4074.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - Board 5

Abstract #15904

Taking Graduate Public Health Courses Online - What do the students say?

Andrew L. Lentz, MPA, Distance Education Division, Johns Hopkins University, 111 Market Place, #850, Baltimore, MD 21202, 410-223-1844, alentz@jhsph.edu

Taking Graduate Public Health Courses Online - What do the students say? A.L. Lentz, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to: (1) Discuss the value of distance education to public health professionals with full-time employment. (2) Explore the impact of Internet-based courses on the professional and personal life of distance education students. (3) Describe some of the benefits of taking graduate level public health courses via the Internet. (4) Assess the importance of enrolling students in cohorts.

Abstract Text: Since 1997, the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health (JHSPH) has offered Internet-based courses for academic credit, first as a part of the Graduate Certificate Program (GCP) in Public Health and later as a part of the Internet-based Master of Public Health. An assessment is being conducted by the Distance Education Division at JHSPH to evaluate the impact of the first two cohorts of GCP students on their academic and professional life experiences. The survey will attempt to include current students and also those not completing the GCP to assess satisfaction and potential for career impact.

Some Sample Student Comments: · Web-based learning helps build technical skills which compliment the learning received in the courses. (S.L., GCP 97) · Courses constantly evolve to incorporate new technologies as they're needed. (G.S., GCP 97) · It's sad to think this will all be over soon. Our cohort has really bonded. (L.B., GCP 98)

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to: (1) Discuss the value of distance education to public health professionals with full-time employment. (2) Explore the impact of Internet-based courses on the professional and personal life of distance education students. (3) Describe some of the benefits of taking graduate level public health courses via the Internet. (4) Assess the importance of enrolling students in cohorts

Keywords: Distance Education, Public Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Johns Hopkins School of Public Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA