Online Degrees, Certificates, and Courses

News

Online companion animal nutrition certificate program launches at Illinois | 5.14.2019

The Department of Animal Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences has launched a Companion Animal Nutrition Certificate. Read the article about the launch of this exciting new program or learn more about how to enroll.

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University Of Illinois Offers Online Summer Courses | 3.5.2019

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers more than 350 online course sections to undergraduate and non-degree seeking students this summer.

Urbana, IL – Illinois Online at the University of Illinois offers more than 350 online summer courses to current undergraduate students and non-degree students from around the globe. Course sections are taught in 4-, 8-, and 12- week options with various start dates.

Summer session provides an excellent opportunity for students to continue their academic work. Illinois has been offering high-quality online options for over 22 years. Whether our students are on campus, traveling, working, or involved in a summer internship; they can benefit from the rich learning experiences the University of Illinois offers.

Online courses provide the flexibility to learn from nationally recognized faculty wherever you are. A wide variety of courses are offered and use the same technology as we use in our everyday lives. The courses can provide the opportunity to meet curriculum needs, access high-demand and general education topics, decrease time to complete a degree, and update your professional skill set.

For more information about summer courses at the University of Illinois, visit online.illinois.edu/summer.

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University of Illinois Master’s Degrees Part of Coursera’s National Advertising Campaign | 1.29.2019

This week, Coursera, the world’s largest online learning platform, released three TV advertisements to raise awareness for the high-quality online courses and degrees offered from the world’s best universities, including the University of Illinois.

Advertisements highlight two of the four master’s degree programs that the University of Illinois is making available to a broader population through Coursera’s online platform including the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) and Master of Science in Accountancy (iMSA) offered by the Gies College of Business, and the Master of Computer Science and Master of Computer Science – Data Science programs offered by Illinois Computer Science.

From January 28 through March 31, the campaign will run nationally with emphasis in Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, St Louis, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Madison, Phoenix, and Philadelphia. A few of the television networks running the campaign include:

View the advertisements. Learn more about Illinois programs on Coursera.

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Meet the University of Illinois Catalytic Speakers for TECH 2018 | 12.14.2018

This past November, UNESCO MGIEP, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development— a research 1 category institute of UNESCO, held their international Transforming Education Conference for Humanity (TECH 2018) in Visakhapatnam, India. Tech 2018 aims to showcase the role of games and digital learning in enabling a shift from “transmissive pedagogies” to “transformative pedagogies” to create peaceful and sustainable societies. The University of Illinois Department of Education’s very own Mila Fuller, Mary Kalantzis, and Bill Cope traveled to Visakhapatnam to present at TECH 2018!

At the conference, Mila presented on Digital Creativity: Empowering Learners through Innovation and Knowledge Construction. Mary spoke on E-learning Ecologies: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning for the Digital Age; while, Bill communicated his ideas on New Media Affordances: Pedagogical Alternatives in Technology-Mediated Learning Environments. Currently, Bill and Mary are overseeing the production of a report for UNESCO MGIEP to promote the usage of digital resources as a key learning tool in the education systems of member states to build peaceful and sustainable societies. Mila just completed a two year term as a governing board member for UNESCO MGIEP and is a member of the International Advisory Board for TECH 2018 for UNESCO MGIEP (http://mgiep.unesco.org/tech-2018-international-advisory-board). Congratulations to our presenters Mila, Mary, and Bill for being some of the most astute and original thinkers on a global spectrum.

Bill Cope, The Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mary Kalantzis, Co-author, New Learning: Elements of a Science of Education / University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Online Learning

Mila Thomas Fuller, President, Board of Directors, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Online Learning

Read more about the speakers on UNESCO MGIEP’s website for TECH 2018 at: http://mgiep.unesco.org/tech-2018-catalytic-speakers.

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Events

Date	Event
6.10.2019	First Day of Summer Session Courses for PoT S2 & S2A (?)
7.8.2019	Fall 2019 Registration Opens for Non-Degree Students (?)
7.8.2019	First Day of Summer Session Courses for PoT S2B (?)

Online Illinois Calendar

Blogs

Spice Up Your Summer With One of Our Online Courses | 5.2.2019

Summer is quickly approaching, which means tasty barbeques, crackling bonfires, and best of all, online courses! If you’re still looking for something to fill your time this summer, or simply want to get ahead or learn something new, consider registering for one of our many online courses.

Online summer courses are a great way to get ahead in your studies or to catch up if you’re a little behind. Not only can you take a class from anywhere in the world, a majority of them offer a flexible class schedule that allows you to work at your own pace. With such a large offering of courses, online courses are also a great way to learn about subjects that are relevant and interesting specifically to you. We’ve highlighted a few of the courses being offered this summer below!

ATMS 140: Climate and Global Change

You may have heard a lot about climate change over the past couple of years, but do you know the major factors behind it? In ATMS 140, students will examine the physical, chemical, biological, and social factors contributing to global change. Students will also learn the steps being taken to combat climate change, as well as the little things they can do to aid the fight.

GEOL 100: Planet Earth

Are you interested in natural disasters and how they’re formed? How about learning more about the formation of life on Earth, including Dinosaurs? We have the perfect course for you! GEOL 100 will introduce non-science majors to physical and historical aspects of our planet Earth. While you may call Earth home, you’d be surprised at how much you don’t know about it, and how much there is to learn.

ASTR 100: Introduction to Astronomy

Not traveling anywhere this summer? Register for ASTR 100 online and take a trip to outer-space! This course will cover topics including the night sky, the nature and evolution of stars, and the origin of the solar system. Everybody’s wanted to be an Astronaut at some point in their life, so why not explore outer space while you can?

PHIL 102: Logic and Reasoning

Have you ever had a friend who was unnaturally good at winning arguments? Well, now’s your chance to finally learn the skills to take them down. PHIL 102 will allow students to study logical reasoning, and learn techniques for analyzing and criticizing arguments. Now’s your chance to finally learn how to win that argument, take advantage!

Theatre 101: Introduction to Theatre Arts

Immerse yourself in the art of theatre this summer in THEA 101! This course will give you an introduction to the arts of theater including acting, design, directing, dramaturgy, and playwriting. You’ll be a theatre buff before you know it!

While we’ve highlighted several excellent online courses above, there are many more interesting courses to choose from. Check out the rest of the courses offered at https://online.illinois.edu/online-courses/summer-session.

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Student Testimonial: How Online Courses Helped Me Stay on Track and Graduate on Time | 2.22.2019

As an incoming freshman at the University of Illinois, I had no clue what I wanted to major in. I spent my freshman year in the division of general studies trying to figure out the right fit for me. At the end of the year, I made the decision to declare as an economics major. This wasn’t an indication that I had figured it all out, but more of an attempt to try and solidify some part of my future. I was in economics for about a year before I realized that it wasn’t the right major for me. As a musician, I felt that I needed a major that would give me more of an outlet to express my creativity. I again went searching for what I thought was the right major for me. During my search, I stumbled upon advertising, and realized that it was the perfect fit. If I wanted to make the switch to advertising, it would mean prolonging the time it took for me to graduate by another year. I was torn between majoring in something I knew I would love, or possibly sacrificing my happiness to graduate on time. After talking with my academic advisor, she informed me that graduating on time could be possible with the help of some online summer and winter courses.

Over my remaining two years of school I took multiple online courses both during the semester and during the winter and summer sessions. When I first took an online course during the summer session, I thought that I would be overwhelmed trying to balance a fast pace course and a full time job. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had time to complete my coursework, work full time, and enjoy plenty of time with my friends and family. During the winter session, my business management class was condensed into four weeks, but I never felt overwhelmed at any time and still had plenty of time to enjoy my break. Online courses during the semester helped me to fit more credit hours into my schedule while ensuring I wouldn’t spend hours in a classroom every day. I was able to add more classrooms to my semester while learning interesting material at the same time. Without online courses at Illinois, I wouldn’t be walking this spring or starting a job this fall. Without online courses, I would still be an economics major, most likely never discovering my love for the advertising industry. I encourage every student to take an online course while in college, whether it’s to help you get ahead or simply to learn more while you have the chance.

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A look into Information, Accessibility, Design, and Policy at Illinois | 12.5.2018

In collaboration with the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services, the College of Applied Health Sciences continues our pioneering efforts on behalf of the full inclusion of people with disabilities by developing the very first university-based professional certificate in Information Accessibility Design and Policy.

The person that transformed the University of Illinois’ policies for people with disabilities: Tim Nugent. “Tim Nugent was a pioneer for disability rights and accessibility, founding a first-of-its-kind program at the University of Illinois, leading research efforts, and advocating for changes that would have influence well beyond the campus ”(Illinois News Bureau).

To honor Nugent and his many innovations, we are Introducing the Timeline of Disability & Accessibility by IADP at Illinois. Dr. Nugent achieved a number of significant “firsts” in serving people with disabilities at the University of Illinois.

1949: First National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament & Founded NWBA
Nugent created the first National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament which lead to the creation of the NWBA to provide a year-round structure to wheelchair basketball” (NWBA).

1950: The first curb cuts at a post-secondary institution
“Curb cuts on campus promote accessibility for people in wheelchairs and can also serve as a directional guide for the blind” (Illinois Archives).

1952: The first fixed-routine buses with wheelchair lifts.
“When students first came to the Champaign-Urbana campus, there were two transportation options available: push to class or schedule a ride with someone who had a car. In 1952, that changed when the "Blue Bulls," two buses with hydraulic lifts, made their debut. Seats on one side were removed to allow wheelchair access to the remaining row of seats and to accommodate storage. These buses laid the groundwork for accessible metropolitan transportation systems now available nationwide” (Illinois Archives).

1959: The first and still only residential program to serve students with severe disabilities who require assistance in performing daily living tasks and the first state-of-the-art residential hall integrating students with and without disabilities in a unique living-learning community. Otherwise known as the “Illinois Program Model.”

“Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) and the Greenbrier Nursing Home of Champaign built the hall Tanbier. Disability support services personnel at the University of Illinois sought to create a means by which students who needed assistance with activities of daily living could move away from home, reside in the Champaign-Urbana community, attend the University of Illinois, and become better prepared to manage their disability-related needs and move to the locale of the best available employment opportunity after graduation” (An Exploration into the Barriers and Facilitators Experienced by University Graduates with Disabilities Requiring Personal Assistance Services). Photo: Tim Nugent Hall is a LEED certified hall and houses mostly upper-division undergraduates, and the first floor is home to the Beckwith Residential Community program for students with severe physical disabilities.

1961: The first study abroad program for students with disabilities
Sweden’s Central Committee on Rehabilitation awarded Nugent as an “outstanding expert in rehabilitation.” This funded Illinois’ DRES program to fund the first post-secondary institution to organize national and international trips for individuals with disabilities, host workshops, and provide demos dispelling negative, stereotypical attitudes & beliefs about persons with disabilities” (The History of Discrimination in U.S. Education).

1962: 18 wheelchair-using students and alumni traveled to South Africa in 1962 to show what these students with disabilities and alumni had accomplished.

1965: The University of Illinois piloted its first study abroad program to Auix-en-Providence, France, for disabled university students.

1973: Tim Nugent is inducted into the Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame.
“Always a visionary, Dr. Nugent expanded wheelchair basketball beyond the VA hospitals to bring structure to the sport and create worldwide adoption and acceptance for wheelchair basketball. That acceptance has seen the sport grow into one that is now competed on the program of the Paralympic Games and Parapan Am Games, and which has been enjoyed by millions of people.”

1984: The first college-level adapted sports and recreation program. This produced the first wheelchair athlete in the world to win the Olympics. Sharon Hedrick, won a gold track medal at the Olympic Games by breaking the world record. She finished with a time of 2:15.73 in the 800m wheelchair. She successfully defended this title at the following games in South Korea.

About Illinois Online
At Illinois, we understand that today’s learners want and need options for their education and we are leading the way in innovative higher education delivery modalities. From high school students pursuing online math programs to residential students taking an online course to improve their time to degree to working professionals who want or need certifications, to career changers pursuing a fully online degree, to personal curiosity from someone who wants to explore a subject area. Illinois offers an extensive range of online academic options to students around the globe including 90+ Online Degree, Certificate and Endorsement Programs, 1700+ Online Course Sections, Online Learners from Across the Globe and 3.2 million MOOC Learners (Massive Open Online Courses). For more information visit: https://online.illinois.edu/.

About IADP
Through the professional certificate program in Information Accessibility Design and Policy (IADP), website developers, programmers, designers, information technology specialists, compliance officers, educators, and disability service providers will learn about the following: Principles of accessible information architecture and universal design information technologies used in educational, healthcare, corporate, and employment settings. Federal and state legal mandates governing information technology accessibility and their relationship to the civil rights of people with disabilities. Information technology accessibility standards, design practices that enable adherence to those standards, and tools that support validation and evidence of compliance to those standards. Each certificate requires the completion of three graduate courses (2 hours each, a total of 6 hours). For more information visit: http://iadp.ahs.illinois.edu/.

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Take Online Courses This Winter Break | 10.26.2018

It seems like the school year just began, but the end of the semester is starting to creep up on us. During this time, students are beginning to decide what they want to do during their winter break. If you have no plans, or even if you do, consider taking an online course during your time off! Winter courses allow students to stay on track or get ahead by providing them with a flexible and beneficial learning experience while learning valuable skills such as time management and goal setting. These courses run from December 21 through January 12 can fulfill requirements for your major or allow you to maximize your time with an interesting course! Below are a few, but not all, of the courses you can take this winter!

Econ 102 & 103: Economics 102 and 103 are courses that many majors on campus require for graduation. ECON 102 (Microeconomics) offers an introduction to the functions of individualistic decision makers, both consumers and producers, within the larger economic systems. ECON 103 (Macroeconomics) provides students with a much broader overview of economics including an introduction to the theory of determination of total or aggregate income, employment, output, price levels, and the role of money in the economy. If you’re looking to get one of these courses out of the way, or simply want to take an interesting and useful general education class, consider taking one of these this winter break.

ASTR 100: If you were one of the many kids who dreamt of being an astronaut one day, then this course is for you! ASTR 100 introduces students to the basic topics of modern astronomy including the night sky, the solar system and its origin, the nature and evolution of stars, and even black holes. This course not only satisfies a gen ed requirement but also provides you with interesting and useful material that you can use to impress your friends for years to come.

BADM Courses: Illinois offers a number of Business Administration courses during the winter semester including BADM 310, 320, 380, and more! A number of majors require or recommend their students take a BADM course, and the winter session is a great way for students to use their free time over winter break to accomplish this. BADM courses are also highly beneficial for any major on campus and will provide interesting material for any student. Check out all of the BADM courses offered this winter break here.

GEOG 204: If you’re stuck at home this winter break, let GEOG 204 take you around the world! This course examines ten major regions of the world, allowing students to explore the significant urban patterns and processes, built and natural environments, and social, economic, and cultural landscapes of each. Don’t let your winter break go to waste! Register for GEOG 204 and explore the world.

The courses listed above are just a few of the many courses that we offer during winter break! Visit our website to view our course catalog, and to learn more about why you should choose Illinois Online this winter break. Whether you want to get ahead, stay on track, or simply take an interesting course, our winter session is perfect for you.

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University of Illinois Illinois Online University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Summer Session Course: CMN 212

Summer Session Course: RHET 105

Summer Session Course: GEOG 105

Summer Session Course: ENGL 104

Summer Session Course: SPAN 252

Summer Session Course: ANTH 209

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