Tag: University of Louisville online

UofL’s Master of Science in Social Work program earns national recognition

UofL’s Master of Science in Social Work program earns national recognition

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Top-25-Online-MSW-Programs-300x219BestMSWprograms.com, an online guide to Master’s in Social Work Degree Programs, has ranked the 100% online Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) at the University of Louisville as the #4 Best Online Program in the country.

The on-campus MSSW program was ranked #14 among public institutions and #33 overall. The MSSW program was one of the 230 programs evaluated for this ranking, though fewer than 30 offer 100% online coursework.

The ranking system combines two well-known publications, U.S. News and World Report, which has ranked graduate social work programs since 1993, and The Gourman Report on Graduate Schools. The Gourman Report bases its results on factors such as program history, facilities, and the content of the curriculum. The rankings from U.S. News and World Report, on the other hand, are based on survey responses from senior faculty and deans.

“I think this is big. I have never seen the combination of U.S. News and Gourman,” said Dr. Terry Singer, Dean of the Kent School of Social Work. “Of the two, slightly more weight has been given to the Gourman Report.”

“No matter what we think of these rankings, it is good to know that people ‘out there’ are taking notice of the good work being done,” Dr. Singer added.

The BestMSWprograms.com rankings note that “the diverse program of study at the Kent School of Social Work allows MSW students to specialize in Marriage and Family Therapy, Military Social Work, School Social Work, Alcohol and Drug Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, Gerontology, or Psychosocial Oncology.”

They also note that the Kent School “was founded in 1936, and has a strong and growing tradition of leadership in social work education,” with specific recognition of UofL’s well-funded and strong research initiatives. “Strengths of the Kent School include its focused research on health disparities and aging, child welfare, trauma, substance abuse and the fact that the school has the only endowed chair in oncology social work in the nation.”

Now, students across the U.S. can also enjoy the excellent quality and tradition of teaching and learning by earning this degree completely online. The online MSSW offered by the Kent School features the same instructional quality, faculty and curriculum options, while also offering the flexibility of the online learning environment.

In fact, BestMSWprograms.com makes note of both the flexibility and variety in their ranking of the online program: “The coursework can be completed either full or part-time, with program lengths ranging from 1-4 years. The Kent School offers a great variety of specializations for an online program, with focused study available in psychosocial oncology, gerontology, mental health, military social work, and alcohol & drug counseling.”

Dr. Pamela Yankeelov, Associate Dean for Student Services at Kent School has a bird’s eye view of this program. “Our faculty and administration staff at Kent School are committed to making our online programs as academically robust as our on campus program. We are known for being rigorous and we will continue to stay rigorous, regardless of the delivery method,” said Dr. Yankeelov. “We work closely with UofL’s Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning and continuously train on pedagogical best practices and we strive to be as responsive to online students as we are to our students in the classroom. Responsive and rigorous, that’s who we are here at the Kent School.”

The online program’s structure, quality and rigorous coursework mirror those in the on-campus program. The combination of online learning and real-world practicum (hands-on supervised field instruction, completed in the community of choice) helps students gain valuable field-related knowledge as well as critical thinking, self-discipline and time management skills.

Visit the MSSW online program site to learn more about the 60-hour program that starts every fall or the 30-hour advanced standing program with starts in both summer and fall. For campus options, please visit Kent School’s pages.

Student Spotlight: Gilberto Maldonado, MSSW Online Student

Student Spotlight: Gilberto Maldonado, MSSW Online Student

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Gilberto Maldonado
Gilberto Maldonado

I am a third-year online student in the Master of Science in Social Work program at the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville. I am also an 18-year veteran of the U.S. Army. As I prepare my transition from a full-time military career to a career in Social Work, I find that the online graduate program at Kent School affords me a unique opportunity to obtain a high quality education while I continue to serve.

I have found the MSSW curriculum to be challenging and motivating, instructive and even inspirational at that same time. The program has allowed me to explore and improve my communication skills, which I anticipate will be paramount to my success as a social worker. The staff and faculty have been supportive and understanding of my need for flexibility and have gone above and beyond my expectations all throughout the enrollment process and leading to my practicum placement.

For me and my family, the MSSW online program at the Kent School has proven to be the most valuable resource for a bright and successful future.

Gilberto Maldonado
MSSW Online Student

University of Louisville Masters in Engineering Management: Interview with Tim Hardin

University of Louisville Masters in Engineering Management: Interview with Tim Hardin

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Dr. Tim Hardin, MEEM Program Director 

If you like to focus on something over a small period of time, get it done, and then move on, the new Masters of Engineering in Engineering Management (MEEM) program at the University of Louisville (UofL) is designed for you.

In the online MEEM program, you can power through a different course every 6 weeks! Dr. Tim Hardin, Program Director, said that “the students see the 6 weeks turnaround as a flexibility rather than a limitation. You can complete two courses in a term, or if your next few weeks will be busy, you can take the next rotation off. You can always enter back into your next course at one of our 5 entry points.”

If you think that the 6 week time frame is a little restrictive then perhaps this program isn’t for you. But that’s not what the school is finding.

“We have had feedback saying that with non-structured courses like say some MOOC, students fall behind. They have no skin in the game. But in our MEEM program, it’s hard to get more than a week behind without repercussions. I’ve had many students asking for next week’s material so they can work ahead. It’s a refreshing change. The quick pace collects a different crowd,” explained Hardin.

“However, we have also had students realize that they are unable to meet the required time frame. It is good for a student to come to that decision early on. The accelerated online learning is not for everyone,” cautioned Hardin.

Though the MEEM program existed on-campus since 1972, it has recently transitioned the offering online in August, 2013. “The program curriculum covers the same material; we still use the same textbooks. However, the assessment quizzes and exams are different.  Those have been replaced with project papers and reports. This strategy helps alleviate some of the possible issues with identity authentication and cheating,” said Hardin.

“The move to online delivery was a little accidental and a little bit planned. I was interested in online learning and the school started to support the medium more and more. We asked our industrial advisory board about switching over and it was a unanimous ‘yes’ from the board and our students,” Hardin clarified.

You can still work on your own schedule as the courses are asynchronous. This is vital as the student body crosses about 14 time zones. The student base even has a few members of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed in the Middle East and Asia. “I think the Blackboard interface we use as a learning platform makes it easier on our students serving abroad.”

Blackboard, the popular online course platform service, allows for PowerPoint voice over videos or webcam videos, assignments, grades, and student-student/student-instructor communications. However, one-on-one phone calls can be scheduled if needed.

As for online teaching pedagogy, the University of Louisville has the full support of the Delphi Center for Teaching and Learning. Delphi staff provide instructional design and quality assurance support for online learning programs at UofL. Professors can take training courses from Delphi which includes best practices. They also offer a voluntary review process to assess compliance to teaching and learning best practices. However, the MEEM instructors will be given a few more semesters under their belt before the reviews will be requested.

Naturally, new course platforms can be associated with a few kinks that need to be ironed out. Though no issues have been noticed as of yet, best practices and technology, such as those that exist to curb cheating and assist students with disabilities have yet to be perfected. This is however, top priority for the online program team. As the MEEM online program gains momentum, more such best practices will be implemented and tested in the current format of the program.

To learn more about enrollment and graduation requirements for the Master of Engineering in Engineering Management Online at University of Louisville, visit our program page.

Written by Shawn Wasserman of Engineering.com.

Corrections in America: Learning from those who wrote the book

Corrections in America: Learning from those who wrote the book

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Rarely do students have an opportunity to learn from the textbook writers, but that’s the case at the University of CorrectionsinAmericaLouisville (UofL). Dr. Harry E. Allen and Bruce Ponder, faculty members teaching at UofL, along with colleague Dr. Edward J. Latessa at the University of Cincinnati, are now working on the 14th edition of the text for Corrections in America.

In the always-evolving field of corrections, it’s noteworthy that one thing has stayed the same since the 1970s – the textbook. In fact, Corrections in America is the longest continually published textbook in the field and continues to be the best-selling text in the study of corrections.

The 14th edition continues its established tradition of comprehensive, student-friendly instruction coverage with extensive supplemental study materials. It covers virtually all aspects of corrections, including the history of corrections system, prisons in the present, correctional ideologies, sentencing and legal issues, alternatives to imprisonment, institutional corrections, and correctional clients.

But it’s more than just the variety of subject matter that sets Corrections in America apart. The text has maintained its position in the market because of its adaptability. Like the field of corrections itself, the text has undergone numerous changes over the years, with some editions seeing more revisions than all of the previous editions combined, according to the authors.

The authors also take great pride in reviewing feedback from colleagues across the country and work to balance research and theory with practical and predictive examples included in the text. This helps to make the book both informative and interesting to eager to learn students.

The text is organized in sections ranging from historical perspectives and the justice process to correctional systems and functions and a link to the future, in which the authors offer a look at future trends, innovations and programs that could develop and be expanded. By looking forward, the authors challenge students to become thought leaders in their chosen field and think about the sustainability of the corrections environment.

The University of Louisville is a research-based public institution for higher learning widely recognized for its contribution to exploration and innovation in various fields, and Allen and Ponder are a great example of dedication and participation to the progress of the correction field. In addition to their research, the duo will also teach their course online this coming spring, presenting an opportunity for students, both near and far, to gain valuable knowledge and skills in this area of interest.

Naturally, “Corrections in America” 14th edition is the textbook supporting the course JA 202 (Corrections in the U.S.) in the Justice Administration degree program at UofL. The online delivery method allows for students to learn at a time that’s convenient for their schedule and in the comfort of their own home.
The course JA 202 presents an introduction to the history, practices, and issues related to the correctional function in American criminal justice. As with the textbook, topics in the course range from the history of prisons to inmate subcultures and institutions to correctional issues such as overcrowding, stress, sexual violence, and administrative problems. Allen and Ponder note that both adult and juvenile corrections are covered in the course, just like the text.

Learn more about the Corrections in America by visiting http://louisville.edu/justice/about-us/faculty-research. To apply and enroll to the criminal justice degrees at bachelor’s and master’s levels offered online at the University of Louisville, please visit Louisville.edu/online.

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