Institute of Public Health: Assessment of Learning Outcomes

July 1, 2005

A. Adoption of Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MPH degree, all students will have a mastery of appropriate theory, knowledge and skills in applied public health and public health research as evidenced by the graduate’s ability to:

· Articulate and utilize an understanding of core public health concepts in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, health services administration, and environmental health, as well as the eight emerging areas identified by IOM.

· Identify and assess the public health conditions, both assets and deficiencies, of populations.

· Demonstrate the ability to plan, implement and evaluate programs and services designed to address these conditions

· Understand and employ an “ecological approach” to public health, with emphasis on the linkages and relationships among the multiple determinants of health, to assure conditions that protect and promote the health of populations.

· Identify and analyze health disparities and design appropriate, culturally competent prevention and intervention strategies.

· Demonstrate an ability to apply theory and knowledge in applied, field-based settings, as evidenced by a competency level of knowledgeable to proficient across the seven (7) competency domains for public health professionals:

o analytical assessment

o policy development/program planning

o communication

o cultural competency

o community dimension of practice

o basic public health sciences

o financial planning and management, and

o leadership and systems thinking

· Apply critical thinking skills within the context of public health practice and research.

· Demonstrate skills in public health research and communication.

For the MPH graduate specializing in Prevention Sciences, additional learning outcomes include the student’s ability to:

· Demonstrate understanding of disease etiology, occurrence, prevention, and detection in a manner that will benefit population health.

· Apply principles of epidemiology and biostatistics to community health planning and service integration.

· Demonstrate research competencies in applied, basic sciences that support the work of public health and emerging fields of prevention practice such as chronic and infectious diseases.

· Use economic evaluation and informatics to analyze programs and community health needs and test the efficacy of interventions.

For the MPH graduate specializing in Health Promotion and Behavior, additional learning outcomes include the student’s ability to:

· Demonstrate an understanding of health promotion programs in various content areas and how those programs function across a variety of settings.

· Demonstrate skills as a qualified resource person and advocate for the community using appropriate methods to meet community and population needs.

· Demonstrate the ability to communicate health and health education information to diverse populations using a range of techniques and methods.

· Demonstrate an understanding of the impact that biology, environment, cultural, law, education, and the media have on population health and societal expectations.

For the MPH graduate specializing in Health Management and Policy, additional learning outcomes include the student’s ability to:

· Demonstrate an understanding of the history and structure of health care systems and specify how social, political, legal, ethical, technological, economic and cultural forces have shaped it.

· Explain the concerns of quality, access and cost of health care.

· Analyze the main options and methods for financing and regulating health care services.

· Apply research methods, including quantitative methods and data management, and critical thinking skills to problems in health policy, management and services research.

Assessment Methods, Data Collection Processes and Analyses

The MPH program has a five-step plan for self-study and evaluation of the total program.

a. Successful completion of core courses. Each core course has course objectives that provide the foundation for the program objectives. A grade of “B” or better is required and successful completion of the core courses serves as evidence of foundational learning outcomes being met.

• Performance evaluation will consider the number of students enrolled in each of the five (5) core courses each academic year and the number of students receiving “B” or better grades.

b. Course evaluations. Students enrolled in a course evaluate that course at the end of the semester, providing insight on course content and instruction. Course evaluations should meet or exceed college norms and benchmarks.

• Performance evaluation will document the summary and discrete evaluation of all core and elective courses for MPH students, establishing comparative and trend data relative to similar graduate programs within the college.

c. Successful completion of practicum or field experience. Each MPH student must complete a six (6) hour practicum or field experience prior to program completion. Students are required to receive positive evaluations from their field preceptors or supervisors, receive an overall course grade of “B” or higher, make an oral presentation of their work at the end of each semester, and submit a portfolio or manuscript on their experience to be maintained in the Institute library.

• Performance evaluation will measure the number of students enrolled in the practicum or field experience each semester with data reflecting the number receiving positive evaluations, the number receiving “B” or higher grade, the quality of oral presentation, and the merits of the portfolio/manuscript submission. All aspects of the practicum experience will be evaluated using the domains of core competencies for public health professionals.

d. Final Thesis or Special Capstone Project. Each MPH student has the option of completing either a thesis or a special capstone research project. Both culminating experiences are designed to test the student’s competency in core public health knowledge, skills and abilities and to ensure proficiency in the student’s area of specialization. Students are expected to present their thesis or capstone project in writing and defend it orally, to a faculty committee.

• Performance evaluation will consider the number and quality of thesis and capstone projects during each academic year. Evaluation will be based on the student’s demonstration of overall achievement of learning outcomes as evidenced by the work in the culminating experience.

e. Alumni Survey. Following completion of the degree program, information about program outcomes will be sought from the new graduate. The survey gauges usage of learning outcomes in an applied public health setting, career changes or advancement, further advanced study, and activities such as publication or peer-reviewed presentations that confirm learning outcomes.

• Performance evaluation will be based on graduate participation in the survey, response to survey questions, self-assessment of skill and application in the core competencies, and impact of graduate education experience on career and academic development.

Use of Results

The Institute of Public Health takes seriously its charge to develop quality public health graduate education, which improves the knowledge, skills and abilities of public health professionals and researchers. The MPH is a new program, with the first class being enrolled in Fall Semester 2004. Thus, the learning outcomes assessment plan provides a foundation for the programs efforts. The goal and expectations of accreditation by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) further ensures the necessary institutional and faculty focus on establishing, measuring and improving learning outcomes.

Learning outcomes for individual students will be monitored and assessed by relevant university faculty. The student’s advisor, identified during the student’s first semester of enrollment, will track student progress and performance, especially oral and written performance in coursework and performance as graduate research assistants, if applicable. The student’s advisor, MPH Program Coordinator, and the field placement supervisor will jointly assess the student’s internship performance. Lastly, Institute staff will maintain a database of post-degree employment of each graduate.

Performance evaluation of applicable learning outcomes for all students will be conducted annually by the director of the Institute, in concert with core faculty and affiliated faculty. (Certain learning outcomes cannot be evaluated either until the second year of the program or until there are MPH graduates.) Faculty, in consultation with students, the Institute’s Board of Advisors and the GSU Deans’ Advisory Group (which oversees the Institute), will work together in a continuous quality improvement process to ensure that learning outcomes are understandable, measurable, properly linked with applied public health and research, and being achieved.

III. Improvement of Unit Student Retention and Graduation

The Institute of Public Health’s student retention rates are excellent. The MPH degree program accepted 24 new students for Fall 2004 and 16 for Spring 2005 and all but one has remained in the program. The IPH offers Graduate Research Assistantships to recognize students and provide an environment for faculty and students to develop meaningful relationships. The Institute plans to be an active participant in the College of Health and Human Services’ Honor’s Day. Program directors orient students at the beginning of their academic programs and each student has a faculty advisor who advises and mentors them throughout their programs of study.