By Gloria Gutierrez | Staff Writer |
CSUSB online programs rank high among other online degree programs and continue to provide an alternative for in-class learning.
CSUSB provides affordable, flexible and essential quality online programs, according to affordablecollegesonline.com.
Takiya Moore, an instructional design technician at Online Distributed Learning, explained that our programs differ from the “cookie-cutter” programs offered at public colleges and private for-profit universities because our online programs can be highly customized.
CSUSB professors take the opportunity to shape the context of their material based on how they feel will benefit and engage students best.
For example, a Comm. 306 course offered online begins with an introduction video of the professor in his home.
That video clip gives the virtual class experience more of a personalized feel.
“We have made a lot of efforts in the past 10 years in analyzing what the needs of the students are,” said Mauricio Cadavid, an instructional designer with Online Distributed Learning.“We understand student’s time limitations and their inflexible schedules, so that has sort of all combined to provide flexible and affordable online programs.”
CSUSB offers over 75 undergrad online courses and some online masters programs.
The masters programs include those in Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Nursing.
Some of these programs do require blended classes which integrate face-to-face meeting time with the professor and classmates due to the fact that some majors require some hands-on learning and guidance.
Complete online undergrad programs are currently not offered at CSUSB because the age range targeted for online programs are for those students older than 25 years old.
“Most people, about 90-95 percent, in masters programs are working adults, as a working adult you really don’t have the option of coming to class during the day,” said Cadavid. “So the population that we serve has really determined the type of programs that we offer.”
The online courses not only meet the needs of those who have time and distance constraints, but they also meet the needs of those who are disabled and impaired. Complete accessibility of the online courses serve those who need it.
Marysol Guzman, a Public Relations major and senior at CSUSB, was able to experience a few online courses during her college career.
Guzman said that she enjoyed the convenience of only needing to log into a computer no matter the location for a class.
Not all students opt for online courses though and not all are aware that CSUSB offers online masters programs.
Student Melissa Dorador is majoring in Linguistics and is interested in going into a masters program after graduation. She was not aware of online masters programs at CSUSB.
Dorador said, “Personally, I wouldn’t enroll in an online program unless I had no other choice. I like the dynamics that take place in a classroom, interacting with peers and professors face-to-face. I do see how online programs are attractive to students who hold full-time jobs or have children since it allows them to have more flexibility balancing school with other responsibilities.”
The online programs at CSUSB are geared towards adults older than 25-years-old because it can provide an education that works around their schedule.
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