Office of Academic Innovation

Flexible Degrees

student outside with computer

The Flexible Degree Program is about the creation of online pathways (degree, certificate, sequence) for students who are unable to come to our campus. These PSU students are often older, and they combine their studies with family obligations and/or a job. Although these flexible pathways can be completed fully online, they don’t have to be. Students are able to create a pathway that works for their schedule.

The Flexible Degree focus was one of three core areas in reTHINK PSU and it builds on the many innovative projects that were submitted during the reTHINK PSU launch project called Provost's Challenge. There were two rounds that called for project proposals.

Timeline: November 2014 - December 2016 (Round I) (Completed) // November 2015 - Ongoing (Round II)
Impact: 180 courses thus far, in 18+ projects, in collaboration with 130+ faculty across campus

Flexible Degrees Round 1 - Completed

Online and Hybrid Geography

Design of 4 online courses to create pathways for students to complete their degree online and/or to obtain a GIS certificate
Project Lead: Geoffrey Duh, CLAS

Online Bachelor in Business 

Design of 7 online courses to create a pathway for students to complete their Bachelor in Business online. Specific focus on the deepening of partnerships with regional community colleges.
Project Lead: Erica Wagner, SBA
PSU Online Bachelor in Business Page
 

Online Bachelor in Urban & Public Affairs 

Design of 18 online courses to create a pathway for students to complete their Bachelor in Urban and Public Affairs online.
Project Lead: Kevin Kecskes, CUPA 

Online Certificate in Collaborative Governance

Design of 5 online courses to offer a fully online Graduate Certificate in Collaborative Governance
Project Lead: Steve Greenwood, CUPA
PSU Online Certificate in Collaborative Governance Page


Online Minor In Sustainability

Design of 4 online courses to create an online minor option in Sustainability for students
Project Lead: John Rueter, CLAS 

Online UNST Pathways

Design of 15 online courses for SINQ and Clusters to create online pathways for students in University Studies
Project Lead: Rowanna Carpenter, UNST 

Flexible Degrees Round 2 - Ongoing 

Online BA/BS in Community Health & Aging

Design of 13 online courses to create a pathway for students to complete their Bachelor degree in Community Health and Aging
Project Lead: Carlos Crespo, SPH

Online Bachelor of Social Work

Design of 15 online courses to create a pathway for students to complete their Bachelor degree in Social Work online.
Project Lead: Michael Taylor, SSW

Online Data Analytics Certificate

Design of 2 online Data Analytics courses as part of an online Data Analytics Certificate
Project Lead: Cliff Allen, SBA

Online English Major/Minor

Design/redesign of 27 online courses to create options for students to complete their degree online in English
Project Lead: Michael Clark, CLAS

Online FRINQ Pilot

Design of a completely online Freshman Inquiry Course. Experiment with specific interest in student support, role of the mentor, student readiness and assessment.
Project Lead: Maurice Hamington, UNST

Online Graduate Certificate in Aging 

Design of 7 online courses to create an online Graduate Certificate in Aging
Project Lead: Margaret Neal, CUPA

Online Graduate Certificate in Applied Social Demography

Design of 7 online courses to create an online graduate certificate in Applied Social Demography
Project Lead:  Jason Jurjevich, CUPA

Online HR Management Option

Design of 6 online courses to offer an online HR Management option to the BA in Business
Project Lead: Talya Bauer, SBA

Online Master of Taxation

Design of 16 online courses to offer a fully online Master of Taxation
Project Lead: John Eckroth, SBA
PSU Online Master of Taxation Program Page

Online MS in Global Supply Chain Management

Redesign of 16 online courses that are part of the MS in Global Supply Chain Management
Project Lead: Daniel Wong, SBA
PSU Online MS in Global Supply Chain Management Program Page

Online MSW, Health Across the Lifespan

Design of 10 online courses for the ‘Health Across the Lifespan’ specialisation of the online Master of Social Work
Project Lead: Lisa Hawash, SSW
PSU Online Masters in Social Work Program Page

Online Track in International Studies

Design of 10 online courses to create a pathway for students to complete their degree in International Studies
Project Lead:  Sean Smallman, CUPA

Flexible Degrees Round 3 - Ongoing

Athletic & Outdoor Graduate Certificate

4 courses
Project Lead: Jennifer Nolfi

Online Degree in Philosophy 

12 courses
Project Lead: Alex Sager

Flexible Degrees in Geography & GIS

8 courses
Project Lead: Geoffrey Duh

Global Supply Chain Analytics

5 courses
Project Lead: Daniel Wong
 

Flexible Degree in Accounting

7 courses
Project Lead:  Elizabeth Almer

Part-time Track in Engineering

5 courses
Project Lead: Tim Anderson

FRINQ: Race & Social Justice

3 courses
Project Lead: Jones Estes

Future Flexible Degrees - In Planning

Social Sciences

PACE (GSE)

Sociology
 

Child, Youth, Family Studies

Environmental Science & Mgmt

Flexible Degrees