UND to offer online master of science in early childhood education Starting this fall, UND will offer the state’s first online master’s degree in early childhood education. “The Early Childhood Education master’s degree from the University of North Dakota is being offered nationwide because of the quality of the program, cost, and because graduates have given positive feedback about the program over the years,” said Dr. Glenn Olsen, professor and chair of UND’s Department of Teaching and Learning. The online degree typically takes 18 to 24 months to complete. To graduate, students must complete 33 credits. The program is designed for working adults who are unable to complete a traditional, on-campus program. The online program may be completed on a full or part-time basis from anywhere in the world. Tuition for online courses is charged at the North Dakota resident rate regardless of where the student lives. Olsen commented, “The online delivery has been in the planning stages for several years, and we have the resources and expertise in online development and teaching to support the growth of graduate students. We look forward to many positive experiences with students around the country and the world.” Students pursuing this degree come from a variety of work settings including public and private schools, Head Start programs, child development and child care centers, and other programs relating to the education of young children. Job growth is expected, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to a push to improve early childhood education in many states by offering full-day kindergarten and universal preschool programs. These programs, along with projected higher enrollment growth for preschool age children, will create many new jobs for preschool teachers. For more information about the degree, contact UND Online & Distance Education at www.distance.und.edu/degrees or 1-800-342-8230. About UND College of Education & Human Development The College of Education and Human Development at UND is among the largest and most extensive colleges of its kind between Minneapolis and Seattle. The College possesses an excellent reputation in the region and boasts highly reputed and popular academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, productive and innovative faculty and staff, extensive network of distance programs, and a talented and diverse student body. -- Jennifer Swangler, Assitant Director to Marketing, Continuing Education, jenniferswangler@mail.und.edu, 777-6374