|
Costs
Online Learning
Hardware & Software
Course Parameters
Credit
How an Online Course Works
Admissions
Advising
Degree & Program Issues
Teaching Licenses
Support
The Department and University
Getting More Information
Answers:
How much does a class cost?
Can I
pay using an installment plan?
- There is an installment plan for
paying fees at Ball State University that adds $10/month, and breaks
the payments into four equal parts It is outlined at:
www.bsu.edu/bursar/article/0,,20377--,00.html
Those wishing to pay using the installment plan would have to pay by
check (not credit card) through the bursar's office, whereas those
paying the full amount up front can pay by credit card through our
office of Continuing Education.
Does
this degree include teacher certification?
- No. However, some have used individual
courses in this program in their pursuit of an initial teaching
license, or an added teaching endorsement. If you want to find out if
your state/province/country accepts these credits for continuing
education, contact the office of teacher licensing in your locality. For
additional licensure information,
see
http://www.bsu.edu/teachers/otes/licensing/ .
Is financial aid available?
Will the tuition costs increase in the future?
Can I defer payment?
Can I pay with a school purchase order?
Can I get in-state
tuition?
-
If you are a resident of Indian and meet Ball State's requirements for
that residency, then you qualify for lower in-state tuition rates.
This is because the Indiana state tax dollars supplement tuition.
- If you are not a resident of Indiana, you do not
qualify for in-state tuition, with the exception of residents from
six selected counties in Ohio as explained in our Ohio Reciprocity
Agreement.
www.bsu.edu/distance/ohio/
- According to the BSU Bursar's office:
"Military personnel in the United States Armed Forces who enter the
service from a state other than Indiana and who are stationed on
active duty within the State of Indiana may enroll without the
nonresident fee being assessed. The spouses and children of such
service personnel also may enroll without the nonresident fee being
assessed."
www.bsu.edu/bursar/article/0,2060,112146-8998-20461,00.html
Do active-duty military or their
dependents qualify for in-state tuition?
- According to the BSU Bursar's office:
"Military personnel in the United States Armed Forces who enter the
service from a state other than Indiana and who are stationed on
active duty within the State of Indiana may enroll without the
nonresident fee being assessed. The spouses and children of such
service personnel also may enroll without the nonresident fee being
assessed."
www.bsu.edu/bursar/article/0,2060,112146-8998-20461,00.html
Is there a discount for
students over 60 years old?
- Yes. Persons sixty years of age or
older may enroll at Ball State for half tuition. For more information
on tuition through the BSU School of Extended Education, please see:
www.bsu.edu/distance/
How do I know if I
will like online graduate courses?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I fairly comfortable using
computers and the Internet?
- Do I have a good Internet connection at
home and a quiet place to work?
- Do I enjoy working at my own pace?
- Am I interested in the subject and internally
motivated to learn more?
- Can I usually learn about something by
reading about it on my own?
- Can I read carefully and critically, and then
synthesize this learning in my writing?
- Do I like to communicate online?
- Do I work responsibly, spreading out
my work load instead of putting it off until just before it is due?
- Would I feel comfortable never meeting
my instructor or fellow students face-to-face?
- Am I comfortable using Email and using
a word processor?
- Do I have the time to devote to a
graduate class (9 to 12 hours per week for each Fall and Spring class,
27 to 36 hours per week for each 5-week Summer Session I or II
class)?
If you answered yes to most of these
questions, then you will probably do just fine.
A more detailed list of questions may
be helpful to some, such as the one at
www.elearneradvisor.com/.
How much time does an online graduate course take?
During the fifteen-week Fall and Spring
semesters, a typical student should expect to devote nine to twelve
hours per week on each three-credit graduate online course. Those
who are new to graduate study or who have difficulties with critical
reading and writing or who have technical difficulties may find it necessary
to devote more than twelve hours per week; those with a
background in the area and strong academic skills might average near
the lower side of this estimate.
Shorter semesters require more time
per week. A three-credit course in a five-week Summer I session, for
example, is presented in one-third the time, and therefore would
likely take 27 to 36 hours per week for those five weeks.
What hardware and software will I need as a minimum (and what
version)?
- One
"software" requirement for either of these Master's degrees is the
current edition of the book commonly called the "APA Style Guide."
American
Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington,
DC: Author.
You can find more
information about this manual at and purchase it at: www.apastyle.org/pubmanual.html.
- In addition to hardware
and software, you need a space conducive to study and work. For
many, deep thought requires an environment with minimal
distractions. But you should also pay attention to adequate
lighting, adequate deskspace, an ergonomically sound chair and
workstation, proper monitor positioning, and other aspects of the
environment. If you engage in 2-way video conferencing, it would
help for you to be properly illuminated and for you to use a
headphone/microphone in an otherwise quiet room.
- The current
version of Microsoft Office
is required. BSU students qualify for a dirt-cheap license for
Microsoft Office, which contains Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and
these programs are required in different courses. (Click
here
for more information.) Adobe Acrobat Reader is required, and may be
downloaded free
here. In addition, some courses require software
for Web page creation, and here Microsoft Expressions Web (or FrontPage) is recommended.
- To connect to the Internet, you need
to have an account with an Internet Service Provider. A broadband
connection is essential. It is strongly recommended that you have a
broadband connection from home, though it could be sufficient if you
have a broadband connection from some other location where you
intend to access course content and communications. Still, those who only access course materials at work or during work hours
are disadvantaged.
- As an enrolled student,
Ball State University will allocate a limited amount of disk storage
space for Web documents you might create.
- For certain courses, you may need
access to a digital still camera and a video camera or a webcam, a flatbed
scanner, speakers, and a microphone. A headphone/microphone
combination is preferred. Check with the instructor.
Do I need a camera for my computer (still or motion)?
- Certain
courses will require you to have access to a digital still
camera, or a video camera. A Webcam may also be useful,
along with headphones/microphone for those classes that use
two-way video conferencing through your broadband
connection.
Will a firewall cause any problems?
- A firewall
is designed to allow a user to regulate who and what is allowed
to come in or go out of a computer via the connection to the
Internet. As long as your firewall is configured to allow
your browser and media player (such as RealPlayer) to access the
Internet, you should have no problems. Sometimes another
program with connectivity will try to access the Internet
connection program-specific downloads (this often happens with
Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat). Your firewall should
alert you that the application is attempting to connect to the
Web and ask you if you want to permit it to. Never
authorize a program to access the Internet if you do not know
exactly what that program is. In rare instances, those who
access online quizzes from within some school districts'
firewalls have experienced connectivity problems; in this case,
the students have accessed quizzes from computer outside that
firewall to overcome this obstacle.
Will a popup blocker cause any problems?
- Yes, if you
use software that blocks popup windows, it may prevent you from
viewing some legitimate files used in some courses. In these
cases you should allow popups.
Can I use a 28K or 56K modem?
- Broadband/high-speed access is
required.
Is there any voice interaction, do I need a microphone or special
software?
-
It is a good idea to have a computer with audio
capabilities that will let you participate in two-way
audio/video conferences. Although you can use a
computer's speakers, there is often echo or feedback
generated when sound from your speakers enters your
microphone. Therefore, headphones with a built-in
microphone are recommended.
What if I am not very good at typing or keyboarding?
- Not
to worry, you will be able to work at your own pace and
utilize your own strengths. Still, it helps if you are
able to type at a reasonable rate.
If I am not very good with computers, will I be able to succeed in
an online class?
-
Yes. Basic skills such as word processing and
browsing the Internet for research are necessary, but
you do not have to be a computer expert to succeed.
What do I do if I do not have an
E-mail account and do not know how
to establish one?
-
While many Internet Service Providers establish an
Email account for their subscribers, as a registered
Ball State University student you will have an Email
account established for you as well as a limited
amount of storage space on our servers for documents
and Webpages. For more information, check out
our
online learning tutorial.
Will using a Mac cause any difficulties?
-
The dominance of
PCs sometimes lead to difficulties for Macintosh
users. Instructors are encouraged to accommodate students who use Macs.
Does Ball State offer software discounts to online students?
Will there be any interaction with other students in the class(es)?
-
Yes.
While you may never meet in person, students
typically work in groups via Email, threaded
discussion boards, chat, file sharing, etc.
Can on-campus
students take these courses?
- Yes, all the classes in these programs are
currently open to on-campus
students as well as off-campus. Please note that
on-campus students who enroll in courses through the School of
Extended Education would still be required to pay the dedicated fees
because these fund a student's use of
the library, weight rooms, pool, computer labs, and other on-campus
amenities.
Can these courses be applied toward continuing education credit?
- These courses can be applied to
continuing education requirements in Indiana and in many other
locations; check with the administrators at your location if you
wish them to request they accept this credit. You might present them with the course title
and course description, which do not even contain reference to these
courses
as being delivered online.
Can a course be finished in less than a semester?
-
The pace of
the course is decided by the
instructor. However, the classes are
scheduled to mirror the timeframe of the
on-campus offerings. Thus, the courses
will typically begin and end at the same time as the
classes offered on-campus at Ball State
University. In order to build a sense of
online community in an online class,
instructors are encouraged to roll out
material according to a week-by-week calendar,
so that students can join in meaningful online
discussions on each topic.
Does a course have to be completed within a single semester?
-
Yes. The
course calendar is the same as it would be
for an on-campus offering, so instructors
must issue grades by the same time as well.
Under extenuating circumstances, a grade of
"Incomplete" can be filed.
If I get a C- or lower in a course, can I
use that course to count toward this degree?
-
No. The BSU
Graduate Catalog states that "No course with
grades below C (2.0) may be counted toward
any degree program."
Do I ever have to come to campus?
-
No.
Everything from the application to the
Graduate School, to the payment of
tuition, to your assignments and class
discussions takes place entirely
online. You will never have to commute to
Ball State University for any reason
(unless you want to actually attend your
graduation.)
Can I come to campus for face-to-face help if I want to?
-
There
should be no need for a face-to-face
visit, however, our instructors are
committed to giving every student
(whether on-campus or off-) the
assistance they need to be successful.
If you can make it to campus, that will
be great. You can meet the instructors
face-to-face.
It is a special joy to meet an online
student face-to-face.
Do I have to be online during specified times for class?
-
Each
instructor will have their own style
of presentation and instruction, but the intent is to
have the content "rolled out" so that
a student may access it at anytime
during the week and work on it as
their own personal schedule permits. An instructor would
typically make arrangements
with the students if there were going
to be a multipoint video conference or
a group chat, so that all the
students would be available.
How do I interact with the professor?
-
Contact with instructors takes place
using Email, threaded discussion
boards, file sharing, chats,
Web-page posting, and possibly via
telephone, 2-way video (where
feasible), and for local students:
face-to-face meetings. We use the
Blackboard course management system,
so you will have the same familiar
interface in different classes. For more
information, check out our
online learning tutorial.
How do I submit assignments?
-
Your instructor will guide you
through the procedure to submit an
assignment. Some might be submitted as
attachments to Emails or by using
one of the features of the
Blackboard course management
system.
Do I have to buy a textbook?
-
The choice of textbooks and the
option to use them is part of
the academic freedom given
instructors. Some
classes may use Web-based
materials as an alternative to a
textbook.
Can I work from my home computer?
-
Yes, you can work from any
computer with access to the
Internet. At home or
work, you can work on your
classes at the times the best
suit your schedule.
Do I have to be actively teaching when I am taking the program?
-
No. Many of our
students are not
professional teachers.
Arrangement will be made for
any assignments that require
a classroom setting for
those who are not
professional teachers.
Will the content be appropriate for someone not living or working in
Indiana?
-
Yes. While different
states, provinces, and
countries have different
standards, the concepts
behind effective
practices
remain the same regardless
of geography.
How do I use the Ball State Library if I'm in an online course?
-
You can access the BSU
libraries through
www.bsu.edu/library where
you can search our
holdings, perform other
searches, discuss your
needs with a librarian,
get some materials online,
and even have hardcopy
materials sent to you
through the US Mail.
How do I drop a
class and can I get my tuition back?
-
Some students think that
if they just tell the instructor they are dropping a class, then they
are officially withdrawn. This is not the case. To drop a course taken
through the School of Extended Education, you must contact the School
of Extended Education
(distance@bsu.edu or 1-800-872-0369). A student who does not
officially drop a class but who stops attending will likely receive an
F for that class, so don't let this happen.
-
During each semester and
summer session, there is a calendar set for the drop periods. Please
visit our Bursar's Website at
http://www.bsu.edu/web/bursar/ and click on "Dates and Deadlines."
Typically, the last day to withdraw and receive a full tuition refund
occurs prior to the first day of class, and although you can withdraw
after that date, you would not get back all of the tuition. See the
Refund Schedule for specifics.
Do I need a
bachelor's degree to be admitted?
Does my bachelor's have to be in this field for me to be admitted?
Is there a requirement for my undergraduate grade point average to get
in to the master's programs?
-
Yes. According to the
Graduate Catalog that you
can download from
www.bsu.edu/gradschool/catalog.htm,
to be admitted as a
graduate student in our
master's program, you
must:
"1. Hold an earned
bachelor’s degree from a
college or university that
is accredited by its
regional accrediting
association.
2. Satisfy one of the
following:
a. an undergraduate
cumulative grade-point
average of at least 2.75
on a 4.0 scale (all
undergraduate course work,
including work completed
prior to the baccalaureate
degree, is used to
calculate the grade-point
average).
b. a cumulative
grade-point average of at
least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
in the latter half of the
baccalaureate.
c. [this option only
applies to the master of
business administration.]
d. a 3.0 average in 9
semester hours of graduate
work approved by the
chairperson of the major
department and approved in
advance by the graduate
dean and a score on the
Graduate Record
Examination acceptable to
the academic unit in which
the student intends to
major. Such students will
be considered
degree-seeking students
with probationary
admission status.
3. Meet departmental or
program admission
requirements."
What are the admission requirements if I'm just interested in taking
coursework, and not completing a master's degree?
How do I find out if Ball State will accept my previous graduate courses
as transfer credits?
-
To be considered for
transfer credit, the
credit must be from
graduate level courses in
which the student earned a
grade of B or better (not
a B-) from an accredited
institution. Also, there
is a six-year timeframe
for completing all
coursework applied to a
master's degree, and this
includes transfer credits.
Therefore, any courses
taken prior to 6 years
before the date of
graduation from our
master's program would not
be eligible, or would
become "stale." The
decision regarding how
transferred credits might
be used to satisfy
particular program
requirements is made by
our Graduate Admissions
Coordinator and
Department Chair, Dr.
Ray Shackelford.
You can contact him at
rshackelford@bsu.edu, (765)
285-5642, FAX: (765)
285-2162.
How do I apply for admissions?
Can I register
for a class before I'm admitted?
Where do I send my transcripts when I apply for admissions?
How long does it take to hear about my admissions application?
Can I take any of the courses if I am not interested in the degree?
-
Yes, you
can pursue a degree or
take a single course.
To find out how to
register for a single
course, please
click here.
Is there assistance for international students?
-
Yes. Visit Ball State's
Center for International Programs
at
http://cms.bsu.edu/AdmissionsLanding/International.aspx
and if you're interested
in foreign student
admission, fill out the
International Student
Distance Education
Application. This
only applies to those
who do not intend to
enter the USA to attend
on-campus classes at our
Muncie, Indiana Campus.
(Others who wish to
attend on-campus classes
are asked to fill out
the standard
International Student
Application, and they
would have to indicate
information regarding a
visa and financial
abilities, neither of
which are required for
those in 100% online
programs.)
There are also
additional admissions
documents that must be
submitted, as described
by the Application page
noted above.
Who is my
advisor?
Graduate advisors are assigned according the the
following schedule:
|
Graduate Advisor
List for
The Department of Technology
Ball State University
Effective October, 2007
|
|
Students and Major Codes |
Advisor |
|
Prior to admissions, all applicants
are temporarily assisted by our the Admissions Coordinator. Once
admitted, they are assigned an advisor according to the system outlined
below. |
Dr. Ray Shackelford
rshackelford@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5653
Advisor Code: 115 |
All students in the Master of Arts in
Career & Technical Education
Codes 102M005MA, 102T004MA |
Dr. Samuel Cotton
scotton@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5640
Advisor Code: 111 |
Students in the Master of Arts in Technology
Education with Last Names from A to C
Code 102T006MA |
Dr. Jim Flowers
jcflowers1@bsu.edu
(765) 285-2879
Advisor Code: 112 |
Students in the Master of Arts in Technology
Education with Last Names from D to H
Code 102T006MA |
Dr. Mary Annette Rose
arose@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5648
Advisor Code: 113 |
Students in the Master of Arts in Technology
Education with Last Names from I to N
Code 102T006MA |
Dr. Richard Seymour
rseymour@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5652
Advisor Code: 114 |
Students in the Master of Arts in Technology
Education with Last Names from O to S
Code 102T006MA |
Dr. Edward Lazaros
ejlazaros@bsu.edu
(765)-285-5647
Advisor Code: 110 |
Students in the Master of Arts in Technology
Education with Last Names from T to Z
Code 102T006MA |
Dr. Ray Shackelford
rshackelford@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5653
Advisor Code: 115 |
|
During summer months, some faculty members
are not under contract with the University. Their advisees will be
assisted by the Department Chair when necessary during this time. |
Dr. Ray Shackelford
rshackelford@bsu.edu
(765) 285-5653
Advisor Code: 115 |
How will
I be advised?
What and where
is my "Program of Study?"
Technology Education Plan Of Study Template:
http://www.bsu.edu/iandt/docs/PlanOfStudyTE.doc
Career & Technical Education Plan Of Study
Template:
http://www.bsu.edu/iandt/docs/PlanOfStudyCTE.doc
Is there a Career Center that can help online students?
-
Yes. Visit the Website
for the Career Center
at Ball State University, which tells you how to contact them by phone
or Email. Although they run numerous on-campus activities, such as
interviews, they are also charged with providing career assistance to
Ball State's off-campus students.
Is there a time limit regarding how long I can take to finish, and does this apply to transfer courses?
-
Yes, the
BSU Graduate Catalog
states that "all degree
requirements must be met
within six years unless
the graduate dean on the
recommendation of the
chairperson of the
department offering the
degree approves an
extension of time" (p.
22.) This applies to
credits that have been
accepted for transfer in
to Ball State. It is the
student's responsibility
to aware of this moving,
six -year window,
counting backwards from
their BSU graduation.
Don't let your credits
become stale and
unusable.
How quickly can I finish
this degree?
-
For a
person who works full
time and takes one
course in each of the
Fall, Spring, and Summer
sessions, 3 1/3 years
would be needed to take
all 30 credits. (Each
3-credit course
typically requires 9 to
12 hours per week.) If a
full-time student who
does not have any
full-time job is able to
take up to 9 credits in
each the Spring and Fall
Semesters, then it is
likely that by also
taking summer courses,
that person would finish
this degree in one year
plus one semester.
What
is the difference between the MA in Technology Education and the MA in
Career and Technical Education?
-
Our
Technology Education
programs prepare
teachers who teach
general education,
mostly at the middle and
high school level. That
is, they work with
future doctors,
homemakers, carpenters,
philosophers, etc.,
providing a general
introduction to a
variety of technological
fields. A few years ago,
they were called
Industrial Arts
teachers, and they
taught classes such as
woods, metals, drafting,
ceramics, graphic arts,
electronics, CAD,
plastics, power and
energy, etc. But there
was an evolution into a
redesigned curriculum in
many places, and now it
is common for Technology
Teachers to teach
courses such as
manufacturing,
construction, energy
systems, transportation,
communication, the
principals of
technology, technology
and design, information
processing, and Project
Lead The Way. However,
their students are not
being prepared for a
particular occupation,
this instead is general
education.
-
Our
Career and Technical
Education programs used
to be called Industrial
Vocational / Technical
Education, or simply,
Vocational Education.
Here, we prepare
teachers who typically
work in
vocational-technical
centers or at high
schools to train
students to enter jobs
in the Trade and
Industry areas, such as
building trades, heating
ventilating and air
conditioning, automobile mechanics, autobody,
electronics technology, and others. Some of the
students in our program
instead teach in
industry, and there have
been quite a few who
have been community
college faculty.
Why
is this a Master of Arts and not a Master of Science?
If I
already have a master's, will your degree help me?
I want to study how computers are used in
the classroom, is the MA in Tech Ed for me?
-
We
get some inquiries from
people interested in a
degree in "Educational
Technology," wanting to
apply computer
technology to their
teaching, and there is
some confusion between
this and "Technology
Education," which is the
field that evolved out
of Industrial Arts.
Technology education
typically includes
subject areas such as
transportation,
communication,
manufacturing, and
construction.
(Industrial Arts used to
include areas such as
woods, metals, drafting,
electronics, and graphic
arts.) Computer
technology is certainly
one of the areas that is
covered under technology
education, but it is not
the only area. Those
interested in studying
how computers are used
in the classroom would
be better served by a
degree program in
educational or
instructional
technology. For a
comparison between
technology education and
educational technology, please see
the following:
http://www.iteaconnect.org/TAA/Resources/TAA_Differences.html
Is there a review
of this program I can see?
Will
this degree get me licensed to teach in my state?
Is there some type of
alternative teaching license in technology education that I can gain
from taking these courses?
-
Yes, there is an
alternative route to a
secondary license in
technology education, but this is only
open to those already in
possession of a current
Indiana Secondary, Sr.
High / Jr. High / Middle
School or All Grade
Teaching License which
must be convertible to a
Rules 2002 license.
Those who do not hold
teaching license in
Indiana cannot take
advantage of this
program. The program of
study includes 18
graduate hours,
including two courses
that must be taken
on-campus in Muncie
Indiana, typically
during a short timeframe
during the summer.
Please see the
Program of Study for the
Technology Education
Alternative License
Program under "Rules
2002" and the
description of this
program.
Can I get the Indiana Director of Career &
Technical Education License through this program?
I'm feeling stressed. Are there any online
counseling services available?
-
Yes, Ball
State University's
Counseling Center has a
number of online tools,
information, and
services, including
screenings, "Concerned
Charlie," and a
presentation on reducing
stress.
Is Ball State University
accredited?
-
Yes, Ball
State University is
accredited through the
North Central
Association of Colleges
and Schools, and through
a number of other
agencies, as listed
here:
www.bsu.edu/gradschool/article/0,,9466--,00.html
-
For more
information about our
full 10-year
re-accreditation with no
review, see the article
at:
www.bsu.edu/update/article/0,,22483--,00.html
Will I
be taught by graduate assistants or professors?
Do
the professors in this program do research and publish?
Do you have any materials I can download and review or share with
others?
Can I get some
materials sent to me in the mail?
-
Since
most of those who are
interested in online
education are
comfortable with online
materials, and since
online materials are
updated more frequently
than print materials,
there are very few
requests to have
materials sent through
the mail. However, you
can request materials
from us by sending an
Email to onlinetech@bsu.edu
- be sure to mention
whether you are
interested in the MA in
Technology Education,
the MA in Career and
Technical Education, or
both. Also, if you would
like multiple copies of
materials for
distribution to others,
please tell us the
quantity. Finally, be
sure to include your
name and mailing
address.
Is there any background material about how your programs were developed
- some "behind the scenes" information?
Can I take any of the courses if I am not interested in the degree?
-
Yes, you
can pursue a degree or
take a single course.
To find out how to
register for a single
course, please
click here.
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