UI's online degree programs expanding

Interest and enrollment in the University of Idaho’s inaugural online undergraduate degrees continue to increase as the programs enter their second year.

Approved by the Idaho State Board of Education in 2016, the university’s online undergraduate degrees are administered by UI’s College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.

More than 100 students are now pursuing their degrees completely online at UI, with interested students reaching out to the college on a daily basis. To meet the growing demand in these programs, CLASS has hired two new academic advisors and six new faculty members to better serve online students.

“It is exciting to see the interest and growth in CLASS’s online degree programs over the past year,” said Dean Andrew Kersten. “Offering fully online degree programs allows students in Idaho, and beyond, the opportunity to earn their degree – whenever, wherever. From the response we’ve received this year, this is a service and these are programs that fit the needs and interests of the state.”

The University of Idaho offers five online bachelor’s degrees through CLASS – sociology with an emphasis in criminology, history, psychology, organizational sciences and general studies.

“Delivering quality, online degrees makes higher education accessible to qualified students of all backgrounds. Students who may have ruled out going away to college, or who had to leave the traditional college experience, now have the opportunity to pursue their education from a university that employers recognize and respect,” Kersten said. “And, as a leader in scholarships and financial aid, the University of Idaho allows students to earn these degrees affordably.”

Students enrolled in UI’s online degree programs who complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are eligible for financial aid and scholarships. In addition, 2+2 degree programs in sociology with an emphasis in criminology and in psychology allow students the option of earning an associate degree at a local community college and finishing the degree online through UI in just two years. Undergraduate-level students located outside of Idaho pay in-state tuition prices for the classes.

The college also offers two graduate-level, fully online degrees — the newly formed Master of Public Administration degree and a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in human factors. The MPA program is the only one in the region that focuses on local governments and communities.

Information: uidaho.edu/class/online