IU first in state to offer online bachelor's degree

By Lisa Denlinger

Students worldwide are now able to complete all 120 hours of course work leading to the IU School of Continuing Studies’ (SCS) bachelor’s degree in general studies online using computer, E-mail and the World Wide Web. General studies students pursue an interdisciplinary plan of study in the arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and mathematics and natural sciences.

Providing an online bachelor’s degree represents a major breakthrough for higher education in the state of Indiana, said Jeremy Dunning, dean of SCS. “More than 85 percent of U.S. college students will be online this year,” he noted, “and enrollments in online higher education courses are estimated to reach 2.23 million.”

Online study has many advantages, said Dunning. “Students in online SCS courses access all their lessons and assignments in one place through a secure, personalized Web site. All lesson submissions and communications take place online, eliminating the delays sometimes experienced with postal mail. In addition, student assignments are graded entirely online by the instructor. Many of the courses feature interactive activities ranging from online quizzes and multimedia exercises to full-blown virtual tours and field trips.”

Kathi Lyle is a general studies degree student in Rowlett, Texas. Now just 14 hours from earning a bachelor’s degree, she recently completed her first online course. Having taken all her other courses in a pen-and-paper format, she signed up for the online course, she said, because she is eager to finish her degree. “I wanted to see if I could cut a little time off the start-to-finish time frame.”

Lyle’s experience in the course was positive. “I thoroughly enjoyed the instant quality of the sign-up process. I received instructions and books almost immediately and was ready to go the same day they arrived. I also enjoyed the color photograph and biographical information I found on the instructor. I absolutely loved the ability to check my grades online. I especially enjoyed the format provided for the instructor to place comments.

“If I had to start on my degree from scratch,” Lyle said, “I would do it entirely online.”

For more information about the degree program, call 800-334-1011; E-mail: scs@indiana.edu.