About Health Professions Education: College of Health Sciences: Arizona

Mission
Program Description
Degree Descriptions
Dual Degree Options
Accreditation

Portrait of Program DirectorGreetings from the Program Director
Research, education, and health care have always gone hand-in-hand. New discoveries are made and technologies developed in the laboratory, taught in the classroom, and applied in the clinic. The process is a never-ending one and each component of this 'health care continuum' is important. We must continue to strive for better technologies and treatments, become better teachers of future generations of health care providers, and learn improved ways to practice and care for patients. Midwestern University (MWU) is committed to this process. Through our various colleges, we have been training students to become health care providers since 1900. In 1996, MWU opened its Glendale, Arizona, campus by starting the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 1997, the Physician Assistant Program began followed in 1998 by the College of Pharmacy–Glendale.

In 1999, the College of Health Sciences began an Occupational Therapy Program and the Biomedical Sciences Program, offering degrees in Bioethics and Health Professions Education.

Our part-time program in Health Professions Education is specially designed to accommodate the working professional. Classes are offered at convenient times, and the curriculum is designed to serve the specific needs of health care providers. In addition, those interested may take individual courses in the Biomedical Sciences Program as a "non-degree" candidate to either sample the curriculum or learn about a specific topic. Courses may be audited or taken for credit as a non-degree student on a space-available basis.

A premium is placed on interdisciplinary education and integrating all aspects of the health care continuum. Therefore, students from all disciplines of health care (physicians, physician assistants, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, dentists, researchers, etc) study together with health care administrators, lawyers, social workers, clergy, and other interested individuals.

The mission of the Biomedical Sciences Program is to provide opportunities for training at all levels of the "health care continuum" in the laboratory, classroom, and clinic. The program offers a dynamic learning experience that fosters disciplined thinking and self-directed learning. The courses of study will provide the academic foundation on which to make discoveries in the laboratory, sound ethical decisions in the clinic, and effective teachers in the classroom who are training future health care professionals.

We look forward to partnering with you, the patient-care providers of our community. Come grow with us in this exciting new academic environment. Please feel free to visit our beautiful campus in Glendale or call the Biomedical Sciences Program (623/572-3620) for more information.

Leonard B. Bell, Ph.D.
Director, Biomedical Sciences Program

Mission
The mission of the Master of Health Professions Education Program is to assist current and future health care providers in becoming effective educators within their scope of practice as well as within the community. In addition, this program should provide the graduate with credentials needed for increased career opportunities and advancement within their current career.

In keeping with Midwestern University's commitment to excellence in education, the faculty of the Biomedical Sciences Program personally commit themselves to:

  • Effective teaching using state-of-the-art technology;
  • Continuing their own personal education and development;
  • Participating in interdisciplinary research and publications; and
  • Demonstrating leadership within their own professions and communities.

Program Description
The Biomedical Sciences Program offers two part-time and one full-time master-level degree programs in health professions education, bioethics, and biomedical science. The professional roles that graduates can expect to experience are highly dependent on their current professional activities and future career goals. Completion of a degree program may enhance the students’ current profession or provide the skills necessary to launch new career opportunities.

The Biomedical Sciences Program was developed to respond to:

  1. The need to train qualified laboratory research personnel;
  2. The recent need for qualified educators in health professional programs; and
  3. The ever-growing number of ethical issues related to health care practice and management; reproductive technologies; and the cultural, social, and religious diversity in the provision of health care.

To meet these objectives, the Biomedical Sciences Program offers curricula leading to a master’s level degree in Biomedical Science (M.B.S., 72 quarter-hours minimum), Health Professions Education (M.H.P.E., 42 quarter-hours), and Bioethics (M.A., 42 quarter-hours). In addition, an academic certificate program (30 quarter-hours) in Bioethics is available. The M.B.S. degree may either be a terminal degree, or a means to continued education at the doctoral level or in a health professional program. In addition, students may take the first year of the M.B.S. curriculum as a postbaccalaureate option to better prepare themselves for a Ph.D. or medical program. Students have the opportunity to improve their GPA, fill in “gaps” in their undergraduate transcripts, and demonstrate their proficiency at taking graduate-level courses. The M.A. and M.H.P.E. degrees should not be viewed as terminal degrees or a means to secure a job in a subspecialty of health care. Rather, these programs are designed to enhance the on-going career and/or practice of those already involved in providing therapeutic, legal, and spiritual care to patients.

The specific goals of the degree programs within the Biomedical Sciences Program are:

  1. To broaden the base and depth of biomedical and scientific research conducive to competent scholarly inquiry and analysis;
  2. To provide a thorough and practical understanding of educational strategies used in health professions education;
  3. To provide a thorough and practical understanding of ethical decision-making in the practice and administration of health care;
  4. To provide an experiential base that prepares health care providers and educators to perform functions and duties commensurate with new and emerging roles of health care professionals; and
  5. To provide an advanced educational track that will encourage life-long learning.

Health Professions Education Degree Description
Master of Health Professions Education (M.H.P.E.)
The curriculum leading to the M.H.P.E. degree is designed to prepare the health care provider with the background necessary to become an effective educator in their chosen professional field. Applicants usually present with a bachelor’s level or higher degree from a regionally accredited professional program such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, speech therapy, or similar program.

The 42-quarter-hour curriculum may be completed in as little as 18 months but must be completed within a period of 60 months, excepting approved leaves of absence. Typically, students will complete the program in a period of two years. The course of instruction includes 15 credit hours of required courses and 15 credit hours of electives. Required courses include: Educational Technology, Instructional Design and Methods, Teaching and Learning Styles, and Curriculum Construction. The student then enrolls in 12 additional credit hours to complete either a Research Thesis or Education Practicum. In the Research Thesis Option, the student is required to perform an approved research project (11 credits). Prerequisite to the research project is a self-directed, one-credit course that allows the student to develop a proposal for the research project. The proposal describes the specific objectives of the research project and the methods by which these objectives will be accomplished. In the Educational Practicum Option, the student is required to participate in the educational training of health care professional students under the supervision of a practicing educator (11 credits). Prerequisite to the practicum project is a self-directed, one-credit course that allows the student to develop a practicum proposal. The Educational Practicum may include development of course curriculum, test writing, presentations, and/or evaluation of program effectiveness.

The goal of the M.H.P.E. degree program is to augment the learning experience of the health care provider by providing expanded educational skills and training beyond that typically offered in health professions programs. In addition, this program should provide the graduate with credentials needed for increased career opportunities and advancement within their current career.

Dual Degree Options for Physician Assistant, Occupational Therapy, Cardiovascular Sciences, Podiatry, and D.O. Students
The Biomedical Sciences Program offers an educational opportunity to current and incoming physician assistant (PA), occupational therapy (OT), cardiovascular science (M.S.CV),podiatric medicine (D.P.M.), and medical (D.O.) students. Students accepted into these programs may apply to the Biomedical Sciences Program as dual-degree candidates in either Bioethics or Health Professions Education. The following policies apply:

  1. The applicant must apply and be accepted into the clinical program and Biomedical Sciences Program separately. Only applicants meeting minimum entrance requirements for both degree programs will be given an option for the dual-degree program.
  2. The clinical degree program shall be considered the primary degree program and the Biomedical Sciences Program the secondary degree program. Continuity of the primary degree program must be maintained.
  3. The length of the secondary program shall be extended for a duration of time sufficient to complete the secondary degree program. This is usually three to six months (for PA. OT, and CVS students) and may be individualized to accommodate availability of desired courses, academic proficiency, type of tract desired in the Biomedical Sciences Program (i.e., research or didactic tract, if applicable), and student preferences. The Biomedical Sciences Program degree must be completed within a total of 60 months from initial matriculation.
  4. The student must maintain the minimum cumulative GPA requirements of each program. Failure to maintain the minimum cumulative GPA in either program will result in the student being given an academic warning or placed on academic probation. This may result in deceleration or temporary suspension from the secondary degree program.
  5. The number of credits required for completion of the Biomedical Sciences Program is degree-specific as stated above (see degree descriptions). Some courses from the student's clinical degree program may be deemed suitable for credit in the Biomedical Sciences Program degree program. If approved, these courses may be substituted for elective credit in the Biomedical Sciences Program up to a maximum of six (6) credits. No Biomedical Sciences Program tuition will be charged for these credits.
  6. In addition to the established quarterly tuition for the clinical degree program, students enrolled in a dual degree shall pay tuition to the Biomedical Sciences Program on a per credit basis. Dual-degree students accepted into the Biomedical Sciences Program at any time before graduation shall receive a 30% discount on the normal Biomedical Sciences Program per credit hour charge during their matriculation in the primary degree program and for up to 12 months following completion of their primary degree program. Quarterly Biomedical Sciences Program tuition is determined by the number of credits for which the student is registered.

Accreditation
Midwestern University has been continuously accredited The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1993 (30 North LaSalle St., Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602). The most recent action by HLC/NCA (1997-1998) resulted in a 10-year accreditation renewal. The State of Arizona Board of Private Postsecondary Education has approved all current degree programs at Midwestern University, GlendaleŠArizona Campus.

All degrees are conferred under the authority granted by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education and the The Higher Learning Commission, A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA).