Anthropology, library science degrees now available online from UHCL

August 30, 2016 | Kelsie Cleboski

This fall, University of Houston-Clear Lake students have more online degree opportunities with the addition of the Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and the Master of Science in School Library and Information Science to the university’s online roster.

The two additions bring UH-Clear Lake’s total number of online degree programs and certifications to 22.

Online education has boomed over the past decade. Since 2008, UHCL’s online programs have more than tripled in number, said UHCL Office of Online Programs Executive Director Shanta Goswami.

“It’s exciting to see how the traditional faculty are moving toward online teaching and are ready to take the challenge,” she said.

The online Master of Science in School Library and Information Science from the School of Education represents a complete transition from face-to-face classes to an exclusively online program, said Assistant Professor of School Library and Information Science Sheila Baker.

“With the busy lifestyles that most of us lead today, students are looking for the convenience of online programming where they can access course content from any location and at any time of the day or night,” she said. “Just like libraries offer ‘anywhere-anytime access,’ so do our online courses.”

Baker said she hopes the fully online program will actively expose students to new digital teaching tools as well as expand the program’s geographic reach and diversity.

UHCL’s Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from the School of Human Sciences and Humanities can be completed fully face-to-face, fully online or as a combination between the two. Associate Professor of Anthropology Christine Kovic said technology has advanced to the point where online students can enjoy well-rounded, interactive coursework through videos, blogs, virtual museums, online discussion boards and many other tools.

“Our overall goal is to provide a strong foundation in anthropology and social sciences to students in a variety of settings. The program fosters a number of skills, including cross-cultural communication, critical thinking and writing, and qualitative research and data analysis,” Kovic said. “Students planning to work in the greater Houston area, or in other regions of the U.S., are well prepared to address issues of race, ethnicity, immigration, religion and much more.”

Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Studies Dawit Woldu said that interaction is especially important in the study of anthropology.

“Many students working with different industries and government offices have unique and interesting perspectives on many of the topics we cover in class,” he said. “We use our students’ experience and knowledge as a resource by creating an interactive platform in our online classes.”

Developing an online degree program requires significant planning and work ahead of time. The key, says Goswami, is to focus on making courses useful to students. Students succeed in online learning when the content is well-structured and relevant and the technology is effective and accessible, she said.

“We try to take care of all the needs a student might have,” Goswami said, noting that her office has been working closely with UHCL Disability Services to improve course accessibility.

The Office of Online Programs also conducts surveys of online students to ensure their needs are being met. Goswami is particularly proud that 83 percent of surveyed students said the online format helped them interact with both the content and the instructor – a sign that the hard work of preparing online courses is paying off.

UHCL alumna Dawn Hastie benefited from online education firsthand when she moved out of state before completing her Bachelor of Science in Anthropology – but the online option kept her enrolled and on track for her graduation earlier this year.

“My job was time-consuming, so I loved the flexibility of being able to study, write papers and read at any time. I also did not lose any credits by being forced to transfer to another college. I could pick up where I had left off,” she said, noting the value of staying in touch with her professors and classmates using online tools. “The staff was great. I did get discouraged a few times, but a phone call or an email to one my professors and I was back on track.”

Goswami said that the goal is to continue expanding and improving online offerings.

“Our focus right now is to make the existing programs quality, accessible and affordable,” she said.

To learn more about UHCL’s online programs, visit www.uhcl.edu/online-programs, call 281-283-3054 or email onlineprograms@uhcl.edu. Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Anthropology at www.uhcl.edu/hsh and the Master of Science in School Library and Information Science at www.uhcl.edu/soe.