UC joins expanding web of schools offering online classes

From Oakland Tribune – Friday, April 12, 2002
By Jill Tucker

University's move to establish program part of national trend

Students enrolling in the University of California's newest master's degree program won't ever have to worry about being late for class.

They'll never have to squint to see the blackboard and they won't need a notebook for lectures.

Heck, they won't even have to get dressed.

Unlike every other UC degree program, all of the courses will be online.

The master of advanced study in criminology, law and society will be taught by UC Irvine professors, but the students could take the courses from anywhere in the state, country or world, for that matter.

The university's Academic Council and president's office gave the fully accredited program the final green light earlier this week, said Jia Frydenberg, director of UC Irvine's Distance Learning Center.

The move is part of a national trend to offer an increasing amount of college course work and degree programs online.

Aside from a one-week orientation course, the UC online students won't have to set foot on the actual campus for the duration of the two-year program.

"It is very exciting," said Frydenberg.

Already, nearly 100 law enforcement and social service professionals have expressed interest in applying for the 13-course program, Frydenberg said.

Classes, conducted through Irvine's continuing-education department, are expected to begin by January.

Planned courses include cybercrime, gang violence, statistics and leadership.

Like other master of advanced study programs offered through the university, the online degree was created to meet the needs of working professionals -- those pursuing a master's degree as a necessary step along a career path.

The first students in the program likely will come from police and probation departments, as well as those working in social service agencies such as the child welfare system.

"It meets their needs so much because it has the kind of content the University of California produces," Frydenberg said.

"But at the same time, they can manage to keep their jobs and their families going and they don't have to take two years off to do what they want to do professionally."

Because the program is offered through continuing education, and like all advanced study courses, the online master's degree program will not be subsidized by the state.

Tuition for the two years is expected to be about $22,000. Financial aid, including loans, are available to qualifying students.

According to the program description, students "must be comfortable with surfing the Internet, using e-mail and using basic office software (processing, spreadsheets)."

A minimum 56K modem Internet connection is advised.