Students looking to get a master of education degree can now do so at the comfort of their computer.
The new program in Educational Leadership, which is offered through LSU Online and the College of Human Sciences and Education, can be completed in as little as 15 months.
LSU Online, launched in March, also includes masters programs in higher education, business administration, human resource education and construction management.
College of Human Sciences and Education assistant professor Carlos Lee supervises the new Educational Leadership program and is also the adviser for the new students enrolled in the program, which began its first semester on Oct. 28.
The program is separated into seven weeklong “modules” that are offered six times a year, said Charity Bryan, director of LSU Online. The difference between these modules and the normal fall or spring semesters is the 24/7 nature of the course, Bryan said.
Though the course can be completed in less than two years, in no way is the course material compromised because it is an online course, Bryan said.
Many students enrolled in the online program may not have time to come to campus and take classes, Bryan said, but the online program allows them to somewhat set the pace for their learning.
The new program’s goal is to educate students in the social, political and financial aspects that shape the foundation and operations of institutions. Possible positions available to graduates would include those in admissions, financial aid, counseling, Greek affairs, student activities, alumni relations and career planning and placement.
“We are excited to add to the CHSE’s educational diversity and give more students alternative opportunities and avenues in which to pursue an LSU degree,” Lee said in a news release.
Lee said the online platform of learning, compared to traditional classroom teaching, must include thought-provoking activities that motivate learners to make different connections with the material in their online courses.
These activities must encourage students to make connections with new and old course information, attain essential knowledge and engage the students’ current meta-cognitive capacities, he said.
The biggest difference, however, between an online course and a traditional classroom course is the preparation the faculty has to put forth, Bryan said. While some professors on campus feel their way through the course and make adjustments throughout the semester, online instructors must plan out every single day of the course before it begins, she said.
“We are excited to add to the CHSE’s educational diversity and give more students alternative opportunities and avenues in which to pursue an LSU degree.”