Distance learning, offered by the University of Bridgeport on the Internet, is expanding its reach this fall with new academic courses and certification courses in information technology.

Michael Giampaoli, UB's director of distance learning, said there are two certification courses, to become a Microsoft certified systems engineer or Cisco certified network/design associate. Dr. Jerald Cole of UB's Center for Information Technologies, developed the courses. The online courses feature text-based and streaming video conferencing support.

The Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium is supporting the courses with a $25,000 grant. Both courses will help to meet the statewide demand for skilled computer networking professionals.

Two professors received $2,500 grants each from the consortium to develop online courses. Thomas J. Ward, dean of UB's International College and an expert on Latin America, is putting a course, "The Political Economy of Latin America," on the Internet. So is Jonatan Jelen, who teaches computer systems in the UB School of Business, His course will be, "Management Information Systems." Both courses are offered this fall semester.

The distance education program also received a $10,000 grant from the consortium to provide a course to faculty in instructional technology. Faculty members are being taught how to create and put information on a Web site specifically for their courses. The sites will be resources for the students in these classes, providing a broad exposure to the course subject and material beyond what is covered in class or texts.

For more details:
Distance Education
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT 06601
 
Tel. (203) 576-4851
Web: http://www.bridgeport.edu
Email:
ubonline@bridgeport.edu
gmichael@bridgeport.edu