Masters Degree Program, Fall 2006
Updates and Changes
Fall Kick-off
It’s been a banner year at the Institute
for Biosecurity for the MS in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness
program. Student enrollment continues to grow at a rapid pace. The
student body has essentially doubled since our first semester in
Fall, 2005. The students continue to represent diverse educational
and work backgrounds and bring wonderful life experience to the program.
Student contributions enhance everyone’s learning and make the program
a richer experience for all. Furthermore, the program continues
to grow in terms of evaluating and updating the curriculum based
on instructor and student feedback. The Institute for Biosecurity
aims to make the MS in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness program
the strongest in the country in order to provide a better educated
and more prepared disaster readiness workforce. Instructors constantly
strive to incorporate real life examples and lessons learned into
the curriculum, keeping the curriculum up-to-date with current events.
We are all excited to begin our second year providing this program.
We feel it is an honor and a privilege to provide this program to
such a talented group of individuals. Let’s all have a great year!
Changes in MS curriculum
The Institute for Biosecurity is proud
to announce that we have made a few changes to our MS in Biosecurity
program. The first is a change in title from Master of Science
in Biosecurity to Master of Science in Biosecurity and Disaster
Preparedness. We feel that the expanded title better reflects
the program’s content (a focus on, and preparedness for, the infectious
disease implications of all disasters) and will aid future graduates
in career placement. The program changed the content of some courses
based on instructor and student feedback; some courses were also
added and deleted. Most notably, the curriculum was redesigned to
provide slots for students to choose elective courses. This will
allow students to tailor their MS degree to fit their interests or
career goals. New electives will begin starting in the Spring 2007
semester. If you are interested in seeing the new curriculum, it
can be accessed at: http://bioterrorism.slu.edu/MS_ProgramLaunch/LaunchMS_program.htm
New MPH program
One of the newest and
most exciting changes to the Institute for Biosecurity’s Graduate
School offerings is a new area of concentration within the Master
of Public Health (MPH) program. Starting in 2007, students in the
MPH program can choose Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness as
their area of concentration. Many existing MPH students have indicated
that Biosecurity is an attractive area of concentration because
they hope to work in that field after they graduate. The new MPH
Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness area of concentration program
is not provided completely online. All of the Biosecurity and Disaster
Preparedness area of concentration are distance-based and provided
online. However, students would be required to physically attend
Saint Louis University for the MPH coursework; the courses can
be completed in two consecutive semesters.
Orientation/reference page
The Institute for Biosecurity
has set up an orientation/reference center for all Biosecurity
and Disaster Preparedness students. After students are admitted
to the program or enroll in biosecurity courses, they are added
to the list of students in the Orientation site. This site is administered
through WebCT, so that everyone has access to it. The Orientation/reference
site consists of a number of learning modules that aid students
in navigating distance learning. Examples include how to use the
APA reference style, how to conduct a literature review, University
policies and procedures, and online resources for students. This
site also has a page that hosts all student and faculty biographies,
including video introductions by the instructors so that everyone
can get to know one another. The Institute for Biosecurity has
received very positive feedback about the Orientation page from
students. The learning modules contribute to new student adjustment
to the program by allowing students to become familiar with the
online WebCT tools. The student and faculty biographies have also
been well received. Students have commented that they feel less
isolated in the online environment when they get to know their
fellow students and faculty; the biographies are one step in this
process. For information on how to access the Orientation/reference
page, please contact the Institute for Biosecurity’s
Multimedia Technical Director, Gene Carroll, at: carrolle@slu.edu or
(314) 977-8270 [or toll free at 800-758-3678 and ask for extension
8270].
Collaboration with
Philadelphia University’s Medical Disaster Program
Saint Louis University
and Philadelphia University are expecting that a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) between the two institutions will be finalized
within the next month. This memorandum will join together Saint
Louis University’s M.S.
in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness and Philadelphia University’s
M.S. in Disaster Medicine and Management. This MOU recognizes that
the curriculum design and standards of instruction of each program
are comparable. Specifically, this partnership will allow students
in either program to elect up to two courses from the partner program
that will be accepted toward the degree requirements of the host
university. Information about the course offerings at the Philadelphia
University Disaster Medicine program may be found at http://www.philau.edu/disastermed. |
