The philosophy and purpose of the Ed.D.-HPE program arise from the mission, philosophy and goals of Allen College. The faculty believes that doctoral education in health sciences education provides the student with learning that emphasizes critical evaluation of the concepts and theories that underlie the nature and practice of teaching and the extension of the processes of inquiry developed at the master's and baccalaureate levels (problem solving, critical thinking and research). The purpose of this learning is to develop and test knowledge and to translate the evidence into teaching practice. The faculty recognizes that diverse areas of specialization are guided by an ever changing state of knowledge and emerging societal needs. These provide the groundwork promoting leadership and the ongoing advancement of new knowledge in a variety of health education disciplines.
The faculty also believes that students bring diverse and varying educational, personal and cultural experiences to their graduate studies. These are valuable to the program and student learning and provide strengths that must be fostered within the educational environment. Students are recognized as self-directed scholars with specific learning needs to support both independent and collaborative practice. The learning environment for doctoral study emphasizes collegial relationships with students, faculty and professionals from other disciplines.
The faculty believes in the values and goals of higher learning and supports the mission of education, scholarship, practice and service. Doctorally prepared educators function in the roles of experts and leaders in various health science disciplines and contribute to the body of knowledge that provides a base for practice and the development of those disciplines. Further, doctoral education requires learning experiences and environments that reflect the multicultural composition of the world and the skill of influencing the sociopolitical process as a means of affecting the health care of individual, families and populations.