Apparently you can these days. As a “baby boomer”, that wasn’t how it was done when I finished High School. Then when my college years had passed and I was a stay-at-home Mom raising my children, I decided to take distance education classes, all done by mail…with tests proctored at our Library. I learned a lot, but it was still not as accepted as it is now.

Now there are many College courses that you can take online, including one I’d like to tell you about that’s offered USC (University of Southern California), the USC Rossier School of Education’s MAR@USC. Whether you are currently teaching or an aspiring teacher, their program offers the convenience of studying online. You can find program information here. Yes, without traveling clear across the USA a New Jersey resident may be able to work toward a teaching degree through this online study program.

Here are some “bullet point” facts about the program that might interest you:

• The program offers interactive online learning as well as field-based experience
• Offers a unique tuition reimbursement program
• Look carefully at the accelerated program that you can complete in as little as 12 months
• Visit the MAT@USC Student Blog and read insights about the program from actual students
• Rossier and the MAT@USC have received the AACTE Award for innovative use of technology in education

Sounds good so far, doesn’t it?  Here are some more things for you to consider:

• You can earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from a renowned research institution with a 100-year history of educating teachers.
• The school has been ranked #22 in the United States, and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report.
• Again, you study through interactive online learning with field-based experiences in your local area.
• You have the opportunity to learn from distinguished USC faculty recognized for their contributions to modern education.
• When you graduate, you receive full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Association memberships.

While there I decided to do a search on “New Jersey” and found quite a few requests for donations in classrooms in my home State. I liked doing that because I know the area, and can vouch for the fact that the schools are in needy areas. You may want to do the same.

It’s a unique concept to me, and something worth looking into especially now with school budgets being among many things that will feel the economic crunch.