University of Louisville Online Programs | Student Resources & Feature Stories

DSW or Ph.D.: Which doctoral-level degree path in social work is right for you?

By Caitlin Horsley | June 14, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment

With the launch of UofL’s new online Doctor of Social Work (DSW)—our first ever online doctorate program—there have been some great questions from prospective students about the difference between a DSW and a Ph.D. in Social Work, as well as how students can ensure they’re choosing the right program to meet their education and career goals.

The short answer is that a DSW is ideal for someone who wants to be an educator or take on a leadership position in a social service organization or within higher education. On other hand, a Ph.D. in Social Work will help students hone their research skills and prepare for conducting research while teaching at a college or university.

The long answer is that there is much more than just that to consider. Check out our comparison breakdown below.

DSW vs. Ph.D. in Social Work: Quick Comparison Chart

If your goal is to be a university faculty member, which program is right for you?

You can be a faculty member with either degree. With a DSW, you’re more likely to become part of the education faculty with a central focus on teaching and service. With a Ph.D., your focus would be conducting research while teaching. If you’re primarily interested in teaching social work, then the DSW will prepare you specifically for your career goal.

Learn more about the fully online DSW program at UofL.

The DSW is currently pending Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education approval and will begin formally accepting applications in July of 2021.

UofL now offers tuition reduction to federal employees through Federal Academic Alliance

By Brooke Whitaker | May 13, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment

The University of Louisville is a proud new member of the U.S. Government’s Federal Academic Alliance (FAA) and now offers a 10% tuition scholarship to all eligible non-military federal employees nationwide. Eligible federal employees can apply this 10% tuition reduction scholarship to all undergraduate, graduate and certificate online programs.

We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for our dedicated federal employees to more affordably further their education and professional development—through a flexible, fully online format that allows for a better balance of education with work and life priorities.

Want to learn more about our FAA scholarship? Visit the University of Louisville FAA site.

“We are very excited to enter into an agreement as a Federal Academic Alliance member institution and we look forward to serving federal employees. Our online programs deliver the same renowned education and degree as students would receive in-person, developed and taught by UofL faculty,” said Gale Rhodes, vice provost and executive director of the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning. “Our online students walk away with the same pride in their degree, ready to take the next step in their life and pursue career progressions.”

Online education is increasingly appealing to working professionals like federal employees, as it allows them to balance work, life and education without having to deprioritize the things that matter most. The Federal government’s Federal Academic Alliance was created to help address critical skill gaps and mission-critical occupations in areas including human resources, economics, cybersecurity, engineering, analytics, and more.

UofL now offers more than 50 fully online programs, including bachelor’s, master’s and certificates across a variety of industries and interest field, with nearly 70 total programs expected by Spring 2022. UofL’s online programs achieved several recognitions in U.S. News and World Report 2021 ratings, including Best Online Programs – Bachelor’s, Best Online Programs – Grad Education, and Best Online Programs – Criminal Justice.

Learn more about FAA eligibility, programs, how to apply, and more here.

New tracks available for UofL’s award-winning online leadership & learning B.S. degree

By Brooke Whitaker | May 13, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment

Ready to complete your bachelor's degree?

The University of Louisville’s online B.S. in Organizational Leadership and Learning (B.S. OLL) now offers three new tracks for students—providing even more options for working professionals to complete their bachelor’s degree. The new tracks are Project Management for the Modern Workforce, Digital Leadership/IT, and Human Resource Development. Offered through the College of Education and Human Development, these tracks support the department’s goal to provide a faster and more affordable option to complete your bachelor’s degree and equip you with the skills to prepare for career advancement or change for your specific career path.

B.S. OLL Program Benefits

The B.S. OLL program not only further develops your skill and knowledge in leadership, project management, and organizational change, but also provides the opportunity for 48 credit hours tuition-free through the Prior Learning Assessment course.

If you started your degree but didn’t finish, the B.S. OLL program also allows for up to 31 credit hours transferred from previous college credit, rather it was UofL or another accredited college. Furthermore, all but one course is offered in 8-week terms. Take as many courses as you would like to finish your degree 100% online, on your schedule to balance education with life and work priorities.

Want to know more about the program and what the experience is really like? Hear from real online B.S. OLL students in the video below.

Now, let’s dive deeper into the new tracks!

Project Management for the Modern Workforce

The Project Management for the Modern Workforce track is designed for business professionals who want well-rounded skills in managing a multitude of projects for any industry as well as those who seek a pathway to a project management role or career. This track goes beyond traditional project management knowledge, providing students the opportunity to expand their expertise and successfully respond to organizational change in areas of technology, logistics and personnel management, effective communication, data analysis and efficiently built structures.

Upon successful completion of the Project Management track of the B.S. OLL program, students will be prepared to pursue the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAMP) or the Project Management Certification (PMP).

Digital Leadership/IT

The Digital Leadership/IT track is for business professionals seeking to develop their leadership skills as well as their knowledge in Information Technologies (IT). The curriculum focuses on organizational and employee effectiveness, work morale and more, while also providing broad-based technology knowledge. This program will give you the opportunity to gain the expertise to effectively lead employees in the rapidly-changing technology field and in industries that technology impacts.

UofL has partnered with several technology industry vendors including IBM, Google, Microsoft, and Adobe to provide the opportunity to earn recognized technology micro-credentials in certain Digital Leadership/IT courses, at no additional cost. Faculty and staff work with individual students to determine which micro-credentials are the best fit for their experience and career path.

Human Relation Development

The Human Relation Development track is specifically designed for business professionals who would like to start or advance their career in the HR field. This track will develop your fundamental knowledge of Human Resources as well as the analytical and strategical skills necessary for the modern HR role. This track focuses on coaching and talent management, mediating conflict and data analytics needed to understand human dynamics in areas of organizational environment, employee satisfaction and more.

Upon successful completion of the HR Development track, graduates will be prepared to take the Certified Professional Human Resources (PHR) test.

Other Tracks Available

There are also other established tracks within the B.S. OLL program—designed with the same goal of degree completion and advancing your career—that may fit your profession and education goals:

Leadership, Training and Organizational Development
Healthcare Leadership (competency-based education)
Counseling and Human Relations
Early Childhood Education
Career and Technical Education

Learn more about the Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership and Learning program benefits, all eight tracks, admission requirements, courses and more.

FAQ: Are Online Degrees the Same as On-Campus? [VIDEO]

By Brooke Whitaker | March 5, 2021 | Comments 0 Comment

ONLINE VS. IN-PERSON

At the University of Louisville, our online programs provide the same degree and opportunities as our on-campus programs. We have designed our online programs using the same standards and curriculum—with added convenience, of course. In fact, your diploma will list your degree as no different than if you completed your degree in-person or an online/in-person combination.

A diploma from UofL is still from our accredited university, no matter how you earn it!

How do we ensure online programs meet the same quality standards as our on-campus programs?

At UofL, all of our online programs are offered through the same schools, such as the J.B. Speed School of Engineering and the UofL College of Business. Also, online courses are taught by same renowned faculty that teach UofL’s on-campus courses.

THE CARDINAL COMMUNITY

PERKS & BENEFITS OF BEING A CARD—NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE

Enrolling in an online program at UofL means becoming part of the UofL Cardinal Family—even if you never physically step on campus. As an enrolled online student, you will receive the same student resources and support services as our traditional on-campus students. Gain access to the UofL Library as well as receive online support from the writing or tutoring center(s),
as needed.

Our faculty partner with expert instructional designers, who assist our professors in delivering a unique yet intuitive learning experience for online students. This is how we are able to provide the same rigor and quality of the learning experience as well as the same learning outcomes and same standards. The only difference is the flexible, convenient delivery format of 100% online courses.

When relevant to specific learning objectives, several of our programs include field assignments and internship opportunities, similar to the on-campus course curriculum. These hands-on learning experiences would be completed in your own local community.

Furthermore, just like a traditional on-campus student, you can cheer on the Louisville Cards and even receive a Cardinal ID in the mail.

Once the program is complete, you receive the same alumni benefits too. This includes being part of the same alumni network and taking advantage of UofL’s
Career Center.

You can take part in the Cardinal Community, wherever you are!

ADVANTAGES OF ONLINE LEARNING

As you have discovered, UofL online programs offer the same degree and opportunities as on-campus programs—with additional benefits. UofL online learning offers the flexibility and convenience for you to integrate education into your work-life balance. Faculty and staff understand that you have more responsibilities than your degree as an online student and will work with you to accomplish your goals.

Many of our online programs have unique course formats to assist you in achieving your degree easier. In addition to part-time student options, multiple programs also offer accelerated 8-week terms so that you can move through the program quickly and receive the career advancement you are looking for.

Some programs, such as our Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership & Learning, allows you to earn up to 48 credit hours tuition free for current competencies upon completion of the LEAD 300 Prior Learning Assessment course.

At UofL, we’ve offered online programs for over 20 years. We understand how to design our educational offerings with the adult student in mind and have had national recognition for our online programs for many years. This includes the U.S. News and World Report’s “Best of” awards, which has recognized UofL with multi ple awards for more than 5 consecutive years. UofL was ranked as one of the best Online Bachelor’s and Online Bachelor’s for Veterans as well as other awards including top #20 Criminal Justice programs in the nation.

With over 50 online learning programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs that encompass a wide range of industries and fields – from business and engineering to health administration, education, psychology and more – we can help you move forward in achieving your goals.

Is online learning the next step for you? View our 50+ online programs.

HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?

We have other FAQ videos and articles to address common questions from prospective students, such as yourself, that you can review here. We are also actively creating resources to help you through the complete enrollment process. Check out one of our most commonly used resources – Transcript Retrieval Guide.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to the online enrollment team at online@louisville.edu. They can answer your questions as well as work with you personally through the application process.