Preparing health information professionals for the twenty-first century: the Texas Woman's University dual master's degree program

INTRODUCTION

In response to the evolution in health sciences librarianship and the impact of emerging technologies on health information, education, and communication enterprises, Texas Woman's University (TWU) has created a new dual degree program to address tomorrow's health information career opportunities. The purpose of this article is to describe TWU's dual library science/health studies degree program. Designed to prepare health information practitioners for the twenty-first century workplace, this program is a collaborative effort involving the School of Library and Information Studies and the Department of Health Studies (the academic component in the College of Health Sciences that focuses on the discipline of health education). The dual master's degree program has been approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and is currently enrolling students. Individuals enrolled in the program attend classes in library science and health studies, earning a total of forty-five credit hours. Earned separately, each degree requires thirty-six credit hours. Combining theory and practice, students are provided the skills and knowledgebase necessary to compete successfully in the changing health information environment. Upon completion, graduates are awarded master's degrees in both library science and health studies. Possessing specialized combinations of expertise, graduates of the dual degree program are ideally qualified for positions in health sciences information services, health education, medical libraries, health communication, voluntary and public health agencies, and health promotion programs in business and industry.

BACKGROUND

The initiative to develop a dual master's degree program in library science and health studies has grown from a recognition among collaborative academics that students are preparing for professional careers that are in many ways complementary. Indeed, a new profession may be emerging. Professions evolve as society continually reconsiders which entities will be responsible for which social problems [1]. This shift in the profession is also evidenced in the National Library of Medicine's acknowledgment of the need to examine the evolving roles of health sciences librarians relative to professional education [2].

Increasingly, health professionals confront problems that demand mastery of techniques for gathering, organizing, and disseminating information. Also, librarians increasingly find that fulfillment of their professional roles requires deeper understanding of the content and methods of the clienteles they serve. The central recognition that has spurred the two departments to act was the acknowledgment that the two professional education programs shared common learning objectives. Rather than responding competitively, the departments began looking for keys to synergism. The ensuing process gave staff reminders about perceptions of innovation, barriers to innovation, and consequences of innovation.

Discussions of the common ground between the two departments formally began with exchanges between the library science and health studies faculties in spring 1994. Subsequent events in the formal process of putting a dual degree program in place exemplified the difficulties of making changes in professional structures to meet the changed realities of social and technological environments. Professional structures in American society rest on a foundation of professional education.

The reasoning underlying the dual degree program was that students should be awarded a degree if they have met the requirements for that degree. The two faculties looked at the goals, objectives, and requirements of the two degree programs and realized that, with a small number of additions to each program, a student could meet the requirements of both master's degrees. At the time of these initial discussions, TWU had no dual degree programs at the graduate level. Students, however, did have the option of earning two graduate degrees simultaneously by completing the requirements for each individual degree. Awarding two degrees for one combined program of study was a transfer of the idea of an undergraduate “double major” to the level of the master's degree. In an undergraduate program, most universities accept general education or “core” requirements as serving multiple majors. The same idea, that some academic experiences apply to more than one degree program, can carry over into the master's level, particularly in professional master's programs that do not build on a specific undergraduate major.

The dual master's degree program carried the idea of “double major” into master's professional study. Texas Woman's University had authority from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to offer master's degrees in health studies and in library science. The departments believed it would be a simple matter to initiate a new, dual program. However, transfer of a framework, the double major, from one situation to another was not viewed as a simple matter but rather as a serious change. The transfer required explanation. The greatest difficulty was explaining to other faculty and educational administrators on and off campus that the test of whether a degree has been earned was not the number of credit hours for which a student had registered, but whether a student had met the learning objectives of a program.

The issues of considering a learning experience as contributing to more than one program at a time (e.g., a practicum) and of awarding degrees based on mastery of objectives rather than total credit hours came up repeatedly in a series of settings. In October 1994, the library science and health studies faculties submitted a proposal to the University Graduate Council. After much discussion, the council approved the idea in spring 1995. At the same time, the council adopted a set of guidelines for dual degree programs, which institutionalized this innovation and provided a framework for similar structures combining other professional and academic programs.

Later in spring 1995, the university sent the proposal to the THECB. THECB staff rejected the idea, citing quality concerns. The staff's major objection was that students who earned two degrees simultaneously would not have education equal to those who earned two degrees in sequence. The focus of the objection was on the length of the educational experience. After two years of discussions, in summer 1997, THECB staff responded with a suggestion that the program be changed to require a total of fifty-seven hours. The faculties of the programs responded that such a program would be so lengthy that there would be no market for it—students, eager to enter a profession, would choose either library science or health studies, but would not engage in such a prolonged program before earning either credential. THECB staff, demonstrating confidence in the faculties but also heeding their own oversight responsibilities, advised in fall 1997 that because no new degree authority was requested, the university could proceed, but noted that a quality review of performance might be required later. With approvals in place, program administrators began a plan for marketing and enrollment management.

DUAL MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAM

To enhance the education and training of health sciences librarians and information professionals, other institutions have chosen to focus efforts on providing continuing education, restructuring existing library and information science curricula, and offering various practicum or internship models [3–9]. TWU's dual degree builds on these efforts by exposing students to a truly multidisciplinary program that results in a master of library science and a master of health studies degrees. The program not only provides synergistic exposure for library science students to the health sciences, but it also introduces health studies students to the basic underpinnings of library science.

The dual master's degree program is a collaborative effort, with collaboration being key to this multisciplinary initiative. The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) prepares students for leadership roles in the information professions, including careers in librarianship and mass communications, and as information specialists in a variety of other roles working in private and public agencies. The school is accredited by the American Library Association and offers a master of arts, master of library science, and doctor of philosophy in library science degrees. The Department of Health Studies, College of Health Sciences, prepares students for careers in various aspects of public health. Students learn to assess the health needs of populations; plan, design, implement, and evaluate health education programs; and serve as resource persons for health-related information. The Department of Health Studies offers a bachelor of science in community health, master of science in health studies, and doctor of philosophy in health education degrees.

Students interested in the dual master's degree must take the Graduate Record Exam and be admitted to both programs. Applicants who do not have undergraduate health sciences preparation may be required to take some leveling courses. Once accepted into the program, students complete a minimum of forty-five credit hours. Courses are drawn from both library science and health studies (Table 1). Upon completion, students receive two degrees: a master of library science and a master of science in health studies. Given the flux in the health information environment, the faculty expects students completing the dual master's degree program to be highly marketable. Career outlook includes positions in health sciences librarianship, corporate wellness resources management, health informatics specialty, community health resources management, health education and information materials publishing, health communication, and health education program management.

Table 1.

Dual master's degree course work

CONCLUSION

As the health information environment evolves, professional education programs designed to prepare practitioners must reflect current and future changes. In this technological age, health professionals are under increasing pressure to understand the basic techniques of gathering, organizing, and disseminating information. Similarly, library and information professionals working in the health sciences arena are required to develop more substantial knowledge of relevant subject matter in order to perform their jobs effectively. The dual master's degree program at Texas Woman's University provides an educational forum for students to build these complementary knowledgebases synergistically prior to entering the professional work force.