New online degrees offer students convenience, fuel savings
South Texas College’s eSTC Web portal makes taking online classes and following the college’s five online degrees easier than ever.
In addition to South Texas College’s all online degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice and Social Science, the college is now offering students the opportunity to earn associate degrees online in Education and Interdisciplinary Studies. The two new degrees will be offered online beginning in fall 2008.
“The lives of our students are only getting busier and busier, as they try to juggle the demands of working full-time with family obligations and so offering these degrees online makes perfect sense, “ said Maricela Garcia, director of distance education for STC. “Although students may have to take one or two labs at one of the college’s five campus locations, I believe that 95% or more of the work can be done online. Imagine being able to fulfill your class work when and where it’s most convenient for you!”
In addition to taking courses online, students will be able to receive free online tutoring in core subject areas, access the college’s library system, attend an online orientation, receive technical support, as well as access other valuable tools that will support their educational experience.
“There are currently more than 200 students eligible to follow one of our current online degrees, and we expect that figure to continue growing,” added Garcia. “We are also taking into consideration the increasing costs of fuel and that saving students a long commute to one of our campuses can make a big impact in their economic opportunities.”
All STC online degree plans and courses are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), as well as the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and are fully transferable to any accredited four year institution. Students taking science courses that require labs may be required to participate in those experiments at the campus facilities. Additionally, instructors may require proctored exams to be taken at an STC campus or facility.
For additional information about these online degree plans contact Jarice Cortez, STC’s distance education advisor and retention specialist at 872-3497. Students can also contact the Distance Education Department directly at 872-2598 or visit http://elearn.southtexascollege.edu.