by Julie Lineback
Students who want to further their education online now have more opportunities to do so at the University of West Georgia. UWG Online is now offering three new degrees, one at the doctoral level and two at the master’s level.
The Ed.D. in Professional Counseling and Supervision will be offered online beginning summer 2014. The program is intended for advanced counseling practitioners who recognize the career advantages for those who have advanced preparation in program evaluation, administrative supervision, and advocacy and leadership. The program will be offered entirely online.
“The principal benefit of moving to an entirely online, asynchronous model of instruction is the ability to attract qualified counselors from across the state, region and nation,” explains Dr. Debra Cobia, associate dean and professor of counselor education in the College of Education. “The increased diversity of students and practice settings possible with such a model enriches the experience of all students and the faculty.”
The two master’s degrees are also offered by the College of Education.
The M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education is designed to develop pre-K - 5 teachers and enhance their proficiency in teaching, curriculum development, research and assessment. The course is held 95% online.
“Online programs give students who cannot come to campus opportunities to participate in professional development that they may not have had,” says Dr. Donna Harkins, associate professor and chair of the department of learning and teaching. “They offer students a high-quality learning experience and the flexibility of online education.”
The M.Ed. in Reading Instruction also has an online program available beginning this semester and is geared toward practicing professionals who wish to gain expertise in the literacy field and grow as leaders in their occupations.
“The advantages of offering this degree online is that students will be able to understand literacy theory and research at a deeper level than in face-to-face classes,” describes Dr. Tamra Ogletree, associate professor and coordinator for language and literacy. “This allows them to align the concepts and theory directly into their practices in order to develop a critical stance.”
For more information about these and other online degrees, please visit http://uwgonline.westga.edu.
