Health care continues to expand and current workforce projections predict that, in the near future, one out of every two jobs will be in the health care delivery system. Qualified health care professionals will be needed to lead this enormous workforce into the 21st century. Educational technology has also experienced explosive growth. This growth has enabled new delivery methods of instruction to be widely available. By using a blend of both new and established instructional channels such as computers, the World Wide Web, videotape, and printed materials, distance learning programs allow students to access new career pathways that do not require an on-campus presence. The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences has traditionally been a leader in health professions and health sciences education. We continue this tradition in offering health sciences distance learning programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. These educational offerings provide opportunities for health professionals to acquire the knowledge, skills, contacts, and credentials to make significant contributions to our health care delivery system.

Distance education provides an exciting and dynamic way for health sciences professionals to advance their knowledge, skills, and careers without ever setting foot on campus. Using their homes or offices as the classroom, students can access course materials and communicate with faculty, subject matter experts, and other students using a variety of media and technologies. Rather than having to meet at set times each week, students can do their course work and participate in virtual class “discussions” seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, at their convenience. This format provides flexibility that appeals to the needs of busy adults with competing professional, financial, and personal commitments. Because distance learning is free from constraints of time and place, success in these programs depends greatly upon individual student self-discipline and self-direction. Distance learning through The George Washington University incorporates a wide range of teaching strategies and methodologies. Based on specific course content, courses may use videotapes, audiotapes, the Internet, printed study guides, textbooks, and/or CD-ROM. All courses use the Internet/WWW to facilitate class discussion and interaction.