For adult students who want to earn a degree or improve
their job skills, it’s often hard to juggle a schedule of work and
family commitments and attend a class at set days and times. With the
explosive growth of the Internet and online learning, different ways to
learn are becoming part of the educational landscape.
Empire State College, of the State University of
New York, is designed for adult students. You can combine a number of
different ways to study toward a degree and choose the method that
works best for you. This style of learning is called “blended
learning.” Whether it’s independent studies, online courses, group
studies or residencies, you can take your learning to the highest level
possible. Here are just a few ways adult students are able to complete
their coursework and earn a degree:
• Independent study allows students the opportunity to
work one-to-one with their faculty mentor, to design their own degree
program, as well as the courses they’ll take to complete their degree.
With independent study, you are able to complete the coursework outside
the restrictions of a classroom, and on your own time. If you’re
working through one of the college’s 35 locations across New York
state, you’ll schedule periodic meetings with your faculty mentor to go
over your work to date and plan future assignments and studies.
Busy, working adults are increasingly turning to the Web
for quality education that fits into their lives. Whether you’re on the
road or prefer to study from the comforts of your home, you can
incorporate online courses into your degree program, together with
independent study, giving you the flexibility to study whenever,
wherever.
Some courses are taught as group studies where you can
interact and exchange ideas with other students. Group studies allow
students the chance to draw on each other as resources when it comes to
learning.
• Residencies are another way to gain the knowledge
needed for your degree. The residencies are usually a two- to three-day
weekend, where you and other students can meet together with your
mentor. At these residencies, you will do anything from watching and
discussing films, to analyzing readings and touring significant sites.
• Internships with businesses or organizations in your
field of study provide the opportunity to apply theories learned in
hands-on, practical experiences.
The college not only offers these varied ways of learning
for a course, but encourages you to combine them in any of your
studies. Blended learning lets you take control of your education and
make your own decisions when it comes to your future.
For more information, call 472-5730 or visit our Web site at www.esc.edu.
