Online teaching is becoming popular around the globe. In online teaching, besides content, attention to sound learning principles has to be adhered to as well. A course has been developed at a large R-1 Southwestern United States University based on Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) competencies to teach doctoral scholars in public health about health program planning based on behavioral and social theories, which is based on a novel behavioral model, the multi-theory model (MTM) of health behavior change in its conceptualization and delivery.

The specific pedagogical approaches in the course are:
(i) Utilization of the innovative MTM theory that uses the constructs of participatory dialogue, in which the scholars are convinced that the advantages are more than the disadvantages of learning about health program planning, small steps are used to build behavioral confidence, and changes in the physical environment are made through making the course available in Canvas (the learning management system). These constructs aid in initiating the behavior change of applying the knowledge into action.
(ii) Utilization of the innovative MTM theory that uses the construct of emotional transformation in which feelings are elicited through discussions and other interactive activities, and then these are used to set goals, the construct of practice for change in which targeted assignments are provided to the scholars to develop active reflection on the concepts and for altering the construct of changes in the social environment, peer support and instructor support are garnered.

In terms of process evaluation of the course, through satisfaction on semester-end evaluation surveys by the scholars, it has been received very well, with the mean course rating over a period of three years for the course as 4.88/5.00, the instructor as 4.87/5.00, and overall as 4.88/5.00. The students use the assignments developed in the course for publications in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national/international/regional/university-wide conferences, developing their dissertations, and in their actual jobs. Some examples of these accomplishments can be seen through published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals that include but are not limited to BioSocial Health Journal, Psychoactives, Journal of Health and Social Sciences, International Journal of Yoga, Physiotherapy and Physical Education, to name a few. Conference presentations have been made at the Nevada Public Health Association Annual Meeting, the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Society of Public Health Education Annual Meeting, and the graduate students' University forums, among others.

Keywords: Behavioral theory, online teaching, graduate, evidence-based, behavior change, social change.