Advanced study in educational leadership and medical education through a dual degree and certificate program sponsored by the Department of Educational Leadership in the School of Education.

The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in leadership studies and Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Medical Education dual program allows students to concurrently earn a degree and a certificate with a minimum of 30 credits rather than the 42 credits necessary if the two programs were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to completing both programs.

The combination of the foundational courses in this dual program are ideal for medical and health professions faculty seeking to advance in their academic roles.

Program goals

The objectives of this dual degree and certificate program are to:

  • Prepare graduates for entry-level academic leadership roles as they explore contemporary topics in key areas of effective leadership
  • Prepare graduates to become academic leaders who can model best practices teaching in undergraduate, clinical and graduate programs

Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree and certificate program are the following:

  • Students who complete both of these programs will be competitive for entry-level academic leadership roles due to their developed expertise in adult learning, curriculum development, and educational leadership

The diplomas for this dual degree and certificate program may be awarded simultaneously or sequentially with the certificate awarded first.

Student learning outcomes

See the individual program pages for student learning outcomes.

 

Other information

Advising

The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a plan of study. Advisers from each program will provide guidance on course requirements for their respective programs.

Admission requirements

See the individual program pages for admission deadlines and other requirements. Applicants must meet the admission requirements for each program. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other.

The admissions deadline and requirements for the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in leadership studies can be found on the program page.

The admissions deadline and requirements for the Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Medical Education can be found on the program page.

Application procedures

Applicants may apply to the M.Ed. and certificate concurrently, or they may apply to the programs sequentially as long as the M.Ed. degree has not been conferred. Two separate applications and application fees are required.

Students may contact VCU Graduate Admissions to have their transcripts and letters of recommendation from the M.Ed. application attached to their certificate application. Please contact the SOE Office of Enrollment Management or faculty program coordinators for guidance regarding the statement of intent required for both applications.

Dual degree and certificate requirements

As standalone programs, the M.Ed. comprises 30 credits while the certificate requires 12 credits. The dual degree and certificate program allows students to share 12 credits, therefore decreasing total credits to completion from 42 to 30.

All certificate courses will satisfy an equal number of electives in the M.Ed.

Curriculum requirements

Course Title Hours
M.Ed. requirements
• Core requirements
ADMS 618Leadership for Change and Improvement3
ADMS 622Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice3
ADMS 630Understanding and Engaging School Communities3
ADMS 633Multiple Dimensions of Leadership3
EDUS 660Research Methods in Education3
• Electives
Any planned, concentrated series of courses from ADLT, ADMS, EDUS, PADM, SEDP and TEDU designed by student or student group and adviser to meet the needs of student or student group (12 credits are satisfied by certificate requirements.) 15
Certificate requirements
ADLT 670Curriculum Design in Health Professions Education3
ADLT 671Theory and Practice of Adult Learning for Health Professions Educators3
ADLT 672Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Health Professions3
ADLT 673Teaching as Scholarship in Health Professions Education3
Total Hours30

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree and certificate program is 30.

Sample plan of study

Year one
Fall semesterHours
ADMS 633 Multiple Dimensions of Leadership 3
ADLT 673 Teaching as Scholarship in Health Professions Education 3
 Term Hours: 6
Spring semester
ADLT 672 Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Health Professions 3
M.Ed. elective 3
 Term Hours: 6
Summer semester
ADMS 618 Leadership for Change and Improvement 3
EDUS 660 Research Methods in Education 3
 Term Hours: 6
Year two
Fall semester
ADMS 622 Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice 3
ADLT 670 Curriculum Design in Health Professions Education 3
 Term Hours: 6
Spring semester
ADMS 630 Understanding and Engaging School Communities 3
ADLT 671 Theory and Practice of Adult Learning for Health Professions Educators 3
 Term Hours: 6
 Total Hours: 30

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree and certificate program is 30.

Contact
Enrollment Management
soeinfo@vcu.edu
(804) 828-3382

Additional contacts
Lacey E. Seaton, Ed.D.
Assistant professor and graduate program director for the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
seatonle@vcu.edu
(804) 828-8736

Jean Bailey, Ph.D.
Affiliate faculty and graduate program director for the Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Medical Education
jean.bailey@vcuhealth.org
(804) 828-7521

Program websites: soe.vcu.edu/academics/masters-programs/med-educational-leadership/med-leadership-studies-concentration/ and soe.vcu.edu/academics/certificates/medical-education/