The Foreign Service Journal, June 2010

you can find complete online degree programs outlined at numerous pub- lic universities. The University of Maryland University College, for example, offers more than 100 bache- lor’s and master’s degree programs and certificates completely online. The university has approximately 90,000 students worldwide. Even courses taught entirely on- line may be logistically challenging, however, depending on how they are delivered. Prospective students need to be aware of how the classes will be conducted. Conduct of the Course Online classes are generally either “synchronous” or “asynchronous” — meaning they either require you to be present at your computer at a specific time, or they do not. Asynchronous courses are drop-in style. They are taught with prepack- aged material and lectures, plus cor- respondence with the instructor and discussion boards (an instructor cre- ates a discussion topic assignment that runs for a few days, and students are graded on their ability to post responses and further the discussion). Synchronous courses, on the other hand, are similar to a live video con- ference, with all the students through- out the world sitting down together, even if it is the middle of the night for some of them. Julie Barnes’ nursing program requires “attendance” at a weekly live lecture delivered in an online format through Blackboard (a widely used Internet educational tool). Since completing her prerequisite courses overseas, Barnes now lives in North- ern Virginia and attends clinical rota- tions at a local hospital. “I chose NOVA because of the length of the program —15 months — and the fact that it is online, which gives me the flexibility I need since I have two small children at home. I will graduate this August, and I am so happy that these types of programs are now available.” Online learning is also steadily being integrated into mainstream higher education, and this means that Besides good Internet access and strong motivation, students need to plan for the time commitment involved. J U N E 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 71 S CHOOLS S UPPLEMENT Continued on p. 76