Taking an Online Education Overseas

Valerie Shelly always knew she wanted to work with people from low socio-economic status, which is why she chose to pursue her master’s in public health (MPH). However, she had no idea what kind of doors this decision would open for her. 

Shelley attended Eastern University in Philadelphia where she completed her undergraduate degree in Microbiology and BSN. Just a few years later in 2015, she moved to India with her husband and daughter. In 2016, they moved once again to Singapore, where she decided to pursue her master’s in public health online through IWU-National & Global (IWU).

However, to meet all of the MPH program requirements, Shelley had to complete 200 practicum hours while she was overseas. 

“I knew I needed to get to know the Singapore culture and practices better and I wanted to do this through my practicum experience,” she said. “It really was one of the best situations I could have been in, being so far away from the public health system that I know.”  

She ended up making a connection with a pediatrician at a public hospital in Singapore. For the most part, she spent her practicum hours doing research and various public health tasks. For her capstone project, she ended up working with the same pediatrician to do extended research on mosquito-borne diseases such as the Zika virus.  

“I was so far away from the public health system that I knew,” she said. “But I somehow was able to accomplish my original goal of being able to meet with clients from different socio-economic statuses, but not just that, but different cultures.”

Shelley said that without this opportunity, navigating her new life in Singapore would have been much different. 

“If I didn’t have that opportunity, I’d just be floating around, hoping to meet people,” she said. 

Looking back on her experience, Shelley would encourage students like her to pursue unique ideas and topics in their course assignments. Students don’t need to relocate to gain a life-changing experience.  

“Ask the questions no one wants to write on the discussion board, write a paper based on a brand-new concept, and challenge your fellow students in a good-natured way so that you all grow from this experience,” she said. “For me, this made the program more fun. I learned way more than in any of my other undergraduate degrees and it’s prepared me for the real world where you will meet people who challenge you.” 

Right now Shelley works at National University Hospital in Singapore as a researcher, still eager to learn as much as she can about the public health challenges of her community. 


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