Developing an MPH Health Education distance learning program: Expanding the borders of access to public health graduate education

This presentation will describe the rationale, needs assessment, and process for developing and implementing a distance learning master of public health program in community health education. In response to numerous requests by public health professionals working in communities with no direct access to graduate public health programs, a needs assessment was conducted during open forums, by the San Jose State University Master Public Health faculty, between 2002 and 2003, in three northern California communities. Approximately 300 individuals who were interested in pursuing a master public health degree attended the forums. As a result, a proposal for a distance education program was developed, submitted to the California State University System office, and approved. The first distance cohort was admitted in fall 2007 and included individuals that were almost exclusively from areas without direct access to a campus MPH program. The presentation will describe the use of distance learning technology, such as the Blackboard platform for posting assignments and the Elluminate platform for weekly live class sessions. Information on the lessons learned from conducting distance learning live class sessions in courses such as group process, epidemiology, health education theory, program planning, and multi-cultural communication will be presented. Information will also be presented on how access to this program has affected the lives of students who would otherwise not be able to receive their master public health degree. In addition, implications for reaching students across America's borders will also be discussed.