Professional Development

How can I earn a Professional Development Certificate in Health Care Innovation?

Learners may earn a Professional Development Certificate in Health Care Innovation by successfully completing 4 courses within 1 year. Learners who do not wish to earn the certificate may take 1 or more courses at their own pace.

Can I take one course by itself?

Yes, you may take 1 or more courses at your own pace, or successfully complete 4 courses within 1 year to earn the certificate.

Do professional development courses count toward the master’s program?

No. The professional development courses do not confer academic course credits. They are designed to be practical training for working professionals who will apply tools and concepts immediately in their daily work. As noncredit courses, they are less time-intensive and less costly than credit-bearing courses.

How much do professional development courses cost?

These 4-week courses cost $1,000 each. You may register for courses one at a time or receive a bulk discount if you pre-pay for 4 (or more) courses in a single transaction. The pre-pay discount is 5% off your purchase and is nonrefundable. For more details, see Fees & Policies.

Will there be required sessions at specific times and dates?

Courses have specific start and end dates, but there are no scheduled meeting times. Deadlines are provided to help keep you on track, and all work should be done by the course's end date. Courses include asynchronous interactive sessions with the instructional team.

How much time will I spend working on this?

Each course is 4 weeks long. Learners typically spend 8 hours per week, at their convenience, on coursework. The program is designed to accommodate the busy schedules of full-time working professionals. Please note that some planning is required to keep pace with class discussions.

How do I sign up?

Enroll in courses using the online registration system. First-time users will be asked to create an account before enrolling. You may enroll in courses one at a time, or enroll in four or more courses in a single transaction to receive a non-refundable discounted rate.

Who should I contact if I am having technical issues?

For login issues, please contact the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at MEHPonline@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. If you are having technical issues within the course itself, please contact psom-MEHPhelp@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Are discounts available for group enrollments?

For inquiries related to group enrollments, please contact Heather Rosenbloom at herosenb@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

What's the difference between the Professional Development Courses and the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation?

The Professional Development courses are open to professionals both inside and outside of Penn, who want to learn skills to apply in the workplace but who do not need or want the commitment of a full-fledged master’s program. Professional Development courses do not confer academic course credits, and thus have a lighter time commitment and lower price. The academic Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation is open only to Penn faculty members, staff members, and students who are already enrolled in Penn graduate/professional programs. Courses in the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation are credit-bearing, master's-level courses with corresponding workloads and tuition. Eligible Penn employees may use employee tuition benefits towards the graduate certificate. The Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation courses are recommended to employees if they are considering applying to the Master of Health Care Innovation at some point.