4. Health Professions Simulation Professionals Certificate (SPC) of Completion

The SPC consists of three 3-credit courses that can be comprised from among the following three credit courses:

HE-720 (Fall) Foundations of Simulation-based Education and Operations (3 credits)
HE-746 (Fall, Spring) Leadership in Health Professions Education (3 credits)
HE-721 (Spring) Simulation-Based Educational Technologies (3 credits)
HE-718 (Spring) Leading with Emotional Intelligence (3 credits)
HE-722 (Summer) Assessment in Simulation-Based Education (3 credits)
HE-730 (Fall) Foundations of Distance Simulation (1 credit)
HE-733 (Spring) Educational Principles Applied o Distance Simulation (1 credit)
HE-734 (Summer) Distance Simulation Educational Resources and Environment (1 credit)


Learners will choose courses from the course list to equal 9 graduate credits. Courses do not have prerequisites and can be taken in any order.

Any of these electives can be applied toward an MS-HPEd; 746 is a required MS class so it is always applicable to the MS-HPEd degree.

The SPC is intended to focus on areas of health professions education most applicable to your goals. Your courses are largely project-based so that you can advance your skills and apply what you are learning. The courses also provide an introduction to Master’s level study of education of Health Professionals.

Participants should enter the Certificate program with a specific course or learning experience that they would like to develop.

SPC Outcome goals:

Depending on course selection, learning outcomes include:

  1. Learners will apply key foundational knowledge for simulation educators, administrators or technical specialists to their unique simulation centers and needs.
  2. Learners will evaluate both contemporary and emerging simulation-based education equipment (concepts) for best (application) uses, features, maintenance, evaluation, and the ROI on equipment for their individual situational contexts.
  3. Learners will analyze their own leadership strengths using theory and application scenarios for managing simulation education and operational needs.
  4. Learners will apply the foundations of emotional intelligence using theory and application scenarios for managing simulation education and organizational needs.

This 9-credit program explores current and emerging simulation education and operational strategies used to meet learning outcomes. All courses are grounded in educational theory, evidence-based practices, and taught by internationally known experts. Learners self-reflect throughout the program to identify strengths and areas for further development in simulation.

The certificate is a non-degree program; as such it does not have admissions process or requirements. Those interested may register for courses directly with the Registrar’s non-degree coordinator.

The simulation-based education courses are built around the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) Accreditation Standards, and the Simulation Capability Framework used by the SimGHOST organization.

Students in the certificate of completion courses, who are not matriculated into a program at the Institute, will be advised by the faculty of the course in which they are enrolled.

Campus attendance, or residency, is not required for the Certificate.

Students taking courses toward the certificate of completion may register for these courses as non-degree courses and do not need to be matriculated or have a program of study in place.

Students must complete all course work for the certificate within three years of registering for the first course. There is no requirement of continuous enrollment. These policies are designed to make the certificate accessible to busy clinical instructors.