Master of Education
in Adult and Higher Education
Specialization: Health Professions Education
Overview
The Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with a specialization in Health Professions Education is designed for health care professionals who plan, design, and deliver patient education, continuing education, or instruction in health-related professional programs. The degree offers content designed to enhance an individual's ability to plan, deliver, and evaluate health-related education and training. The program is based on a reflective practice approach, offering practitioners opportunities to reflectively and critically integrate their professional experience with adult education knowledge and practice skills. Graduates of the program work in state and government agencies, hospitals (in human resource development, continuing education, staff development, training and development), postsecondary institutions, and a variety of other organizations involved in health-related education and training.
Students in this specialization represent a variety of health care areas, thus providing an interdisciplinary learning environment. Even graduate students who do not specialize in health professions education may wish to take courses in the area. Courses in the specialization are related to health care delivery in the United States, issues and trends in health professions education, and curriculum and instruction in the health-related professions. Additionally, students take a core of courses related to adult education and the following broad content areas to complete their degree plan: evaluation, continuing professional education, program planning, organization and administration, and training and development. The MS with a specialization in Health Professions Education is also available.
Course of Study
The program has a minimum requirement of 36 hours of course work. In addition, all graduate students are expected to pass the AHE technology competencies through a testing out procedure. Further information is noted on the department's technology web page.
Any course work taken prior to admission is subject to approval by the student's advisor for inclusion in the program. Within the 36 minimum hours, the following should be included:
1. Core Courses (9 hours)
*To be taken at the beginning of the program
EAC 595 - Special Topics: Foundations of Adult Education (3 hrs)
EAC 559 - The Adult Learner (3 hrs)
EAC 538 - Instructional Strategies in AHE (3 hrs)
2. Specialization (15 hours minimum)
EAC 532 - Health Care Delivery Systems (3 hrs)
EAC 535 - Curriculum and Instruction in the Health Professions (3 hrs)
EAC 536 - Issues and Trends in Education for the Health Professions (3 hrs)Two courses (6 hours) selected with the approval of advisor from the following general content areas: Health Policy, Health Finance, Health Promotion, or Continuing Professional Education.
3. Research Course (3 hours)
EAC 551 - Research in Adult and Higher Education (3 hrs.)
4. Research Project (3 hours)
EAC 692 - Research Project (3 hrs)
MEd students will enroll in EAC 692 to write a comprehensive, capstone paper that describes a platform of practice. This platform of practice must demonstrate that students are (1) knowledgeable about the foundations of the field, (2) knowledge about reflective practice, (3) capable of coherent thinking and the systematic and organized communication of ideas, and (4) able to apply the multiple areas of study in their programs to emerging issues in the field.
5. Electives (6 hours)
In consultation with the advisor, student may choose electives that are consistent with the student's professional goals. Up to six hours of coursework may be taken outside of the department.
Program Completion: 36 Hours Total (minimum requirement)
For More Information
- Adult & Higher Education Handbook
- Financial Aid and Assistantships
- Course Descriptions (Link to TRACS Course Descriptions on NCSU site)
- Adult Education & Training and Development Graduate Student Association
- Higher Education Administration Graduate Student Association
- Past Curricula
- Graduate School Forms
Contact
Dr. Duane Akroyd
Professor and Program Coordinator
Department of Adult and Higher Education
310-G Poe Hall, Campus Box 7801
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7801
Phone: 919.515.1745
duane_akroyd@ncsu.edu
