Development of a master's in public health nutrition degree program using distance education.
The Professional Practice Program in Nutrition (PPPN) uses distance education to offer a master's degree in public health (MPH) nutrition designed for practitioners who desire to maintain their employment and develop new skills. Public health nutrition leadership faces challenges in recruiting a large enough workforce to (a) carry out the core functions of assessment, policy, and assurance; (b) update current nutritionists in new skill areas to face the demands of dynamic health care and public health climates; and (c) conduct monitoring and surveillance of Healthy People 2010 objectives. In 1996, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill designed and implemented this program after a market analysis to identify advanced educational need in a nine state area. PPPN was initiated as a pilot program and enrolled two cohorts of students from 1996 through 1998. This project identified four key steps: (a) conduct a detailed market analysis; (b) establish an infrastructure to deliver the program; (c) tailor the curriculum using the technology; and (d) identify, accommodate, and develop student capabilities. The findings indicate that distance education strategies are appropriate to carry out a full MPH curriculum in nutrition, but sufficient enrollment is necessary to cover the added curriculum expenditures.
Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 27599-7400, USA. jan_dodds@unc.edu
Janice M
JM
Dodds
Barbara A
BA
Laraia
Elena T
ET
Carbone
D003479:Curriculum; D004046:Dietetics / Q000193:education; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000379:methods*; D004500:Education, Graduate; D040381:Education, Public Health Professional / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D011634:Public Health; D012581:Schools, Public Health / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States