Eight new on-line courses available

By Lisa Denlinger

During its existence, the IU Independent Study Program has received 53 awards for excellence from the University Continuing Education Association.

The expanding inventory of courses is making it more convenient than ever for students to earn IU college and high school degrees through distance education. Jeremy Dunning, dean of SCS, said the school currently offers 22 on-line courses, but more offerings will become available in the near future.

“By July 1, students will be able to choose from among 50 on-line courses in addition to more than 225 print-based courses,” Dunning said. “Even more significant, as of July 1, they will be able to earn an associate of general studies degree entirely online.”

The newest on-line options include university courses in criminal justice, English, geography, philosophy, political science and sociology. The on-line high school courses cover creative writing and world history. Courses in sociology and world geography can be taken by high school students seeking to gain both high school and university credits simultaneously.

Students may take individual courses that interest them, or they may apply the credits that they accumulate toward a general studies degree or an IU High School diploma. Some of the university courses also may be applied toward other IU degree programs or toward IU’s new minor in international studies. In addition, students may be able to transfer the credits they earn to other institutions.

Dunning said the on-line courses cover the same breadth of content and have the same rigorous requirements as their print-based counterparts. All of the courses are approved by their respective IU academic departments. Departmentally approved faculty and instructors teach the university courses and state-certified instructors oversee the high school courses.

“The School of Continuing Studies’ ultimate goal is to make all of its courses available on-line by incorporating a variety of multimedia and allowing full interactivity,” said Michael Jasiak, executive director of the SCS Office of Technology and Distance Learning Resources. “The school will advance strategically in that direction, moving at a pace that will allow for continued excellence in course content, and for incorporation of emerging techniques in on-line teaching and learning.”