The traditional residential learning model in academic settings is often too costly, time consuming, and inefficient for the mid-career adult student who has multiple professional and personal demands. A more cost-effective and user-friendly model of professional education is needed. Distance learning, especially that which is delivered in an on-line environment, is an effective and increasingly popular tool for providing graduate public health education and retraining of the public health work force. Research has also provided evidence that well-designed distance learning programs are very effective in transferring skill and knowledge to beginning and experienced practitioners. An environmental scan of U.S. graduate public health degree programs indicates that while more are integrating distance learning options, very few permit students to earn their degree exclusively on-line. In 1998, Walden University decided to develop an on-line master's in public health degree program. This decision was based on the premise that public health education, delivered exclusively on-line, could enhance access to a larger and more diverse student-faculty population. The comprehensive process of developing this innovative educational program, which had multiple internal and external stakeholders, and the plan for its implementation will be discussed. The presenters will also provide a model for "best practices" in on-line pedagogy (i.e., faculty recruitment and development strategies, student recruitment and support services, instructional design approaches, information technology requirements, administrative oversight).
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to: 1. Identify the human, financial, extra-institutional, and instructional resources necessary for the development of an on-line public health degree program. 2. Describe the rationale for and interpretation of a needs assessment/market survey within the context of the development of an on-line public health degree program. 3. List factors associated with a successful regional accreditation of an on-line public health degree program
Keywords: Distance Education, Public Health Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.