CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

OnlineCSU
Hartford, Connecticut

The Connecticut State University (CSU) System is the largest public university system in Connecticut, with more than 35,000 students and 150,000 alumni. OnlineCSU is the virtual classroom of the four Connecticut State Universities—Central Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Western Connecticut State University.

OnlineCSU supports CSU's mission to provide affordable and high-quality active learning opportunities that are geographically and technologically accessible. The collaborative efforts of the four universities provide a strong educational resource for students in Connecticut and around the world.

CSU institutions are fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and all credits are generally transferable.

Distance Learning Program

More than 20,000 students have taken OnlineCSU's undergraduate and graduate courses and participated in its academic programs. OnlineCSU is not a university; degrees are conferred and credits are awarded by Central, Eastern, Southern, or Western Connecticut State University. Courses may be completed entirely online and do not require classroom attendance.

Delivery Media

Because OnlineCSU is an asynchronous learning environment, students and teachers do not need to log into the virtual classroom at the same time. The classroom is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Faculty members and students share documents and interact regularly through the WebCT learning platform, which utilizes chat rooms, threaded discussions, e-mail, and other tools to achieve learning objectives. Students taking online classes must have a computer running a Web browser, preferably Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher; a connection to the Internet; and an e-mail account.

Programs of Study

Three graduate degrees, two certificate programs, and one bachelor's degree–completion program are available via OnlineCSU. They include a Master of Library Science (M.L.S.) offered by Southern Connecticut State University, a Master of Science (M.S.) in educational technology offered by Eastern Connecticut State University, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in data mining offered by Central Connecticut State University. The two certificates that are available include a certificate in data mining from Central and a sixth-year certificate in educational foundations from Southern. A RN-to-B.S.N. bachelor's degree–completion program is also available from Southern.

The M.L.S. degree is available from Southern's School of Communication, Information and Library Science. The program integrates library science, information science, and instructional technology. It offers preparation for careers in various types of libraries, including academic, public, special, and school libraries, and a range of alternative information science occupations. The 36-credit degree program is accredited by the American Library Association. The school media specialist studies concentration is also approved by the Connecticut Board of Education and offers Connecticut certified teachers the opportunity to obtain cross-endorsement as a school media specialist.

The M.S. degree in educational technology from Eastern Connecticut State University is a 36-credit program that is designed to provide practical educational technology skills. To prepare students for success in a highly technological and rapidly changing world, the program integrates educational technology applications with the expertise of professional educators and teachers of grades pre-K–12. The program empowers graduates to meet and exceed outcomes standards in Connecticut and throughout the nation. The program is also unique because its curriculum is aligned with standards set by the International Society for Technology in Education.

The M.S. degree in data mining from Central Connecticut State University focuses on statistical methodology, machine learning, and business intelligence. Educated professionals with these skills are sought by industries seeking to improve products, marketing, sales, and customer service. Students gain hands-on experience with the Clementine data-mining software suite from SPSS, Inc., and other state-of-the-art programs to provide actionable results to real-world business problems. A certificate is also available.

The sixth-year certificate in educational foundations program explores the framework of education. This versatile 30-credit program examines the world in which today's educator must function from multicultural, American societal, legal, and moral perspectives.

The RN-to-B.S.N. bachelor's degree–completion program from Southern Connecticut State University is designed for professionals who already have completed the prerequisite course work and are seeking to further their knowledge of nursing. The program is accredited by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education. The completion program offers all seven required nursing courses online as well as supplemental general education courses. The B.S.N. degree requires a total of 125 credits, of which a maximum of 30 must be earned at Southern. Courses may be transferred in from any accredited community or four-year college.

Student Services

OnlineCSU offers a complete set of support services to its distance learners. This includes a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week, toll-free help desk to address technical issues and other questions. All OnlineCSU students are allowed full access to online library resources, a bookstore, tutoring, and more through MyOnlineCSU, the program's distance education portal. In addition, on-campus services such as advising, career counseling, and financial aid are available to OnlineCSU students.

Credit Options

Students should refer to the offering university for information about transferring credit, work or life experience evaluations, or admission test waivers. Classes generally are 3 credits each. Graduate programs require a minimum of 36 credits.

Faculty

All faculty members have extensive academic experience, with advanced degrees and practical experience in their disciplines. Before teaching online, faculty members receive pedagogical and tools training to prepare them for the online education experience. In addition, CSU faculty members do not use "canned" content, oftentimes having personally developed the course they teach.

Admission

Admission information and applications are available online. Students seeking information about the M.L.S., sixth-year, or RN-to-B.S.N. program can contact Southern at 888-500-SCSU (toll-free). For information about admittance to the educational technology program, students can call 860-465-5292. For information about data mining, students can call 860-832-2862. Most universities allow students to take up to three courses without formally applying to the university. Students should see the OnlineCSU Web site for details.

Tuition and Fees

Effective beginning with the summer 2005 semester, fees for Connecticut residents who are part-time students were $310 per credit for undergraduate courses and $390 per credit for graduate courses. Fees for out-of-state residents who are part-time students were $380 per credit for undergraduate courses and $480 per credit for graduate courses. Each registration also requires a $50 online registration fee. The M.L.S. and data-mining programs have alternate fee structures; students should visit the Web site at http://www.OnlineCSU.net/FinancialInfo for details.

During the regular academic terms of fall and spring, full-time Connecticut State University students must pay only the $50 online fee, as credits are billed as part of the student's full-time tuition. Full-time students taking classes during the winter and summer semesters are billed as part-time students, as is the case with on-campus classes.

Financial Aid

Students who receive financial aid may be able to apply all or part of this aid to OnlineCSU courses. Students who would like to apply for financial aid need to do so through their home university. Students at CSU institutions should refer to the corresponding university's Web site for specific information on financial aid policies and procedures.

Applying

Generally, students may take up to three courses without formally matriculating at one of the Connecticut State University institutions. To enroll in an online course, students can create a new student account and register via OnlineCSU's Web site. To formally apply to one of the four CSU institutions, students can download application forms from the OnlineCSU degree program pages or visit the Web site of the university offering the program.

CONTACT

OnlineCSU Student Services
Connecticut State University System Office
39 Woodland Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06105-2337
Phone: 860-493-0001
Fax: 860-493-0120
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.OnlineCSU.net