The Development of a New Innovative Online Undergraduate Health Sciences Program - Issue 7 - Research article

Oct 15, 2026

In September 2016, Queen’s University launched Canada’s first fully online, four-year Bachelor of Health Science degree program. The paper describes the developmental structure, implementation philosophy, and challenges in building a competency-based program. A qualitative case study gathered input from all key stakeholders through 35 interviews and three focus groups (n=14), with verbatim transcription and thematic analysis. Reported themes cover vision, outcomes, funding and recruitment processes, program uniqueness, local to international impact, and communication and collaboration, noting uncertainty in long-term results. Online delivery was intended to improve accessibility and address diverse student needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Program launch and purpose

Qualitative case study methods

Key themes from interviews and focus groups

Findings on vision, innovation, and online accessibility

The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning | Volume 11 | Issue 3 | Article 7 | | --- | --- | | Winter 12-31-2020
The Development of a New Innovative Online Undergraduate Health Sciences Program: A Case Study
Rylan Egan
Queen's University, [rylan.egan@queensu.ca](rylan.egan@queensu.ca)[ ](rylan.egan@queensu.ca)Nancy Dalgarno, [nancy.dalgarno@queensu.ca](nancy.dalgarno@queensu.ca)[ ](nancy.dalgarno@queensu.ca)Queen's University
Mary-Anne Reid, [reidmar2@msu.edu](reidmar2@msu.edu)[ ](reidmar2@msu.edu)Michigan State University
Angela Coderre-Ball, mca@queensu. ca Queen's University
Caryn Fahey, [14cef1@queensu.ca](14cef1@queensu.ca)
Queen's University
Leah Kelley, [11lk22@queensu.ca](11lk22@queensu.ca)
Queen's University
Laura Kinderman, [l.kinderman@queensu.ca](l.kinderman@queensu.ca)[ ](l.kinderman@queensu.ca)Queen's University
Leslie Flynn, [flynnl@queensu.ca](flynnl@queensu.ca)
Queen's University
Michael Adams, [adams@queensu.ca](adams@queensu.ca)[ ](adams@queensu.ca)Queen's University
Follow this and additional works at: [https://www.cjsotl-rcacea.ca](https://www.cjsotl-rcacea.ca)
[https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2020.3.8261](https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2020.3.8261) | | Recommended Citation Egan, R., Dalgarno, N., Reid, M.-A., Coderre-Ball, A., Fahey, C., Kelley, L., Kinderman, L., Flynn, L., & Adams, M. (2020) . The development of a new innovative online undergraduate health sciences program: A case study. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 11(3). [https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2020.3.8261](https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2020.3.8261) The Development of a New Innovative Online Undergraduate Health Sciences Program: A Case Study Abstract In September 2016, Queen’s University launched the first, fully online, 4-year Bachelor of Health Science degree program in Canada. This paper reports on the developmental structure, implementation philosophy, and challenges in the development of this competency-based program. All stakeholders directly involved in program development were invited to participate in this qualitative case study. Thirty-five interviews and three focus groups (n=14) were conducted. Interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim and data were analyzed using thematic design. Themes included: program vision; desired program outcomes; administrative processes for funding and recruitment; uniqueness of the program; local, regional and international impact of the program; communication and collaborations for program development; and uncertainty in long term outcomes. Findings suggest that during program development, an explicit vision of program goals encouraged buy-in at most levels of the university. There was consensus that the overarching outcome should be to provide a rigorous, high quality program with pathways to professional, basic science, global health and advocacy-based health professions. The online modality was expected to improve accessibility to degree programs, as well as address diverse student learning needs. Innovation played a vital role in the program’s development and was founded in educational theory and curriculum development practices. En septembre 2016, l’Université Queen’s a lancé le premier programme de 4 ans menant à un diplôme, le baccalauréat en sciences de la santé, entièrement en ligne. Cet article présente un rapport sur la structure du développement, la philosophie de mise en oeuvre et les défis qui se sont présentés lors du développement de ce programme basé sur la compétence. Toutes les parties prenantes qui avaient été directement impliquées dans le développement de ce programme ont été invitées à participer à cette étude de cas qualitative. Trente-cinq entrevues ont été menées et trois groupes de discussion (n=14) ont été organisés. Ce qui a été dit pendant les entrevues et les groupes de discussion a été transcrit verbatim et les

FAQs

What program did Queen’s University launch in September 2016?

A four-year Bachelor of Health Science degree program delivered fully online, described as the first of its kind in Canada.

How was the study conducted?

The qualitative case study used 35 interviews and three focus groups (n=14), with verbatim transcription and thematic design analysis.

Which main themes were identified in the research findings?

Themes included program vision and desired outcomes, administrative processes for funding and recruitment, the program’s uniqueness, impacts locally and internationally, and communication and collaboration for development.

Oct 15, 2026

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