Customize, communicate & collaborate through service learning in an online learning environment

The Healthcare Administration program has found many ways to incorporate service learning, traditionally practiced in face-to-face classes. We have included these best practices in the blended and online learning environments. We will demonstrate the success and struggles of utilizing career training and real world experience as part of the over all curriculum for healthcare administration in an online environment.

We strive to provide service learning in all public health settings including community, school, corporate, health service organization and the university student health center. Students are paired with a community healthcare organization to provide community service, job shadowing, interviewing, and service learning for skill development. In a collaborative effort we have managed to provide students with a customized degree focused on healthcare administration, business and a variety of other cross disciplines.

We have identified areas of interest of our students and worked across disciplines to encourage service learning opportunities with a healthcare emphasis. For example our media studies department has incorporated service learning through traditional, blended and online formats by partnering students with health service organizations to provide advertising, PR and media related projects.

Many aspects of this project are communicated in a fully online environment. By creating experiences through service learning we believe this will provide enhanced communication and networking opportunities. These steps along with utilizing the quality matters model for online learning will enhance the credibility of a online degree program.