With the need for accessible education formats to satisfy the growing population of non traditional college students, higher education is just a click away these days. This fall, LSU Online will add another degree to its digital repertoire.
The School of Kinesiology will launch its first online degree program in the fall, offering a master’s of science in kinesiology with a sport management specialization through LSU Online.
J. Michael Martinez, kinesiology professor and director of online programs for the School of Kinesiology, said the program will be easier to adapt to the online setting than the many other degree programs offered by the School of Kinesiology because it focuses on industry and management and does not have lab work.
The online sport management program will benefit those already working in the field who might be looking for an opportunity to advance, or for those looking for a change in career, Martinez said.
Employers are looking for standouts when people compete for jobs, and a master’s degree with a concentration in sport management could mean the difference between coaching high school football and moving to an administrative position, Martinez said.
“Sometimes there’s this misconception about online education either being easier or harder or whatever it is,” Martinez said. “The quality is going to always be there. It’s just a matter of convenience of it and flexibility of it.”
While there may be some changes in the delivery format, Martinez said students will receive the same content and quality as they would in the traditional classroom setting. The program requires 36 hours, or 12 courses, which are completed in 7-week modules, each consisting of two courses.
Martinez said the online format will “streamline” the content and require students to do more individual work and less group work than they would on campus. The biggest difference between the online format and the classroom setting is the courses will be condensed and time-driven.
“For instance, if you were in a semester course, we may go through things in a slower progression, and if you have a paper due, you may have maybe two months to work on it rather than when you’re in a seven-week setting, you may only have six weeks to work on it or five weeks to work on it,” Martinez said.
Another difference between the online program and an on-campus education is there will be less course options to choose from. While students on campus may be able to take courses in other areas of study to supplement their focus in sport management, students in the online program are limited to the courses available through that medium, Martinez said.
Martinez said on-campus interest in the program is slow, but the interest among students on a broader scale is increasing.
“We’re just kind of rolling it out, so we haven’t had a lot of interest initially, but that’s okay because the main focus of the online program is to broaden what our exposure is, so it’s not just going to be geared towards LSU students who are on campus right now,” Martinez said.
The program will likely attract students who graduated from other universities and want to pursue their master’s degree or former University students who want to earn their master’s degree while they’re in the field gaining experience, he said.
There are six module start dates scheduled throughout the year. If students register for each of the start dates and complete the two courses offered during each module, they would be able to complete the degree in a year.
However, Martinez said many of the individuals attracted to the online program are non traditional students whose schedules might not align with the timing of the modules.
“The difference is that it may not always be suited for whatever your lifestyle or whatever your work experience is,” Martinez said.
With the time constraints facing students who might be parents or professionals, the estimated time to complete the degree is one to two years, Martinez said. The program’s timing is one of the greatest benefits for students who are in need of flexibility and a personalized pace.
Martinez said the next steps will likely be for the School of Kinesiology to offer online certification programs that could aid a student’s transition to the University or provide them with the core classes necessary to move into the master’s program.