By E. Cynthia Gil, On-line Forty-Niner
December 4, 1997
Watching television can now enable you to earn a master's degree from Cal State Long Beach.
Students from CSULB, Humboldt State and Cal State Chico will comprise the first graduating class of the fiber-optic interactive master's of social work program at CSULB in May, concluding their three-year quest.
Although the students are studying at different campuses, the degree itself is given by CSULB through the University College and Extension Services.
Prior to CSULB's involvement in the program, this particular master's degree was unattainable for the Humbolt State and CSU Chico students, as no other master's program in social work is offered near the rural areas of the universities.
Social work professor Christine Hagan said the program's mission is to provide a sufficient number of social workers in such rural areas, where they are greatly needed.
Advances in fiber-optic network technology have made transmission of the program possible.
"We are the first program in California to offer social work through technology," Hagan said.
Each Saturday students from the three campuses meet by live video broadcast. Students use microphones and two-way audio and video to communicate.
The TV screens shift among the campuses, following the speaker.
Hagan said the students at Humboldt State and CSU Chico are scoring equally as well as CSULB students in both school and field work.
According to Hagan, the average student in the master's program is in his or her 40's, and has at least five years' experience in the field of social work.
The master's program is a three-year, part-time program that enables students to keep up with work and family commitments.