The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #73847

Nancy Alfred Persily, MPH, Assistant Provost/Associate Dean for Academic Programs, School of Public Health, University at Albany-SUNY, One University Place, Renneselaer, NY 12114, 518-402-0262, npersily@albany.edu

Undergraduate Public Health Programs in Schools of Public Health face common issues including articulation of graduate and undergraduate curriculum, program administration and recruitment. In addition issues of accreditation requirements represents a national issue. The Associate Deans of Schools of Public Health through the Association of Schools of Public Health have added issues of undergraduate public health education to their agenda. The status of these deliberation will be reviewed including any recommendations that result. In addition the current and potential role of the Council on Education for Public Health will be discussed. Articulation of undergraduate and graduate education is not a new issue in other Schools of the University. Business, social work, international affairs, nursing, as well as a wide spectrum of arts and sciences disciplines, have already devised methodologies for allowing students to pursue both undergraduate and graduate training without repeating course work. Option for articulation will be discussed including cross-crediting of a limited number of graduate level credit hours to the BS and MPH degree; a 5-year combined BS-MPH degree; and/or waiving required MPH courses and allowing substitution by higher level graduate course work. Schools of Public Health have chosen a variety of methods for administering their undergraduate programs. Positive and negative aspects of different models will be reviewed. Finally philosophical and strategic issues of recruitment will be discussed including the desirability and feasibility of recruitment directly from high school.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Understand the spectrum of philosophies and goals underlying undergraduate programs offered through Schools of Public Health
• 2. Understand the differences in administrative structured for offering undergraduate degree programs and the implications of these administrative differences.
• 3. Understand current and potential roles of the Association of Schools of Public Health and the Council on Education for Public Health in the development of undergraduate programs in Schools of Public Health

Keywords: Education, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.