TUI MSHS students/alumni?

I'm considering the Touro University Master of Science in Health Sciences in either or both International Health and Emergency and Disaster Management. I'd love to hear what alumni and current students think about the program.

How did you find the curriculum and the assignments?

Also, I know the program is CD-based. Is there opportunity to work online with faculty and establish relationships with them? How about the chance to get letters of recommendation for further graduate work. I can get letters from my Harvard profs, but if I decide to pursue public health at the doctoral level, it would be good to have support from public health professors, too.

 

I'd also be interested in hearing from any students in the doctoral programs at TUI.

Thanks!

 

I am a recent graduate of TUI's M.S.H.S programs in public health (Aug. 2003) and health education (Mar. 2005). IMO, these programs are of good quality. However there is A LOT of writing. If you dont like to write, then these programs are not for you. The faculty and staff are helpful and honest. If you need help from an instructor, TUI has a policy that they MUST try get back with you in twenty-four hours. As with their doctoral programs, they tend to take those very seriously, I was told the admission rate percentage wise was around twenty percent. They seem to want top notch students in their Ph.d programs. I dont know if the students at the doctoral level develop research relationships, however, I do know that I was able to speak with my professors often as they were willing to chat and be helpful. Now as with many universities, TUI makes uses many grad assistants in their bachelors and masters programs (at least, from my experience in their college of health science). Often the grad assistants can be emailed and are quick on their response. Another point I like to make on the doctoral programs is they dont give preferance on admitting their former students. It is pretty competative to get admitted in these programs. Even though you stated that you are aware that their programs are all CD based, let me tell you on that little CD, there can be a wealth of information. So please do be prepared to read (a lot)and watch videos (contained on the CD also but are usually no longer than 10 minutes per module). As with the course work in the MSHS program it is divided as follows:

6 modules which run for two weeks each (or a total of 12 weeks which is one quater but you get four semester hours for each class).

In one part of the the module you have a case assignment paper which is based upon your readings contained in the CD. These papers run in length of about 4-6 pages. These assignments consist of 50% of your total grade (most classes use the same grading scale).

In another part, you have your session long project. This is project of the instructors choosing You do this project a little bit a time throughout the quarter. It is a way your instructor goes along and approves of your work. You write one part of your project every two weeks and your instructor grades it. Usually these papers are 3-5 pages in length. At the end of the class, you compile all of your session long project papers into one final paper consisting of 35% of your grade. This final paper is usually anywhere from 8-12 pages.

Last of of all, you got discussion questions posted on an electronic bulleting board. You post and reply with other students in the class. You do this every two weeks also. This consists of 15% of your grade in the class.

Sounds like a lot doesnt it? However there is one last thing I want to stress to you, your final class (the capstone project class), you do one session long project paper which is about 25-35 pages long on a subject of your instructors choosing. This paper in this class consists of 100% of your grade. Dont worry though, your instructor will work with you on this and will be very helpful. The health science faculty are awesome and very friendly.

Last of all let me stress you dont have to be online as the same time as other students. I liked this very much. There are no group projects. You will not take one exam as you will be busy writing. Last of all, TUI is connected with Touro College out of New York. TUI is their online satelite campus (It states this on the diploma itself). There are several other Touro Campuses in the United States. A medical school in the San Francisco Bay Area, A medical school near Las Vegas (D.O. degree programs), a new B and M campus that just opened in Los Angeles, a campus in israel, and several others around the world. This system seems to be wired tight when it comes to their online campus. And finally, last of all, if you reside in California, they will give you 20% off on the tuition on their Bachelors and masters degree programs. Ask them about this as they also give this discount to federal employees and other workers.

Sorry about such a long post I just wanted you to know what you are purchasing and you have a right as a consumer (I am a big consumer advocate). And sorry for all the mistakes I am somewhat tired as I have been up all night. Take care, laters!

 

A few more things

I wanted to let you know also, even though you will do a little work at TUI, if you fall behind in the classes, the instructors are reasonable and will give you extra time ( at least all the instructors I had). Also, if you add up all the papers, you will write between 12-14 papers per class except for your capstone class. I dont want to turn you off from TUI, they are good at what they do, you WILL learn a lot, and get a good education there at a reasonable price. I think you will like TUI, as you can tell from my posts, I highly recommend them!

 

Thank you so much, Robert! That was exactly the information I was looking for. The program sounds great from your description.

 

Also, I'm curious. What is the exact working on the diploma?

 

The exact wording on my diploma reads as follows:

Touro University International

Cypress, California, USA
(Branch Campus of Touro College, New York)

Under the Authority Granted by the State of California and
Upon the reccommendation of the faculty, The Board of Trustees of Touro University International here by confers upon

Your Name

The Degree of:

Master of Science in Health Science
Health Education

The diploma reads other stuff too, but you get the idea, its a university diploma like any other. And TUI is WASC accredited. So they are legit.

If you need anything else just ask!!!