Online courses give students flexibility

By Yuka Kawaguchi
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

The Department of Occupational Studies at Cal State Long Beach gives students the opportunity to get a degree through distance education. The department has the largest distance education program in the California State University system. The program includes online classes and off campus classes.

"We have about 1,200 students for online classes," said Paul A. Bott, professor and chair of the occupational studies department.

Online classes help CSULB save money in many ways, Bott said.

"No classrooms are being used, no toilet papers are used and less rooms are getting dirty," he said. "There is a significant saving of money. Also, we are saving the environment by not driving to school."

"You can have twice as many students but using much less space and less energy," said Program Administrator for Distance Learning, Inna Lisker.

Bott said, "I believe that online courses will greatly grow. Some students who were skeptical about the program before actually like this program better."

Each course costs $660 for a bachelor's degree and $720 for a master's degree. Students can finish their studies in a year and a half to two years.

The classes have the same quality as regular classes on campus. Students are able to reach the professors almost anytime online, so they can post their questions and the professors can respond.

"We are more available to the students than through the office hours," Lisker said. "Most of the time, we are connected to the students online."

The biggest advantage of online courses is that students can take classes at their convenience. It allows students to learn something by using their available time. In fact, many of the students in the program also have jobs, families or careers.

"You can continue your job and still take some classes online, so you don't have to accommodate your schedule," Lisker said.