SARASOTA, Fla. (March 29, 2017) – USF Sarasota-Manatee is taking its Master of Arts in Criminal Justice degree program completely online. The change, which is scheduled to debut in August, follows a trend at universities nationwide and comes after discussions with industry professionals and former students. “The Master of Arts program can be difficult for working professionals who have little free time, and so by going online this will give those students more flexibility in their schedules,” said Dr. Murat Haner, a USFSM criminology instructor. Police officers, corrections officers, courthouse workers and other law enforcement professionals typically participate in the program. Under the current format, with some classes online and others occurring on Saturdays, some professionals, particularly those with families, say the schedule can be challenging. The revised Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program will eliminate live “in-person” classes. Instead, students will log-on to their computers to work through the courses at times convenient to them. “The faculty at USF Sarasota-Manatee is well-trained in using technology to enable engaging, effective learning experiences online,” said Dr. Jane Rose, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Generally, students will have seven days to complete each week’s assignments. The classes will employ the latest technologies to provide an engaging delivery of weekly content, with quizzes and other exams occurring online as well. For students wanting to converse with one another, online discussion boards will be available, and professors will have expanded hours to answer questions over the phone or through email. “You can complete the studies in the comfort of your home and no site visits to the campus will ever be required,” said Dr. Haner, adding the change could boost enrollment as well. To learn more about the criminal justice program and other master’s degree programs at the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, visit usfsm.edu/college-of-liberal-arts-sciences/graduate/. ### |
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About USF Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM) USF Sarasota-Manatee is a regional campus of the University of South Florida system, offering the prestige of a nationally ranked research university with the convenience of a hometown location, including classes in Manatee County, Venice and online. Separately accredited, USFSM is ideal for those interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit in a small, personal setting with distinguished faculty and a dynamic curriculum of over 40 academic programs. Website: www.usfsm.edu. |