Online graduate public health education: Doing it well is a lot of work

The University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health began teaching graduate courses in an online format in 1998. Since then, we have developed five online MPH programs and seven graduate-level certificate programs, all taught entirely online. Last year, we matriculated our first class of DrPH students who are taking their courses, synchronously, in “distance” mode. The School offers dozens of online courses to hundreds of students every year. Our largest division teaches more students online than on campus. We have learned, sometimes the hard way, what does and does not work, with respect to pedagogy, organizational issues, technology and costs. In feedback on public health workforce development from graduates and employers, we have learned what is and is not useful in their work. This presentation is an overview of the lessons we have learned: what is good about online graduate public health education and what is bad about it. It will offer a realistic picture of the type of institutional and instructor commitment on the one hand, and student time and financial commitment on the other, which are necessary for optimal results. We also identify indicators that we believe will help public health leaders evaluate how online education fits with their organization's needs and resources.