Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

E-tuition & fees

Costs include tuition & fees. All students receive our e-tuition rate. See cost details

Credit hours

12 required credit hours. Most courses are equal to 3 credit hours. Browse course list

Program duration

Finish in as little as 1 year. Explore program requirements

Admissions

Apply for fall, spring, or summer term. View application process & deadlines

Program highlights

Balance your schedule while completing your certificate: Our fully online program allows you to complete coursework from wherever you are.
Save money with affordable tuition: Online students receive our e-tuition rate.
Make progress toward a future degree: Apply course credits from your certificate toward a Public Health master’s degree.
Study with research and practice-based faculty who are engaged in applied research, evaluation, and policy and program development at the local, state, and national level.
Learn how to develop and manage quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
Focus your attention on the health literacy and communication skills of healthcare personnel.

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Career opportunities

This certificate is designed for mid-career professionals, pre-career students, and individuals who aspire to quality-improvement roles in healthcare delivery. Additionally, it is suitable for students of quality improvement who are employed or intend to work in environments such as community or population health.

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Program requirements

Our certificate program offers a solid foundation in health literacy and communication, quality improvement, and patient safety. It also provides the opportunity to pursue interests in health systems, basic public health sciences, and data analysis and translation.

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Dedicated faculty

Our research- and practice-based faculty offer strong connections with the community and are engaged in a broad range of externally funded public health and health services projects.

Meet our faculty

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Future degree planning

Interested in earning your Master’s Degree in Public Health in the future? The credits you earn through this certificate program can be applied to our MPH program. Some restrictions may apply.

View program details

Master of Public Health (MPH) | Hyflex

Master’s Program

Public Health | Online

Certificate of Graduate Study (Online)

Next steps

Our graduate admissions counselors are here to answer your questions about the admissions process, our academic programs, and student support services.

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Admission information: Certificate of Graduate Study in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety

Application deadlines

We accept applications on a rolling basis and review them continuously.

Application deadline	Fall term start	Spring term start	Summer term start
Final	August 1	December 15	April 15

Applicants are required to provide the following materials:

General requirements

Application: Online application
Application fee:
- In-state, out-of-state, and Canadian applicants: Free to apply
- International applicants: Submit US $50 fee to apply
Transcripts: Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended, excluding the seven campuses of the University of Maine System (UMS transcripts are accessible to USM). A transcript is official when sent directly from the institution.
- International College transcripts: In addition to an official copy of the transcript, we require an official evaluation of college-level transcripts approved by one of the following transcript analysis agencies
  - National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)
  - Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE)
Resume: Submit a resume or CV that outlines professional, volunteer, and community experience.
Students whose first language is not English may be required to take one of the following: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English (PTE) or Duolingo. Applicants must submit official scores as part of the application process. See additional information regarding test scores and requirements.

Additional requirements

Personal statement discussing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your professional goals, and how you think this program of study will contribute to these goals.

English proficiency test scores

View test requirements

Where to send application materials

Get our mailing address and email address