At UTM, students not only have the opportunity to take classes on campus, but they can also take classes online. The UTM Online program broadens the student population, giving many different types of students access to the education at UTM.
“[Online courses] allow students the flexibility, those that might have work schedules or those that might be on a semester abroad or non-traditional students who may be trying to come back to complete their degrees. It’s allowed us to expand our student base; we’ve had students living in Japan and Spain, those in the military in Iraq, those on the West Coast and East Coast from Maine to Washington State that have an opportunity to take our courses,” UT Online Director Derrick Head said.
“It gives students, even outside Tennessee, many more opportunities. It allows us to take our product or to help educate people outside the borders of just West Tennessee. Also, those students who might also have some special needs, or those who might have different learning styles might benefit from online. It allows some students to ask questions they might not ask in class, because the nature of the class is more one-on-one through a virtual classroom.”
As far as the degrees offered online, there are several different options, such as the RN to BSN degree (For registered nurses wanting a Bachelor of Science in nursing), the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with an emphasis in business, the Bachelor of Science in business administration and management and the university studies degree. Most of the courses online support the degree programs offered, but there are a few various general education courses, such as geology and psychology, to meet the requirements of any student. Some general courses that are needed are not offered online, but can be taken through another university or on the UTM campus, such as public speaking. However, according to Head, students should be conscious of whether or not the credit they are taking at another college is going to transfer.
Also, students can complete graduate programs online, in agriculture, in family and consumer science, in education, and more.
As for advising, students should check with their on-campus advisor, unless they are seeking an online-only degree. If a student is completing an online-only degree, then it depends on the program he or she is involved in as to whom should be contacted.
“After a student has been admitted, maybe been here a few weeks or registered for their first set of classes, they’re then passed on to another management faculty member, who serves as an advisor for the online students just as they would on campus,” Head said.
Head also said that the financial difference in online classes and on-campus classes depends on the student and their situation.
“Students on campus pay a fee that allows them to be full-time, 12 hours, and if they choose to take another class, in essence, it’s free. That’s not the case with online. So if a full-time, on-campus student chooses to take an online section, then it’s going to $873 for a three-hour class. So, if you’re an in-state resident and you just wanted to take one class here at the university, there is only a $30 difference between online and on-campus. But if you’re a full-time student wanting to take online, that extra online class is going to cost you $873,” Head said.
Head said that the UTM Online program facilitates all types of students.
“I think, because of the flexibility that it affords students, whether they be non-traditional students, working students, students who wouldn’t have the opportunity to come to our campus, it affords these students the opportunity to complete a degree and finish a graduate program that might not be available to them otherwise. It gives students another option for certain topics and subjects, and it gives students more options than on campus,” Head said.
