resources Archives | UofL Online Programs

Student Spotlight: Leadership, Training, & Organizational Development Student Answers

By Conner Mackowiak | February 1, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

Chrysty Fortner, PMP, BCxP, and BSOLL – LTOD graduate is a UofL Online grad who completed a BS in Organizational Leadership & Learning, with a focus in Leadership, Training, & Organizational Development. She is currently employed at ECHO Power Engineering as a Director of Programs and Special Projects. Today, we’ll be reviewing her answers to some of our student spotlight questions to better understand her program and how it will prepare her for future career success! As Chrysty notes, “At 55 I started this program because I wanted to set my sights on career advancement between 55 and retirement, this program is how I chose to address it. The experience has been one of the most empowering journeys in all of my working years. I am literally ready for anything life has to offer!”

Let’s dive into her responses to our questions!

Q: Why did you select the OLL program?

CF: I researched relentlessly. It’s how I am made. I was searching for two specific outcomes: finding a program that would evaluate credit hours for past work experiences and ensuring the program could utilize my old (old) school credits to shorten the bridge to graduation.

Q: What are you enjoying most about the program?

CF: The courses are highly relevant to today’s professional challenges. Addressing the social dynamics as well as the advances in processes and technology have made what I’m learning at this stage of my career invaluable. I am becoming a more confident critical thinker, while incorporating new and old ideas into my work.

Q: Do you feel the program is providing the skills you need to be successful in your career?

CF: Most definitely, and certainly skills I could have been using the past thirty years to navigate tough people, tough situations, and tough work environments. I can say this with certainty, it’s never too late to validate the tools you already have and learn new skills altogether.

Q: Would you recommend the program? Why?

CF: I highly recommend the program. After reviewing my past college credits with my advisor, it was discovered that I could earn thirty-six credit hours from past experience and needed only twelve program-specific courses to graduate. The BSOLL program was designed to help learners like me attain those credit hours and is flexible enough to allow for a course load to fit my objectives and schedule. Additionally, the obvious mission for both faculty and advisors is to, “…help them cross the finish line!”

Q: What is your new employer’s name and what is your new title?

CF: Director of Programs and Special Projects at ECHO Power Engineering.

Q: Any additional comments you would like to share?

CF: At 55 I started this program because I wanted to set my sights on career advancement between 55 and retirement, this program is how I chose to address it. The experience has been one of the most empowering journeys in all of my working years. I am literally ready for anything life has to offer!

Curious about the Leadership, Training, & Organizational Leadership track? Click here and learn more!

Bachelor of Art vs. Bachelor of Science in Communications at UofL Online

By Gillian Sclafani | January 31, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

The University of Louisville’s Online Learning division offers prospective students the opportunity to earn their bachelor’s degree in Communications. Offered as a BA or BS, both communication degrees are effective in preparing online students for a wide range of career opportunities. However, deciding which degree path to pursue can be a personal choice based on your individual career goals.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) focuses on the overall enhancement of oral and written communication skills, as well as developing your understanding of how we as humans communicate with one another, combined with courses in liberal arts and a variety of additional elective options. The (BS) in Communications deepens your knowledge of skills in such areas as copywriting, public speaking and focuses more on a student’s targeted career path within the communications field.

Highlighted below is a breakdown of the two communication degree options offered at UofL, along with career outcomes and potential internship opportunities.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication:

The BA in Communication is offered in a 121 credit-hour format. The BA requires 18 hours in core communication disciplines and 18 hours in communication electives, focusing on delivering a wider breath of knowledge in areas like foreign language and liberal arts. Students interested in pursuing their BA in communications gain a broader understanding of how we communicate with one another with additional core requirements in a foreign language and other social science areas (such as sociology, psychology or women’s, gender and sexuality studies).

Graduates from the B.A. in Communication have a broader understanding of the communication field as a whole and the option to pursue multiple career paths. Some options of potential career opportunities for graduate from this degree include; TV and cable companies, radio stations, advertising agencies, news organizations, print publishing companies, event firms and many more.

Bachelor of Science in Communication:

The BS in Communication is offered in a 121 credit-hour format as well. However, the BS option requires 27 hours in core communication disciplines and 21 hours in communication electives. This degree option focuses more on applied communication with core requirements in areas like copywriting, newswriting, public speaking, debate and more. In addition to a more targeted track option within the communication field of study, students are also required to complete an internship (3 credits) in order to graduate. By requiring a mandatory internship, students will gain hands-on experience within their chosen field of interest. Along with the internship requirement, additional core communication courses are required in the following classes:

Comm 302 – Advanced Speech Communication or 319 Debate (3 credits) – Advanced principals of public speaking
Comm 320, 323, or 344 (3 credits) – Study and practice of news-writing and reporting techniques for routine news stories, including story organization, writing story leads, and the elements of hard news and feature journalism.

The University’s communication and advising departments work with online students in the BS Communications track to find internships that are best suited for their professional goals. Several examples of current internship opportunities for communication majors include:

Emma Bowen Foundation – The Emma Bowen Foundation promotes a more diverse industry by recruiting promising students of color and placing them in multi-year paid summer internships at some of the nation’s leading media and tech companies, such as FOX Television Stations, Hearst Television, The Financial Times, NFL, Paramount, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Whether you’re interested in being a producer, a journalist, a web developer, an engineer, a business executive, a PR agent, a sales representative, or any other career in media or tech, the EBF Internship is here to help you get your start.

Sports Radio America – SRA is seeking a Sports Writer intern. The intern will work under the supervision of the Managing Editor. Provide game notes, reports, and recaps for the university attendees. If accessible, provide news and insights to high school sports in the surrounding area. If approved for media credentials by the Sports Information Department, cover post-game press conferences, provide pictures, videos, and sounds from games covered.

Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana – Assist the team with the planning of fundraising events, stewardship of donors, and administrative support of fundraisers including Walk for Wishes, Gala and many more.

Signature Inspire Foundation – Social Media Intern to manage the social media of Signature Inspire Foundation. Utilizing all social media platforms to support Signature Inspire Foundation’s programs & services and increase awareness of the foundation.

For a complete list of available internship opportunities for communication majors, click here.

Earning a degree in communication opens the doors to ample career opportunities. No matter which communications degree path you choose, a BS or a BA, the expertise you develop in analyzing and implementing communication methods will afford graduates the opportunity to increase their portfolio within the communications field.

Our graduates go on to succeed in a variety of careers—from producer to technical writer to HR manager to podcast personality and so much more. Many career paths chosen by communication graduates increase their annual salary as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, if you chose a career as an editor, the median annual salary is $63,400. Or an advertising or marketing manager with minimum requirement of a bachelor’s degree, the median annual salary is $141,490 with the expected growth rate in the U.S. to be an above average 6% between 2019 and 2029 (bls.gov).

No matter where you are in your pursuit of your degree, the University of Louisville’s Online Learning department is here to help you succeed. With three application deadline options, rolling admissions and three term start dates – the options for incoming or transferring students are plentiful. To begin or continue your degree in this field – start your application today, by clicking here. For a complete list of all programs offered online, view the program finder for more information.

An Inclusive Education for All – Resources and Programs for Online Students

By Gillian Sclafani | January 11, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

The University of Louisville takes pride in offering over 50 degree and certificate options, 100% online. With online bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs across various industries and disciplines, our students can achieve their educational and professional goals with the flexibility to learn and study at a time that is most convenient for them.

In addition to the wide array of degree options and the flexibility of online course work, UofL also prides itself on providing an inclusive, diverse learning environment for our online community. Whether you are returning to school to complete your degree or taking your first college course, we want to make sure you have the tools and resources necessary to succeed in a diverse and ever-changing landscape. Some of the many benefits available to our on-campus and online students include:

The Office of Diversity and Equity – The Office of Diversity and Equity offers a wide array of departments and programs to make sure all voices are understood, heard, and appreciated. The goal of this office is to foster and sustain an educational community that offers a nurturing and challenging intellectual climate, respect for the spectrum of human diversity and an understanding of the many differences – including race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, and religion. Some of the departments and programs available for our students include:

Arts & Sciences International, Diversity and Engagement Programs – The Office of Diversity, Engagement, Culture & Climate (DECC) supports the College of Arts and Sciences in its effort to transform the teaching, learning, and working environment into one of full inclusion and equity for all. The DECC Student Council offers various series and forums to the UofL community on topics including the Yearlings Club Series, West Louisville Economic Development Forum, and the Louisville Downtown Civil Rights Markers Project. Students interested in becoming a member of the DECC Student Council are encouraged to contact Cherie Dawson at dawson@louisville.edu.

Disability Resource Center – In recognition of those with a disability as an important part of the diverse community at UofL, the Disability Resource Center fosters an inclusive environment through education, service, collaboration, and outreach. The Center provides support services for students with a documented disability and promotes equal access to all programs and services.

Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity and Inclusion (HSC) – The HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion offers a wide array of educational and programmatic resources including Diversity Lunch & Learns, Poverty Simulation, Everyday Bias Workshop for the Health Professions, Culturally Effective Care Resources, 2022 LGBTQ+ and Cancer CARE SCHO Invitation, and much more. Students interested in learning more can contact the HSC Office for Diversity and Inclusion at HSCODI@louisville.edu.

Office of Admissions-Diversity Recruitment – The mission of the Office of Admissions-Diversity Recruitment is to foster an environment that reflects the spectrum of human differences, so that all students can grow, develop and immerse themselves in a diverse and ever-changing society. Some of the many benefits offered by the Office of Admissions-Diversity Recruitment include scholarship opportunities, such as the Brown Fellows Program, Grawemeyer Scholarship, McConnell Scholars, Martin Luther King Scholars Program, and the Woodford R. Porter Scholarship. For more information on the scholarship opportunities available through the Office of Admissions-Diversity Recruitment, students are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions at admitme@louisvill.edu. Please note, some of the scholarships listed above are offered for traditional on-campus students only.

PEACC Program – PEACC provides confidential advocacy for students, faculty and staff who have been impacted by interpersonal violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The PEACC program also provides prevention education courses and programs available to the UofL community. In addition, PEACC also offers events through the GREEN DOT organization including – yoga, pizza, scavenger hunts, and more.

TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) – The TRIO SSS is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the University of Louisville. TRIO is committed to helping low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities, achieve a bachelor’s degree. The program’s mission is to increase retention and graduation rates by offering academic, financial, and support services. During the academic year, TRIO students receive individual and group advising to foster positive study habits and academic success. Some of the benefits of joining TRIO include study skills development, academic workshops, one-on-one tutoring, and much more. For more information on the TRIO SSS or ways to apply; interested students are encouraged to complete the application here.

Center for Military-Connected Students – The goal of the Center for Military-Connected Students is to assist military-connected students in a successful transition into and out of the Cardinal community through a culture of engagement and inclusion. This is provided through individualized support to our Veteran students and their families. In addition to the vast number of transitional services, UofL Online also offers a discounted tuition rate for Active-Duty service members and members of the Coast Guard. For more information on tuition discounts and services provided, students are encouraged to contact the Center for Military-Connected Students by clicking here.

In addition to the many programs and offices available for students interested in expanding their knowledge and immersing themselves in an inclusive and diverse environment at UofL, the campus recently opened the Cultural & Equity Center. The Center includes the Office of Diversity Education and Inclusive Excellence, the LGBT Center at UofL, the Muhammad Ali Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of Louisville, and the Women’s Center. While these offices are housed on campus, online students are encouraged to reach out to join or become a member virtually.

Along with the many opportunities afforded to students from diverse backgrounds, UofL also earned five out of five stars in the Campus Pride Index. Campus Pride is a national nonprofit that rates colleges and universities according to their support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. The Campus Pride Index is a vital tool in assisting campuses in learning ways to improve their LGBTQ+ campus life. Additionally, UofL is the only public institution in the south to be recognized by this organization.

Whether you are starting your educational journey in 2023 or looking to complete your degree at UofL Online, we want to make sure you have every resource available for a successful and inclusive journey. For more information on the offices and programs available, students are welcome to contact the Office of Diversity & Equity at diversity@louisville.edu or the Online Learning Office at online@louisville.edu. For a complete list of all resources available for our online student learning community, click here.

Student Spotlight: Healthcare Leadership Student Answers 5 of Our Questions

By Conner Mackowiak | November 3, 2022 | Comments 0 Comment

Jenna Braden is a UofL Online student pursuing a BS in Organizational Leadership & Learning, with a track focus in Healthcare Leadership. She is also currently employed at Humana as a Manager for HPS Clinical Formulary Administration. Today, we’ll be reviewing her answers to some of our student spotlight questions to better understand her program and how it will prepare her for future career success! As Jenna notes, “This program was designed to transform the learning and college experience, making a degree possible for anyone, at any stage of life.”