UIUC College of Education/Department of Human Resource Education

Proposal for an Online Master's Program in Human Resource Education in Human
Resource Development with Emphasis on Health Profession Education

Program Description and Rationale

For nearly 10 years, the Department of Human Resource Education (HRE) has offered a highly successful online program for educators engaged in workforce and human resource development in a variety of organizational settings in the State, country, and internationally. The Department now has the opportunity to expand its online human resource development (HRD) program by offering a special emphasis on training and development in healthcare settings in collaboration with the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield (SIUSOM), a nationally recognized leader in professional training and development of health care professionals.

The need for a program focused on human resource development/health profession education (HRD/HPE) is given by the vital role of the health care delivery system for the nation, its vast and expanding size, rapidly advancing knowledge and skill base, and the need for innovative and effective education and training for initial professional qualification and continuing professional development.

In addition, continued research in the area of health professions education is needed to improve teaching and learning within all health profession schools and to strengthen education at the graduate and professional leveles and educating faculty.

Health professions programs are expanding nationwide in response to projected manpower needs and medical educators must be prepared to meet the educational needs of these expanding health professions programs.  The emphasis and collaboration between UIUC and SIUSOM is consonant with all these priorities.  The program will provide the training necessary to produce effective leaders and research collaborators in health professions education.  The program will be designed to recruit health professionals who have, or are preparing for, educational leadership positions in health professions schools but who lack formal training in education and professional development.

SIUSOM is a national leader in the field of medical education, and has been since Howard Barrows developed standardized patient testing and problem based learning there in the 70's and 80's.  The school has long had a number of faculty who come for year long fellowships to learn about medical education, and this master's program is a natural extension of the expertise and resources that already exist at the school.  The UIUC HRE program is nationally recognized and brings with it a great deal of expertise both in the educational course work and on-line delivery.  In addition, students already in the HRE program--many working in business and industry settings--provide a unique resource for health education professionals to widen their view of education and educational processes to the benefit of all concerned.

Program Parameters

Formal Description

Degree: Ed.M.
Major: Human Resource Education
Concentration: Human Resource Development
Emphasis: Health Professional Education

Curriculum (36 credit hours)
            HRE Core (16 hrs):

HRE 495, Applied Research Design (Capstone)
HRE 530, Organization Development
HRE 532, Strategic HRD
HRE 585, Program Evaluation            

        College Foundations (8 hrs)

EPSY 407, Adult Learning and Development
EPS 500, History of Work and Educational Policy

        HPE Emphasis (12 hrs):

HRE 411, Instructional Design, Curriculum in Medical Education
HRE 490, Issues and Developments in HRE, Clinical Performance Assessment
HRE 590, Seminar for Advanced Students, Leadership in Health Professional Education

Cost

$1816 per course - 9 courses total for the degree

Target Population and Marketing

Educators working in healthcare settings as well as other healthcare professionals with interest in education research and leadership.   This population INCLUDES  residents.

For further information on admissions log onto the Human Resource Education web site at www.hre.uiuc.edu.