEd-HPE path).