Richard K. Riegelman, MD, PhD, School of Public Health and Health Services, George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street N.W., Room 119c, Washington, DC 20037, Elahe Nezami, PhD, Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California, 3375 South Hoover Street, University Village, E210, Los Angeles, CA 90089, 213-821-1600, nezami@usc.edu, Terrie Wetle, PHD, Program in Public Health, Brown University, 97 Waterman Street, G, A-2, Providence, RI 02912, James R. Ciesla, PhD, School of Allied Health Professions, Northern Illinois University, Public Health and Health Education Programs, DeKalb, IL 60115, and Sarah Bauerle Bass, PhD, MPH, Department of Public Health, Temple University, 304 Vivacqua Hall, P.O. Box 2843, Philadelphia, PA 19122.

A panel on undergraduate public health education outside of Schools of Public Health will examine the history, current status and future of undergraduate education in public health and its implications for the public health workforce. An overview of the national forces that are encouraging undergraduate public health education will be presented including renewed national interest in public health; changes in medical school admissions policy; the interdisciplinary orientation of undergraduate education; and the market demand for undergraduate training in public health. Issues of the role of public health education as preprofessional vs. entry level workforce preparation will be addressed. The options for quality assurance including accreditation will be reviewed. Panel members will represent a range of public and private institutions including Temple University, Brown University, Northern Illinois University and the University of Southern California. Panelists will discuss the undergraduate programs offered by their institution including the program's history and philosophy, structure, curriculum, administration, and future plans. Controversial issues such as the goals of undergraduate education, the recruitment of high school students directly into undergraduate degree programs and the role of accreditation will be discussed. There will also be interaction between panel members and questions and comments from the audience.

Learning Objectives:

• Learning Objectives
• 1. Understand the forces at work encouraging the growth of undergraduate degree programs.
• 2. Understand the spectrum of philosophies and goals underlying undergraduate programs offered in Universities without Schools of Public Health
• 3. Understand the differences in administrative structured for offering undergraduate degree programs and the implications of these administrative differences
• 4. Understand the issues and options for quality assurance including accreditation

Keywords: Education,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am a faculty member at the University of Southern California and I will be discussing a Bachelor of Science program offered at this University.