By Emily Andersen
Independent Study programs at BYU and Utah Valley State College are finding that students don''t leave their studies behind when they leave Provo for the summer.
Catherine Ganier, program coordinator with BYU Independent Study said generally there is an increase in BYU students who take Independent Study courses during the spring and summer semesters.
Lori Palmer, the director of Distance Education at UVSC said their program also sees an increase in the number of students who take courses during the spring and summer. Palmer said courses like the ones offered through UVSC''s program are great for students who want to leave the state for the summer, but still want to continue to work on their degrees.
Both programs offer several options for students who want to take courses while they are living somewhere other than Provo.
BYU''s Independent Study program offers more than 375 university-level courses that can be taken from anywhere in the United States. More than 150 of those courses are available on the web, said Independent Study program coordinator, Catherine Ganier.
Courses are more relaxed, giving students up to one year to complete each course at their own pace, Ganier said. If students don''t complete the requirements within the year allotted, they can get a three-month extension for only $20.00. Students can also complete the courses as quickly as three weeks, Ganier said.
Courses are $98.00 per credit and so they normally cost less then $300.00, Ganier said.
UVSC''s Distance Education Program offers 150 courses to UVSC students through television, the Internet, and through live interactive sessions with teachers on the UVSC campus. The courses are the same length as any traditional semester course and cost the same amount as a regular UVSC course, with an additional $45.00 distance education fee.
Classes at UVSC don''t have nearly the flexibility that BYU''s courses offer, but Palmer said the teachers are generally more flexible, and most only give suggested deadlines.
Palmer said, despite the convenience these classes provide to students, students should be aware that they will have more responsibility on their shoulders.
'Students who take these courses have to accept personal responsibility for their learning,' Palmer said. 'Students have to recognize their responsibility in the learning process, and be active learners.'
Palmer said that distance education courses take more effort for both students and teachers, but both benefit from the intimate learning experience that distance-learning courses provide.
'Students who would never speak up in class can ask questions by email,' Palmer said.
Students who want to enroll in a BYU Independent Study course can visit http://elearn.byu.edu. Students who want to enroll in a UVSC Distance Education course, must first enroll in UVSC and then they can enroll in a course online at http://www.uvsc.edu/uvnet/.