University of Utah Announces Major Expansion of Online Programs in Social Work and Public Health

SALT LAKE CITY (April 2, 2024) -- In a significant expansion of its online educational offerings, the University of Utah, the state’s premier public flagship university and its largest higher education institution, today announced the addition of fully online Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Developed in collaboration with the renowned instructional design firm iDesign, these online programs are designed to cater to the increasing demand for flexible, high-quality educational options in critical fields such as social work and public health. These offerings build on the foundation of extensive collaborative efforts with iDesign over the past three years, showcasing a continued commitment to expanding and enhancing the university's online education portfolio.  

"The expansion of our online programs, particularly in such pivotal areas as social work and public health, is a direct response to the growing need for flexible learning options,” said Dr. Matt Mooney, Associate Dean, Technology and UOnline Development at the University of Utah. “This initiative underscores our commitment to enhancing faculty expertise and delivering concierge-quality instructional design support, thereby enabling the university to scale its offerings and meet the evolving demands of the job market."

The University of Utah has selected iDesign as its partner in this endeavor due to its proven track record of working with over 150 institutions to develop, support, and enhance online courses and programs. This partnership leverages iDesign's comprehensive instructional design services to meet the varied needs of faculty, who bring diverse levels of experience to online teaching across a spectrum of disciplines.

Over the past three years, a concerted effort by the University of Utah faculty and leadership, alongside iDesign's instructional design experts, has led to the preparation of more than 88 courses for online delivery. The extensive online curriculum now encompasses over 12 academic departments, includes 4 graduate degrees, undergraduate general education, non-credit continuing/professional education, and a K-12 summer math bridge program. These online courses maintain the university's high standards of academic rigor and quality, with offerings available in both accelerated and traditional semester formats.

Whitney Kilgore, co-founder and chief academic officer at iDesign, shared, "At the core of exceptional instructional design is a collaborative spirit with faculty, fostering an environment where educational visions are transformed into reality. Through our dynamic partnership with the University of Utah, we've been able to offer scalable solutions and expert support, tailored to the unique demands of online education. This approach has allowed us to continuously adapt and innovate, ensuring that students receive an engaging, rigorous, and flexible educational experience."

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