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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 618 | Leadership for Change and Improvement | 3 |
| ADMS 622 | Understanding Diversity and Leading for Social Justice | 3 |
| ADMS 630 | Understanding and Engaging School Communities | 3 |
| ADMS 633 | Multiple Dimensions of Leadership | 3 |
| EDUS 660 | Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| • 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 670 | Curriculum Design in Health Professions Education | 3 |
| ADLT 671 | Theory and Practice of Adult Learning for Health Professions Educators | 3 |
| ADLT 672 | Instructional Strategies for Teaching in Health Professions | 3 |
| ADLT 673 | Teaching as Scholarship in Health Professions Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual degree and certificate program is 30.
Sample plan of study
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Hours | |
| 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/