October 23, 2019By Lance Baily

Healthcare Simulation Degree Programs: Comprehensive List

Healthcare Simulation Degree programs sure are few and far apart! No matter, we have a comprehensive list of Medical Simulation Degree programs to help out. These specialized degree programs from leading healthcare educational institutions around the world will help champions build their professional experience in clinical simulation!

From MSN Degrees to MSc, MS, and even technical AS degrees, the list of healthcare educational institutions supporting healthcare simulation with formal degree programs is growing each month! Don’t see your program on the list? Send us an email and we will add it!

Note: We did not include certificate or fellowship programs in this article. 


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Masters in Medical Simulation

UW Launches New Masters in Healthcare Simulation Education: The University of Washington’s new online Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation Education degree begins in Autumn 2024. Students will graduate ready to design and deliver high quality, true-to-life clinical learning experiences. Home to both the WWAMI Institute for Simulation in Healthcare (WISH), and the Center for Research in Education and Simulation Technologies (CREST), this degree’s home combines expertise in both the use of simulation in healthcare education — as well as the conception, fabrication, validation and commercialization of the technology.

Drexel Online: Master of Science in Medical and Healthcare Simulation: Drexel University’s online master’s degree in healthcare simulation is designed for healthcare professionals and simulation technicians seeking to become leaders in the field of simulated education. This online healthcare simulation degree program couples education in patient safety with simulation learning concepts to ensure you have the experience to thrive in both clinical and academic environments. Upon graduation, you will have met the educational criteria needed to sit for the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) certification exam. The online MS in Healthcare Simulation was designed for students who do not hold a nursing degree. If you are a registered nurse, please see the online MSN in Healthcare Simulation. Drexel’s online MS in Healthcare Simulation was designed specifically for students who wish to work in the healthcare simulation field. This master’s degree in healthcare simulation online provides specialized training in simulation-based education and ensures that you are familiar with the tools, practices, and procedures you will need in the field. You’ll be able to transfer the skills you learn in the program to careers in the clinical environment, clinical teaching, or the classroom.

University of Washington Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation Education: The University if Washington has launched a new online degree offered by the Division of Healthcare Simulation Science (HCSS), a unit of the UW Department of Surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine. The degree is also associated with WWAMI Institute for Simulation in Healthcare (WISH) and the Center for Research in Education and Simulation Technologies (CREST). Discover the future of healthcare education through simulation-based learning. The University of Washington’s new online Master of Healthcare Simulation Education degree will provide you with the evidence-based knowledge and skills to effectively design and deliver high quality, true-to-life clinical learning experiences. 


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University of Central Florida Nursing & Healthcare Simulation Online MSN: Leading the charge is the UCF College of Nursing, which developed Florida’s first and only online MSN program in healthcare simulation – among only a few programs nationwide. Students learn best practices from some of the world’s foremost experts in the field at the epicenter for modeling, simulation and training. The online MSN degree in Nursing and Healthcare Simulation is designed to prepare graduates for developing and leading nursing and healthcare simulation programs in academic and practice settings. Based on baccalaureate education, students will learn the range of experiences for learning in the simulated environment, will develop skills for leading simulation programs, and will have the opportunity to develop a self-designed project. Simulation techniques are expanding in the area of initial education, team training, and quality improvement in the healthcare arena. This innovative masters in medical simulation online program brings together interdisciplinary teams of healthcare educators, practitioners, computer scientists, and engineers to develop and use cutting-edge applications for simulation, training, and practice to advance healthcare.

Masters in HPEd-Simulation Operations: This is a mostly online program designed for those who want to advance their knowledge, skills, and careers as educators in the health professions. The carefully designed, project-based curriculum is intended to be both flexible in its design—providing a variety of combinations of online learning and webinars, brief face-to-face onsite intensives, and Harvard Macy Institute and Center for Medical Simulation in-person intensives—and flexible in the amount of time available to complete the program. The Masters in HPEd-Simulation Operations allows you to learn and practice skills in: Simulation technology, Simulation-based education, Leadership communication, Organizational buy-in, Program management, Engineering simulations to meet goals, Health and hospital systems, Research focused on simulation-based education outcomes and Measuring quality and patient safety.

MGH Institute of Health Professions Master of Science in Health Professions Education or PhD in Health Professions Education: The MS in Health Professions Education program at the MGH Institute is specifically designed for educators in the health professions to:

  • Build skills in teaching and assessment of learners in the health professions
  • Generate scholarship to address gaps in current literature supporting health professions education
  • Develop skills to assess and advance change in education across the health professions.

Blended instruction balances the flexibility of distance learning with onsite opportunities to develop a community of interest with like-minded scholars. Courses are largely project-based so that the learner can advance their skills and apply the information they are learning as they learn it. The Ph.D. program prepares clinicians and other health professionals without a research degree to make contributions to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Students pursuing the Ph.D. in HPEd can choose from the following concentration tracks: Leadership and Administration, Interprofessional Education, Simulation, or a customized concentration of your own choosing. The program meets the faculty requirement for doctoral-level expertise in numerous health professions. Specifically, graduates will be able to:

  • Design health professions curricula and evaluate program outcomes Lead change and innovation in health professions education.
  • Obtain intramural and extramural support for research projects.
  • Engage in peer-reviewed scholarship in an area of expertise.
  • Contribute to interprofessional education and practice leading to improved health outcomes.
  • MGH also offers a Certificate Simulation program as well.

Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation Program: In a hybrid format, this program focuses on the educational, operational, and assessment expertise needed to improve healthcare simulation settings. The program offers interprofessional learners a curriculum that emphasizes simulation theory, operations, safety, and leadership. During the MS program in healthcare simulation, learners experience how to influence the design, operations, and evaluation of educational healthcare simulation in academic or practice settings. They develop evidence-based scenario design, use technology-enhanced environments replicating real patient experiences with life-like high fidelity computer manikins or simulated participants, and employ operations techniques.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation: This master’s degree in healthcare simulation program is designed to prepare you to lead within your organization using simulation to improve quality of care and impact patient outcomes. They provide a strong foundation in simulation as an educational methodology and as well as evidence-based quality and patient safety strategies. The program is taught by nationally and internationally recognized experts in simulation design and implementation. Patient safety and quality is a strength within the curriculum. The degree is an online program giving you the flexibility to complete the degree while working full time. It is accomplished through four semesters of course work, with a three-day residential visit in the first semester. The content of the curriculum includes opportunities to integrate healthcare simulation into your current practice in innovative ways. They are seeking interprofessional students from a variety of backgrounds who are interested in working collaboratively to improve patient care with clinical simulation. Faculty in this program are committed to developing future leaders in healthcare simulation. There is also a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Simulation also available from UAB!

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine MS in BioMedical Sciences Medical Simulation Concentration: The Medical Simulation (Med-Sim) Concentration — offered at their PCOM and PCOM Georgia locations — is designed to teach students how to manage and effectively run a medical simulation center. The coursework consists of learning, developing, designing, and running high-fidelity mannequins, Standardized Patient programs, virtual reality simulations, and task trainers for our osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, physical therapy, and biomedical sciences programs. Students also work with area hospitals, colleges, and fire departments building medical simulations to enhance local interprofessional training. Each learner will develop 30 simulation experiences including IPE scenarios and will run approximately 2,000 simulations. After completing the foundation year coursework, students may progress to the second-year degree concentration.

Health Simulation MSc PGDip PG Cert: This course is designed to provide you with an opportunity to enhance your understanding of current and emerging technologies and theories in the field of health simulation as a learning tool. You will explore what it is now possible to achieve through simulation in health education, what is likely to be possible in the near future, and discuss the ethical questions that need to be addressed when utilizing health simulation as a learning tool.

University of Hertfordshire MSc of Health and Medical Simulation: This program offers the opportunity to study all aspects of Simulation as a way of providing education and training to others, whilst grounding it firmly in a sound evidence-based knowledge of educational theory and practice. You will have the opportunity to study all aspects of the theory and practice of health and medical education in the workplace, the design, and delivery of scenarios and simulation sessions, planning simulation facilities, programming simulators. You will also have the opportunity to study medical emergencies and managing risk, leadership and teamwork, business skills, and evidence-based practice. If you are involved in the provision of medical or healthcare simulation then this program has a route for you. As a clinician, you may be from medical or other healthcare backgrounds where you are involved in the provision of training and education which would benefit from the utilization of simulation in healthcare, or you may already be using simulation as an education or training tool. If you do not have a clinical background you may be interested in the technical side of simulation, and the leadership and business acumen that you need to succeed.

National University of Ireland Galway’s MSc. in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety: The main goal of this degree program is to prepare the student to deliver healthcare simulation, run a healthcare simulation center, and carry out research on or using healthcare simulation. The masters in healthcare simulation online courses are delivered as much as possible over the web through distance learning. This delivery method allows the student to study at a time that is convenient to them, no matter where they live. The modules are delivered using a combination of multi-media presentations, online discussion boards, and online tutorials. There will also be a need to attend our 4 days (2 weekends) medial simulation immersion interactive workshops which give the learner hands-on experience and training in high fidelity simulation, task trainers, standardized patients, scenario generation, creation of virtual patient scenarios for e-learning, and serious game design. They take place in the simulation center located at the Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation (ICAPSS) at Galway University Hospital.

University of Greenwich Master’s in Interprofessional Healthcare Simulation: This innovative course aims to embody the definition of interprofessional healthcare simulation. Simulation in this context refers to a spectrum of activity from simple role-playing, to simulated patients, part-task trainers, hybrid models, full-body manikins, and immersive simulated environments. The interprofessional element refers to anyone who may be involved in the design, delivery, or evaluation of simulation activities, whether it be technicians, healthcare professionals, or academics.

Hacettepe Universitesi Master’s Program with Thesis in Simulation in Health Sciences (Turkey): The Master of Science Program in Simulation in Health Sciences lasts two academic years (four semesters). The medical simulation degree program consists of a minimum of twenty-four credits (120 ECTS), seminar and special subjects courses, and thesis work for undergraduate students. In order to be successful in the courses, a grade of at least C1 must be taken. Students who have successfully completed the compulsory courses of the program can submit a thesis proposal after the end of the second semester. The thesis proposal is determined by the student and his / her supervisor. The proposal is discussed openly in the relevant department. The student has to write his / her thesis results in accordance with the rules of the institute thesis writing, present his / her thesis and report before the jury and defend it orally.

Máster: Educación de Profesionales de Ciencias de la Salud: The Master of Education of Health Sciences Professionals (MECS) is the response of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona to the set of academic and social needs and requirements directly related to the purposes of quality, innovation and improves that the education of health sciences professionals has raised in a globalized and knowledge society. Pedagogical quality, teaching innovation, and evaluation are the axes that preside over this program aimed at training professionals of the highest level, prepared to analyze and understand the changes that are transforming education and health systems, and with this design and develop health science education programs based on the best available evidence.

Centre for Health Innovation Stafford Course Masters of Sciences Simulation-Based Education: This degree has been designed for professionals who are currently utilizing or considering the pedagogy of simulation for teaching, learning, assessment, modeling of concepts, or devising new ways and changing systems of working and to those working in safety and quality. The degree is structured to aid and support educators at a range of levels to implement or enhance their use of simulation-based learning. Learners might be a technologist, technician, teacher, lecturer, or similar and want to innovate their teaching methods to better prepare learners to utilize their skills in the real world.

Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Simulation

Carolinas College of Health Sciences – Healthcare Simulation (Certificate or Bachelor’s Degree): This program provides hands-on learning in Atrium Health’s state-of-the-art Carolinas Simulation Center. The center opened in 2007 and is one of only a handful of programs accredited at a distinguished level by both the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Education Institute and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) accredited in the areas of Assessment, Research, Teaching/Education, and Systems Integration. The Simulation Center provides healthcare professionals the opportunity to use a variety of simulation modalities to practice procedures and clinical patient care situations in a safe learning environment. This program includes 120 total credits for the bachelor’s degree and 20 credits for the certificate.

Associate’s Degrees in Healthcare Simulation

Lake Region State College Simulator Technology Program: The Simulator Technology program at Lake Region State College is one of the few training programs for simulator technicians in the United States. The program provides hands-on training in computer systems, digital and solid-state electronic devices, printed circuit troubleshooting, and a variety of other systems essential to the operation of state-of-the-art simulators. Learners will use specialized tools, test equipment, built-in diagnostic equipment, and technical data to isolate and locate faulty components or system malfunctions. While in the program, learners will gain experience in electronics, flight characteristics, and computers.

Healthcare Simulation Education Program

The INACSL Simulation Education Program: The INACSL Simulation Education Program (ISEP) aligns with the vision, mission, and core values of INACSL bringing just-in-time education and best practices to participants. Developed and facilitated by experts in the field, ISEP provides a pathway for novice and intermediate simulation educators, practitioners, and directors to learn and apply evidence-based strategies in simulation. Advanced practitioners will benefit from the refinement of skills and best practices in simulation-based education.

ISEP is a comprehensive, online program integrating concepts of simulation and instructional design methodologies into practice with interactive, activity-based, online projects. Each of the 12 courses in the program incorporates participant discussion boards and video sessions with facilitators related to specific course projects and assignments. Some courses require participants to work together virtually to complete group projects.



HealthySimulation.com LEARN Platform: HealthySimulation.com’s streamlined clinical simulation webinar and course platform relaunched in February 2021, and has since featured even more informative and insightful healthcare simulation presentations! These webinars offer live and on-demand content from some of the world’s leading healthcare simulation experts, covering everything necessary to successfully start, develop or expand a clinical simulation program. Many HealthySimulation.com webinar presentations are recorded and viewable from anywhere at any time. Webinar and course topics range from safe medication administration to moulage and manikin functions. 

Former Medical Simulation Degree Programs

Bates Technical College Medical Simulation Operations Specialist Degree: This growing healthcare specialty is your opportunity to get started in an exciting and new in-demand career. Using a hybrid of medical and technical skills, Medical Simulations Operations Specialists create realistic scenarios to effectively and safely train healthcare professionals for real-life medical situations. You will learn Mechatronics, Controller programming, Scenario development, Pharmacology, Medical terminology, and Computer networking, and print reading. You will also get hands-on learning to program simulation equipment, and work in concert with Bates Technical College’s Practical Nurse program to provide real-life experiences for both programs.

Naval Postgraduate School: Applied Modeling and Simulation in Healthcare Master’s Degree: The Naval Postgraduate School’s Applied Modeling and Simulation in Healthcare is the first  Master’s degree program of its kind to focus on the specific needs of DoD healthcare simulationists.  It is a joint effort between the Naval Postgraduate School and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and combines the M&S expertise at NPS with leading healthcare education at USUHS.  All 10 courses are taught via distance learning (three of which are taught through the USUHS Foundations in Health Professions Education program).  The program focuses on the fundamentals of M&S, the broad applications of M&S to DoD healthcare training, and accruing expertise and leadership skills in providing healthcare education.  This Master’s degree program is available to DoD and VA healthcare professionals, educators, administrators, and simulation operations specialists.

Robert Morris University MSN in Nursing Leadership with Simulation Concentration: The M.S.N. in Nursing Leadership program with Simulation concentration enables students to work with recognized leaders in healthcare simulation in order to become expert simulation learning facilitators. The M.S.N. program utilizes evidence-based practice and diverse perspectives to prepare its students to have an impact on organizational change and innovation in healthcare networks.

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