Moving out of the Classroom: AN Online LGBT Public Health Certificate Program

Studies have indicated that health disparities are related to sexual orientation and gender identify. More research, appropriate policy, and effective interventions are needed to describe and to ameliorate these disparities. Such changes depend on well-trained public health practitioners. In response, faculty at the University of Pittsburgh organized the nation's first graduate-level certificate program in LGBT public health. The program is taught by a multi-disciplinary team including faculty from medicine, epidemiology, infectious diseases, behavioral health, nursing and psychology. Many students on other campuses have expressed strong interest in the program but are not able to attend the University of Pittsburgh. Accordingly, the faculty are developing a program that will rely, in major part, on online technology for distance learning.

Faculty and students of the program will briefly describe the current curricula and describe the data collected from the first class of students about their satisfaction with the courses and their suggestions for revisions. They will discuss lessons learned in planning for the online Certificate program and the process for enrollment. They will discuss how lectures, discussions, reviews of the readings will be conducted online and how assignments will be made. Input and reaction from attendees will be solicited.

A general discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the distance learning program will be led by a panel of students and faculty. Recommendations for the program, and similar on-line course development will be generated.