University set to offer innovative online degree

University set to offer innovative online degree

Montana State University has recently announced the launch of an online degree program in Native American Studies, according to Indian Country Today.

The graduate program, believed to be the first online degree of its kind, is meant to be an initial step toward the creation of a full master of arts in Native American Studies, which the university hopes to have fully developed within the next five years.

The online program is not time-constrained and will offer streamed lectures, web-based discussion boards and consistent individual contact with instructors.

"We believe that there are students across the globe interested in graduate courses in Native American studies and this innovative offering fills that need," said department head Walter Fleming, quoted by the news source.

The program has a rolling admissions process and its first course offerings are set to commence in January 2010.

The online education sector grew 13 percent last year and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years. Nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports.