There are of course many reasons that you may have for wanting to a degree or certificate program online. It may fit in
better with your life style, or it may fit in better with your learning style. You are no doubt aware that there are a host
of institutions offering online programs, and the question may arise why you should opt for SPSU, rather than any of the other
providers of online programs. There are a few reasons to complete your program at SPSU
Quality
As said, the WebBSIT program is an exception in that it is the only program that is delivered exclusively online. It is also
unique in that it is the only one of our online programs that is delivered through a consortium of institutions, rather than
exclusively through SPSU (although if you enroll in this program, you will be treated as an SPSU student). However, the WebBSIT
program is modeled closely on the undergraduate degrees offered at the institutions that are members of the WebBSIT consortium.
It also means that, as far as content and rigor is concerned, the WebBSIT closely mirrors traditional on-campus undergraduate
degrees in IT.
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Flexibility
With the exception of the WebBSIT, courses in all our online programs are delivered both online, face-to-face and/or in a
hybrid mode, in which the class meets face-to-face once per week with the other session conducted online. This provides
you with additional flexibility. If, for some reason, you decide that you would benefit from taking some classes in a traditional
format, you can certainly do so.
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Experience with Online Programs
SPSU has always prided itself on its ability to accommodate the unique needs of non-traditional students. In addition to
flexible scheduling for face-to-face classes, the desire to cater to the needs of non-traditional students has also manifested
itself in a long-standing and continuing effort to offer programs fully online. For example, SPSU has been offering its Masters in Quality Assurance fully online since 1997. CSE has offered the WebBSIT fully online since fall 2005, and the Graduate Transition Certificate
in Computer Science since fall 2006. We therefore have gained considerable expertise in offering programs online, and we
are confident that we know how to deliver quality programs online. You can find out more about our distance learning offerings
at SPSU Distance Learning web page
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Unique Programs
Most of our online programs are unique in their design. For example, our MS in Information Technology is unique in that
it is one of the few online master's programs in IT that requires students to obtain significant technical IT skills either
through an undergraduate degree in computing or through our certificate in IT fundamentals prior to enrolling into the program
itself. Most of our graduate certificate programs are unique as well, and not offered at any other institution, certainly
not online.
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Cost
Many of the existing online programs in computing are offered by for-profit institutions or for-profit arms of not-for-profit
institutions. This is not the case for the online programs in computing at SPSU. SPSU charges a slightly higher tuition
rate for courses delivered online, but the difference between online and face-to-face courses is minimal, and in all cases,
the tuition rate is based on the resident rate. The result is that tuition and fees are considerably below the rates charged
by other institutions offering online programs in computing. More details about SPSU's fee structure can be found by clicking
the Prospective Students tab above.
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