Online College Degrees
Over the past several years, there has been rapid growth in the number of educational institutions providing online courses and online college degree programs in various modes of distance education. Hundreds of thousands of students are currently taking online college degree courses that utilize a variety of methods of delivering instructions from the most basic to the most technologically sophisticated (Internet).
American InterContinental UniversityAmerican InterContinental University is owned by Career Education Corporation (CEC), a publicly traded company, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). AIU consists of seven campuses and AIU Online, a division of the Atlanta (Buckhead), Georgia campus. All AIU campuses operate on a ten-week quarter system. AIU Online, and some of the onsite campuses, offer courses in an accelerated format through two five-week mini terms in each of the ten-week quarters. Students enrolled in the online degree programs are required to take a minimum of one to two courses per term depending upon their degree program of study. AIU Online offers five undergraduate online degrees and three online master's degrees. These online degree programs include:Associate of Arts in Business Administration Bachelor's in Information Technology (degree completion program) Bachelor of Business Administration (degree completion program) Bachelor of Fine Arts/Visual Communication (degree completion program) Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (degree completion program) Master's in Information Technology Master's in Business Administration Master of Education
Capella UniversityCapella University is a private, for-profit institution that serves adult students. Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Schools of Business, Education, Human Services, Psychology, and Technology at Capella University offer doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees and non-degree certificates. Capella delivers almost all of its curricula via online courses which are offered during four academic quarters beginning in January, April, July, and October. Capella courses are designed to provide working adults with access to higher education while maintaining academic quality and facilitating a high level of interaction between instructors and learners.
Jones International University, Ltd.Jones International University (JIU) is a private for-profit institution of higher education. Founded in 1993 and launched in 1995, JIU is a fully accredited institution of higher education whose mission is to offer courses and degrees of high quality at undergraduate and graduate levels through sound curricula, innovative delivery of instruction through technology, and a commitment to relevant, readily available, and student-centered service for a geographically dispersed student body. Since inception, the mission of JIU has been to meet the needs of adult learners by providing high-quality instruction and exceptional services to its students. JIU courses are eight weeks in length and are offered within 16-week standard terms. The academic year consists of two terms and is 32 weeks in length. Because courses start monthly, there are twelve start dates for a student-based academic year. Students beginning a program at the same time are part of a cohort and are encouraged to remain with that cohort throughout the program.
Connecticut Distance Learning ConsortiumThe Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) is a unique association of all of the public and all but one of the independent collegiate institutions in Connecticut. CTDLC's mission is to promote quality in the online courses, programs, and services offered by its members. The Consortium provides an extensive set of services to its members including multiple delivery platforms, faculty development, technical support, help desk, student services, and marketing. CTDLC has developed a comprehensive set of evaluation, assessment, and research tools to assist them in this mission. Twenty-two of their members, all of whom are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, are participating in the Demonstration Project. CTDLC member institutions offer, or have under development, 9 Associate Degree programs, 13 Bachelor Degree programs, 13 Master Degree programs, and 20 Certificate Programs. Almost all of the institutions offer their online courses on a semester basis or on an accelerated eight-week term schedule (Teikyo Post). Charter Oak State College is the exception. It is a virtual college with no residency requirement for adult learners who have earned at least nine credits. It offers a degree completion program that includes online and video-based courses (on a semester or accelerated term schedule) as well as the ability to earn credits through courses taken at regionally accredited institutions, some non-collegiate sponsored instruction, college level tests, special assessment, contract learning and portfolio assessment. Over a third of Charter Oak's students complete their degree in less than a year, and over half in fewer than two years.
Eastern Oregon UniversityEastern Oregon University (EOU) is a public institution accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Although it is the smallest of the Oregon University System institutions, it delivers more distance education courses to more students than any of its sister institutions. EOU delivers distance education courses and degrees through a variety of delivery methods: two-way interactive video, print-based correspondence, videotape, and online via the Internet. Eastern currently offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees via distance education. Each program utilizes two or more distance education delivery methods and all the associate's and bachelor's degree programs include courses offered by correspondence, usually supplemented by email between the student and the instructor. Correspondence courses are self-paced and students have up to two terms to complete each course. All other distance education courses are offered in standard quarter terms that are ten weeks in length. Eastern Oregon University's distance education programs including two associate's degrees, six bachelor's degrees, Master's of Teacher Education.
Franklin UniversityFranklin University is an independent, not-for-profit institution offering Associate, Bachelor, and Master degrees and professional certificates. Franklin University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, as well as the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education. Serving the non-traditional population of adult working students has been the primary focus for nearly 100 years and has lead to innovative services and programs. The Community College Alliance (CCA) is a program that provides graduates of community colleges access to Franklin University's bachelor's degree programs through distance education. The plan embodied in the alliance is that a student completes the 60 semester hours of credits required for an associate degree at a CCA member community college. Then, as a Franklin University degree candidate, the student will complete an additional 20-24 community college course credits, which Franklin University will fully credit toward one of its bachelor's degrees. The student then will complete Franklin University's requirements for the bachelor's degree, approximately 40 semester credit hours, through distance education courses that Franklin University offers. Franklin University operates on a trimester calendar with standard terms. Courses are offered in varying lengths from 3, 6, 9, 12,and 15 weeks, but are all within the trimester. The courses are delivered as web-based, with synchronous and asynchronous learning strategies. When synchronous learning is offered, Franklin provides alternative strategies for those students who cannot be online at one of the selected times. Current majors offered online as completion degrees with CCA include: Business Administration, Computer Science, Digital Communication, Health Care Management, Management Information Sciences, Public Safety Management, Technical Management, Franklin University currently (as of December 1, 2001) has partnerships with more than 125 community and technical colleges in 20 states and Canada.
Jesuit Distance Education NetworkThe Jesuit Distance Education Network (JesuitNET), part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, is a collaborative effort of 26 U.S. Jesuit colleges and universities to develop, share and deliver a broad range of online academic programs and services. Of these, two regionally-accredited institutions constituted the JesuitNET Distance Education Demonstration Program Consortium: Loyola University Chicago and Georgetown University. They jointly developed and delivered competency-based courses in bioethics as part of a Loyola University Chicago online master's degree program. The JesuitNET demonstration project sought to test new methodologies and technologies to support rigorous student competency assessment and true on-demand course delivery as alternatives to the traditional contact time and standard term methods for determining aid eligibility. The Consortium used a competency-based model for the online courses as an alternative to measuring student progress and achievement based on seat time. This model was built around an evidence-centered course design process, which identified the competencies for students to master, the evidence needed to indicate student mastery, and the instructional tasks needed to reveal the evidence. To support on-demand course delivery, course management software would continuously track, prompt, and record student progress through a course and periodically compose students into teams for assigned discussions and projects.
Marlboro CollegeThe Graduate Center of Marlboro College is branch campus of Marlboro College, a small, private, liberal arts college. Marlboro College and The Graduate Center programs are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). While its parent campus provides liberal arts programs to no more than 300 residential undergraduates at any given time, the mission of The Graduate Center is to prepare leaders for a world online by offering post-baccalaureate certificates and masters' degree programs to educators, business professionals, and software developers in both hybrid (some onsite, some online) and wholly distance-based formats. The Graduate Center of Marlboro College was founded in 1998 with working professionals in mind. All programs are completed in one academic year, on either the trimester or quarter system. The masters' degree programs require 21 onsite meetings over the course of three trimesters (7 visits per 15-week trimester) and the certificate programs take place entirely online over the course of four 2.5-month quarters.
National Technological University, Inc.National Technological University's (NTU) educational programs focus on engineering, information technology, business management, and other fields deemed important to the development and maintenance of technology. The range and variety of academic offerings and experiences reflect the rapidly changing needs of a technological society, the aspirations of the students, the expertise of the participating faculty, the curricular requirements of the selected programs of study, and the results of research and development. Responsibility for achieving these fundamental purposes rests with the community of scholars constituting NTU. The University, in conjunction with the participating institutions and organizations, provides the services, environment, materials and facilities necessary to enable the faculty and students to discover, examine critically, preserve, disseminate and apply the knowledge and wisdom essential to the enhancement of the quality of life for present and future generations. National Technological University, accredited in 1986 by the North Central Association, was acquired in 2002 by Sylvan Ventures, LLC, the investment arm of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc., a publicly held company devoted to online higher education. In March 2003, the NTU academic offices were moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. In May 2004, Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc was renamed Laureate Education, Inc. NTU's Title IV eligible academic programs include Business Administration (M.B.A.).
Northcentral UniversityNorthcentral University is a privately owned, for-profit distance learning institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Northcentral University (NCU) is headquartered in Prescott, Arizona and offers 100 percent online distance learning programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree levels in Business & Technology Management and in Psychology. Adult learners enrolled in NCU programs benefit from the opportunity to obtain a college degree without ever having to attend or reside on a college campus. This goal is accomplished by providing a variety of materials for each course, including a course outline and detailed syllabus, the list of textbooks and reference materials for the course, and information on how to communicate with the faculty mentor assigned for the course. The faculty mentor provides guidance, answers questions, and evaluates the individual learner's work. Contact between the learner and the faculty mentor is achieved through one or a combination of the following methods: Web site; e-mail; NCU's messaging system; telephone; voicemail; fax; video-conferencing; and occasionally person-to-person contact. Northcentral University delivers courses using a model that includes twelve starts per year with 16-week terms that have defined start and end dates. Learners are enabled to complete up to three 16-week terms per calendar year without overlapping their terms. This model insures educational quality by providing ample time for learners to complete one or more courses during a term and at the same time allows the flexibility for learners to complete their courses sooner if they choose. |
North Dakota University SystemThe North Dakota University System consists of 11 state-supported institutions including two-year, four-year and graduate level colleges and universities. All of the campuses of the North Dakota University System (NDUS) are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of NCA. NDUS institutions share distance education courses that are offered in a variety of formats including Internet, two-way interactive video, correspondence study, one-way video satellite, videotape and audio teleconferencing. Each of the 11 institutions offer complete degree programs by distance delivery. The degrees include 39 associate degrees, 22 baccalaureate degrees, Seven graduate programs. In addition, 28 certificate programs and teaching endorsements are available through distance education.
Regis UniversityRegis University is a private, non-profit university, one of 28 Jesuit Catholic universities in the United States. Regis educates more than 12,000 students through three Schools: Regis College, serving approximately 1,100 undergraduate students in a traditional setting; the School for Health Care Professions (SHCP), offering undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs to approximately 700 students in Health Services Administration and Management, Nursing and Physical Therapy; and the School for Professional Studies (SPS), serving over 10,000 working adult students who are pursuing undergraduate and graduate certificates, as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs. All three schools focus on value-centered education that prepares men and women to excel in their chosen professions and to be "leaders in service of others" in their communities. Regis University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition to a central campus in northwest Denver, Colorado, Regis University has five campus locations within Colorado, as well as in Las Vegas, NV. Learning formats include traditional classroom-based, accelerated classroom-based, guided independent study, and distance education. All classes are provided within the standard term structure with course lengths including 16 week semester courses, and two eight-week or three five-week mini terms embedded within the semester. Distance education courses are provided in two eight-week terms per semester. Distance education was introduced as a delivery model at Regis University in 1992 with an undergraduate degree completion program in business administration. Distance education programs include four undergraduate bachelor's degree completion programs (bachelor of science in business administration, bachelor of science in computer networking, bachelor of science in computer information systems and bachelor of science in nursing); and four graduate degrees (Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Computer Information Technology, Master of Nonprofit Management and Master of Science in Management. These programs are offered totally online as well as in the classroom.
Southern Christian UniversitySouthern Christian University (SCU) is an independent, coeducational institution dedicated to the spirit of its ideals and heritage. Southern Christian University's mission is to prepare men and women, through a commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality at the undergraduate and graduate levels, for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service to the professions, society, and family. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SCU has video and audio recording systems linked to cameras and microphones in every classroom. Through these systems, distance education courses are offered in synchronous (at the time the course is being held) and asynchronous (after the course is presented for review or to see a missed class) configurations where video and audio are sent over the Internet to students. Also, students and faculty communicate via e-mail, discussion boards and chatrooms established within the University's distance education courseware and by telephone through toll free numbers. SCU offers all of its degree programs to distance education and onsite students. These include Bachelor of Science degrees in Management Communication, Human Development, Liberal Studies, Human Resource Leadership, Public Safety and Human Justice, and Bible/Ministry; Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies; Master of Arts degrees in Biblical Studies: Practical Theology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Organizational and Behavioral Leadership, Professional Counseling; Master of Divinity in Ministry, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, Pastoral Counseling, Ministerial Leadership; Master of Science degrees in Organizational Leadership, Pastoral Counseling, and Ministerial Leadership; Doctor of Ministry in Ministry and Family Therapy; and Doctor of Family Therapy. The University is on the semester system with the fall semester generally starting in late August or early September, the spring semester starting in early January, and the summer semester starting in late April or early May.
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University (TTU) is a large public research extensive institution accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. TTU uses several delivery modalities for its graduate distance degree programs including the Internet, CD-ROM, two-way interactive video, and videotape. The primary delivery modality for the Bachelor of General Studies is print-based correspondence, though some courses are available in a self-paced format on the Internet. Texas Tech has eight degree programs available by distance education: Doctor of Education in Agricultural Education (joint program with Texas A&M University); Master of Engineering; Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering; Master of Science in Software Engineering; Master of Science in Systems and Engineering Management; Master of Science in Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional Management; Master of Arts in Technical Communication; Bachelor of General Studies. All graduate degree programs are term-based. The Bachelor of General Studies program is non-term-based and students have up to six months to complete each course.
United States Sports AcademyThe United States Sports Academy (the Academy) is a private, non-profit institution, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which offers specialized graduate and undergraduate degrees in sport education. The Academy delivers distance education via online courses in a standardized template delivered by eCollege. The Academy's distance education programs include: Doctor of Sport Management (DSM) degree; Five Master of Sport Science degrees - in Sport Management, Sports Medicine, Sport Coaching, Sport Studies, and Health and Fitness Management; Bachelor of Sport Science degrees - in Sport Management and Sport Coaching; A Master of Sport Science degree - in Sport Management with an Art emphasis is under development. In addition to course work, the bachelor's degree includes a required mentorship experience. The master's degree programs include mentorship, thesis, and non-thesis options. The doctoral degree requires both a mentorship and an applied dissertation project. All distance education courses are self-paced and students may enroll in a course at any time. While there is no minimum time requirement, students are expected to complete the course work within 16 weeks.
University of Maryland University CollegeUniversity of Maryland University College (UMUC) is one of 11 degree-granting institutions in the University System of Maryland. UMUC's mission is to serve adult, primarily part-time students. UMUC offers 15 online Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs, which are offered onsite as well as online. At the graduate level, UMUC offers 19 online degree programs, the majority of which are also offered onsite, providing students the option of mixing online and onsite courses. The graduate online degree programs include: Master of Science degree in nine different areas; Three masters degrees in Education and Teaching; Master of International Management; Master of Software Engineering; MBA; Four dual masters/MBA degrees. UMUC regularly adds new online courses and programs and its growth in enrollments has been very significant. In the Spring 2001 semester, 54% of total enrollments (approximately 20,000) stateside were online. This contrasts with Spring 1997 when there were just over 1,200 online enrollments, representing 5% of total enrollments. Undergraduate online courses are offered in a variety of calendars: Two standard 15-week terms plus a summer trimester. Two mini terms of 7-8 weeks duration that are embedded in each standard semester. A 15-week overlapping term, that begins mid-term for both the Spring and Fall semesters. The overlapping terms begin in one semester and end in the next semester. A 3-week term in January for one credit courses. In an agreement worked out with the Department, UMUC is allowed to include enrollment in its overlapping terms with the standard semesters rather than be considered as offering non-term undergraduate programs. The justification is that the prevailing structure is standard term. Graduate online courses are offered in standard 15-week terms (7 weeks in the summer for most courses). Some of the graduate programs are offered in a cohort-based nonterm structure. Summer courses in the master of teaching program are 12 weeks in length. All courses in the 100% online and the combination online and face-to-face MBA programs are 14 weeks long with 3 weeks off in between semesters.
Walden UniversityWalden University is a private, for-profit institution that serves adult students. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredits the University. Walden offers Doctorate, Master’s and Baccalaureate degree programs utilizing a number of program delivery models: competency based PhD programs that combine faculty-guided self-directed study with short-term residences; course-based PhD programs that utilize online courses and short-term residences; a course-based PhD program that utilizes online courses, faculty-guided self-directed study, and short-term residencies; and course-based online master’s and baccalaureate degree completion programs. The Department of Education has determined that the competency based PhD programs are independent study rather than correspondence study. Course-based PhD programs and most of the master’s programs are structured in standard 12-week quarter terms. The MBA program has a slightly different term structure. Students in the MBA program enroll in “accelerated” six-week courses and are encouraged to enroll in two courses during a 12-week term. For purposes of financial aid, two courses per term is considered full-time enrollment. Students register in advance for the full 12-week term. Master of Science (MS) in Education students enroll on a semester basis. Some specializations within the MS in Education program offer two instructional formats: face-to-face and online. All MS in Education students begin their programs with a specific cohort of students. Walden currently offers two doctorate degrees, seven master’s degrees, and two baccalaureate degree programs online.
Washington State UniversityWashington State University (WSU) is a Research I institution, offering bachelor's, master's and doctorate degree programs. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's land-grant university with the main campus in Pullman and three branch campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver. The University is accredited through the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to the Pullman campus and branch campuses, WSU provides access to students statewide through Learning Centers; a two-way audio and video interactive telecommunications system; and undergraduate, graduate, and professional distance degree programs. WSU offers distance education courses through two basic formats. First, semester-based courses are offered via the Internet through collaborative learning spaces or via preproduced video with course guides and listservs. Most semester-based courses are designed to start at the beginning of a semester and to be completed at the end of a 16-week semester. Second, flexible-enrollment courses typically have an extensive course guide available online or in print; courses may be started any day and are to be completed within a year. WSU's distance education programs include several degree-completion programs that are designed primarily for students who have completed the equivalent of the first two years of college. These programs, which are delivered online, include: Bachelor of Arts degrees in Social Sciences, Human Development, Humanities, Criminal Justice, and Business Administration, with majors in Management and Operations or Management Information Systems (MIS); Bachelor of Science degrees in Agriculture and Nursing for Registered Nurses (RN to BSN). Graduate-level distance education degree programs include: Master of Science in Agriculture; Master of Engineering Management.
Western Governors UniversityWestern Governors University (WGU) is a private non-profit institution of higher education. The principle mission of WGU is to improve quality and expand access to postsecondary educational opportunities by providing a means for individuals to learn, independent of time or place, and to earn competency-based degrees and other credentials that are credible to both academic institutions and employers. The following academic programs are offered: AS Information Technology, BS-Computer Information Systems, BS-IT Software Development, BS-IT Security, BS-IT Network Management, BS-IT Project Management, AS Business, BS Business Management, BS Business Professional Studies, BS Business-IT Management, BS Business-HR Management, BS Finance, BS Management Accounting, BS Marketing Management, Associate of Arts, BA Interdisciplinary Studies (preK-8), MA Teaching (preK-8), Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Program (preK-8), BA Mathematics (5-8 or 5-12), MA Teaching - Mathematics (5-12), MA Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-8, or 5-12), Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Program - Mathematics (5 -12), Teaching Endorsement Program in Mathematics (5-8 or 9-12), Teaching Endorsement Program in Science (5-8 or 9-12), Professional Development Program Specializing in Mathematics (K-6), BA Science (5-8 or 5-12), MA Teaching - Science (5-12), MA Science Education (5-8 or 9-12), Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Program - Sciences (5-12), Bachelor of Arts, Social Science, MA Teaching - Social Science, MA Learning & Technology, MEd Instructional Design and Technology Integration, MEd Instructional Design and Evaluation, MEd Technology Integration and Evaluation. |
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2006/02/16
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