Pennsylvania College of Technology, an Affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University: Distance Learning Programs In-Depth

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Pennsylvania College of Technology, an Affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University

Distance Learning

Williamsport, Pennsylvania


DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

The Penn College distance learning program was founded on the central principle of providing excellence in instruction and appropriate educational opportunities to students. Five unique bachelor's degree completion programs in Applied Health Studies, Automotive Technology Management, Dental Hygiene, Residential Construction Technology and Management, and Technology Management give students who have previously earned an associate's degree in a technical or professional area or who have met specified professional standards, the opportunity to complete a bachelor's degree via distance learning.

Penn College offers an average of thirty-two distance courses across a range of academic disciplines and enrolls more than 300 distance learning students per semester.

DELIVERY MEDIA

Penn College operates on the WebCT instructional platform. In addition, supported applications include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat, Macromedia Director, Flash, Apple Quick Time, Windows Media Player, and Respondus. Certain discipline-specific software programs also are employed.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The Bachelor of Science degree in residential construction technology and management allows students who have earned appropriate applied technology skills in their first two years to move into advanced course work related to residential construction and management. Course work includes basic management and accounting as well as advanced estimating and scheduling, residential building systems, cost control, codes compliance, construction law, purchasing, and energy management.

The Bachelor of Science degree in technology management allows students who enter with an associate degree in a technical/professional area to obtain a baccalaureate degree, with the last two years emphasizing the development of business management skills. Technical/professional associate degrees include those with a concentrated area of study in a technical/professional area.

The Bachelor of Science degree in applied health studies is a 127-credit major for individuals who are certified, licensed, or registered in a health-care profession or for students enrolled in the College's occupational therapy assistant, paramedic, or radiography majors, who wish to earn a bachelor's degree. Students acquire the advanced-level core knowledge that guides all health-care practitioners. This degree allows the student to increase knowledge in management and administrative issues; to assist in planning, problem solving, and evaluating health-care delivery methods and systems; and to establish a more marketable, multiskilled background.

The baccalaureate-level dental hygiene program is designed to prepare licensed dental hygienists to contribute to the improvement of oral health in a rapidly changing health-care environment. This program enables hygienists to build upon their current knowledge base and assume positions of responsibility in a variety of alternate care settings as well as in positions created to meet future health-care needs.

The Bachelor of Science degree in automotive technology management is structured to meet the needs of the automotive service and manufacturing industries. The curriculum provides an in-depth study of technical skills, technical knowledge, and management skills as applied in the automotive industry. It emphasizes supervision and personnel management, financial analysis and accounting principles, sales promotion and marketing plan, problemsolving methods, and organization and planning techniques as well as communications and mathematics, which are essential for a management career.

The mission of distance learning at the Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College)—a special mission affiliate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education—is to provide educational opportunities, using a variety of media, as an alternative to traditional classroom-based learning. Distance learning courses are accessible to students both off and on campus and are intended to meet the needs of students who desire an alternative to traditional face-to-face courses due to work schedules, geographical distance from the campus, or other special needs.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Office of Distance Learning assists in scheduling and determining each semester's class offerings in concert with the academic deans. Courses are offered on a regular and predictable basis to ensure academic progress and adequate course selection of those learning at a distance.

To accommodate the needs of distance learners, selected enrollments are restricted at the start of each semester scheduling period. Resident students also may enroll in distance courses on a space-available basis.

STUDENT SERVICES

Penn College distance learners have full student standing and are entitled to all the privileges and services of a Penn College student. The Financial Aid Office, Career Services, the Advisement Center, and the College Store all have a Web presence and respond to student inquiries via telephone or e-mail. Distance students may order textbooks via the Web site. The library catalog and other references, periodical abstracts, and full-text databases are available through the Penn College Library Web site. An electronic reserve system is provided for assigned readings and supplemental assignments. A College librarian is assigned to each distance learning course to address distance learning and library instruction needs.

CREDIT OPTIONS

Transfer credits, advanced placement, credit for military experience, professional certifications, and credit by exam may be considered during transcript review. Acceptance of credits varies by major.

FACULTY

Thirty-nine faculty members teach the distance learning courses; 92 percent are full-time faculty members.

ADMISSION

Distance learners are accepted to Penn College and the academic department that houses their major. There is no separate admission process for distance learning students.

TUITION AND FEES

Tuition and fee rates for 2003–04, including computer, lab, and activity fees, were $298 per credit hour for in-state students and $375 per credit hour for out-of-state students.

FINANCIAL AID

As students in full standing, distance learners may be eligible for financial aid, including federal aid programs.

CONTACT

Paul Neal
Distance Learning Services Assistant
Pennsylvania College of Technology
One College Avenue
Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17701
Telephone: 570-320-8019 800-367-9222 (toll-free)
Fax: 570-321-5559
E-mail: [email protected]
World Wide Web: http://www.pct.edu/disteduc

APPLYING

Students should submit an application for admission online at http://www.pct.edu/forms or contact the Office of Admissions at the toll-free number listed in the Contact section of this description.

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