California State University, Chico Announces Online Degree Completion and Certificate Programs

California State University, Chico announces the offering of state-of-the-art online degree completion and certificate programs starting January 2001.

Over the next three years, more than 130 courses will be taught online

through Chico Distance & Online Education, including masters programs in

psychology and computer science; degree completion programs in political

science, social science, and sociology; six minors; four certificates; and

part-time teacher credential course programming. Partial degree completion

programs in liberal studies and computer science will also be available.

The majority of these courses were previously available via satellite to

selected learning center sites throughout California. This spring

semester,

they will be available online, improving student access and convenience.

To facilitate the launch of Chico Distance & Online Education, a new Web

site, http://www.csuchico.edu/online has been created to assist off-campus

students interested in enrolling in the degree completion, certificate and

graduate degree programs.

As the anchor university in its region, CSU, Chico initiated its first

distance education program in 1975, delivering educational programming

throughout its Northern California service area. Twenty-five years later,

CSU, Chico is considered a pioneer in providing distance education

throughout the state and the world, via live direct satellite and

Internet-based technologies.

“This is a logical next step for our campus. For the first time people

throughout the state and beyond will have online access to our fully

accredited degree and certificate programs direct from the comfort of their

homes or offices without the expense of relocation or commuting long

distances,” said CSU, Chico president Manuel A. Esteban.

Starting in January, more than 30 live video-streamed courses will be

available online. Currently, CSU, Chico is using HorizonLive, the leading

live, interactive distance learning platform now available on the Internet.

Online courses are designed to accommodate a student’s busy schedule. Many

of these courses will be digitally archived for convenient access by

students who cannot attend the live lecture or who want to review material

after the class session. Communication between students and faculty can

occur during the live class session and outside class via chat, e-mail,

discussion groups and telephone.

Online students must be regularly-admitted and meet the same university

admission and graduation requirements as on-campus students. They will find

that online courses require as much academic effort as those offered

on-campus. As with on-campus students, financial aid is available to online

students who meet eligibility criteria.

For more information and an online demonstration please visit the Chico

Distance & Online Education Web site at http://www.csuchico.edu/online or

call 530-898-6105.

Contact Info

Joe Picard, Regional and Continuing Education

Tel: 530-898-6105

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