Distance Education
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston), in its mission to educate health science professionals, is committed to ensuring that students receive a quality education, whether in a traditional classroom setting or via distance education. Educational programs offered via distance education shall be consistent with the university's role, scope, and mission and will meet quality practices and delivery protocols as requred by applicable state and federal policies.
UTHealth Houston follows the distance education reporting procedures outlined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) which allows UTHealth to offer distance education programs and courses outside of the State of Texas across member states, districts and territories.
Distance Education (HOOP 224):
A formal educational process in which the majority (50% or more) of the instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. Distance education may include use of the internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcast, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite, or wireless communications devices; audio conferencing; or video cassettes or any removable media if used as part of the distance learning course or program. It does not include recorded lectures that students may access outside of scheduled face-to-face class offerings.
Education program: A coherent course of study leading to the awarding of a credential (i.e., a degree, diploma or certificate).
NC-SARA (Professional Licensure Disclosures): The curriculum for UTHealth Houston programs that lead to licensure are designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in Texas and prepare students to apply for licensure exams in the State of Texas. The licensure boards in each state are responsible for establishing the requirements for licensure/certification for their state. Students who intend to return or move to any state other than Texas need to review the professional licensure disclosures pertaining to their program and consult with the state professional licensing board. The state professional licensing boards make the ultimate decision as to whether or not an individual will be eligible to sit for licensure based on the rules and regulations in place at the time the individual submits their application for licensure.
For more information on the federal regulations for professional licensure disclosures, see 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), which is the U.S. Department of Education regulation that requires an institution to disclose whether the program will fulfill educational requirements for licensure or certification for each state. If you have specific questions regarding the curriculum for your degree program as it relates to professional licensure, please contact your school's academic affairs office.