Help me find an awesome journalism or science writing course online
January 25, 2012 10:29 AM Subscribe
{online education filter} I receive tuition reimbursement through my office for up to $5000 a year. The rub is that it has to be used at an institution that is accredited (although they do not define what body has accredited the school), must offer four year degrees, and must be related to my current job duties. Where can I take an awesome online course?
Currently I work for a large health association in their media and marketing department. I'm a recent college grad with a B.A., and I'd love to try to get as much out of this opportunity as I can. I often work late hours, so while I am open to evening or weekend courses, I'm most interested in finding something online.
I'm really interested in taking something related to journalism or science/health/medical writing. Also interested in graphic design, online publishing, writing and editing, and health policy.
I'm in DC, but I haven't found any specific courses at GWU, AU, or Georgetown that I could fit into my work schedule. I took a wonderful class at the USDA Graduate School, but because they don't offer a 4 year degree my office wouldn't reimburse the tuition.
I'm really interested to hear if anyone has any personal experiences that were really positive with a particular online school or program since I am pretty flexible with what courses I can take.
Currently I work for a large health association in their media and marketing department. I'm a recent college grad with a B.A., and I'd love to try to get as much out of this opportunity as I can. I often work late hours, so while I am open to evening or weekend courses, I'm most interested in finding something online.
I'm really interested in taking something related to journalism or science/health/medical writing. Also interested in graphic design, online publishing, writing and editing, and health policy.
I'm in DC, but I haven't found any specific courses at GWU, AU, or Georgetown that I could fit into my work schedule. I took a wonderful class at the USDA Graduate School, but because they don't offer a 4 year degree my office wouldn't reimburse the tuition.
I'm really interested to hear if anyone has any personal experiences that were really positive with a particular online school or program since I am pretty flexible with what courses I can take.
Best answer: If you just want to take a few classes here and there, I recommend Foothill Community College. They have tons of online graphic design classes: http://www.foothill.edu/graphicdesign/schedule.php?act=1&dept=GID
Sadly, most of the online humanities classes I've taken at Foothill are not awesome. Most require a certain amount of forum participation every week as part of your grade, but often the discussion needs more attention and moderation than the (overworked) professor can give. I've had a much better time with computer science classes, which are mostly of the form "Read the lecture, read the book, do the assignment, do a project, take a final exam". I learn a LOT this way; YMMV.
For writing (and a lot of of other fields), check out Berkeley Extension and UCLA extension courses. They offer a number of professional certificates and UCLA has what looks like an amazing open enrollment writing program.
Oh, and I found this forum post while looking up online MPH programs. If you want a master's degree, check it out.
posted by guybrush_threepwood at 11:12 AM on January 25, 2012
Sadly, most of the online humanities classes I've taken at Foothill are not awesome. Most require a certain amount of forum participation every week as part of your grade, but often the discussion needs more attention and moderation than the (overworked) professor can give. I've had a much better time with computer science classes, which are mostly of the form "Read the lecture, read the book, do the assignment, do a project, take a final exam". I learn a LOT this way; YMMV.
For writing (and a lot of of other fields), check out Berkeley Extension and UCLA extension courses. They offer a number of professional certificates and UCLA has what looks like an amazing open enrollment writing program.
Oh, and I found this forum post while looking up online MPH programs. If you want a master's degree, check it out.
posted by guybrush_threepwood at 11:12 AM on January 25, 2012
Stephen F. Austin State University offers a course called Technical & Scientific Writing. And lots of other things that sound cool - PHI 480, Philosophy in Cyberspace??? Yes, please!
I have no affiliation with this school, just found them through Google, but they're accredited.
posted by jabes at 12:22 PM on January 25, 2012
I have no affiliation with this school, just found them through Google, but they're accredited.
posted by jabes at 12:22 PM on January 25, 2012
Best answer: It's been a while since I've done it, but I have gotten tuition reimbursement for associated classes taken using the local college affiliation program offered by ed2go.
Enter in your zip code and find a local school - http://www.ed2go.com/ParticipatingSchools.aspx
Back then, to take it "through the school" cost a little more but counted towards credit at the school.
posted by tilde at 12:36 PM on January 25, 2012
Enter in your zip code and find a local school - http://www.ed2go.com/ParticipatingSchools.aspx
Back then, to take it "through the school" cost a little more but counted towards credit at the school.
posted by tilde at 12:36 PM on January 25, 2012
Indiana University has an independent study program with a few courses that might suit your interests.
I used to work for that division, but I haven't taken any of the online classes myself. In my experience, students who were able to muster their own professionalism and motivation and diligence did well and enjoyed the courses.
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:58 PM on January 25, 2012
I used to work for that division, but I haven't taken any of the online classes myself. In my experience, students who were able to muster their own professionalism and motivation and diligence did well and enjoyed the courses.
posted by thirteenkiller at 12:58 PM on January 25, 2012
I don't know whether they have anything you'd be interested in, but I've been taking courses through American Military University (which is part of the American Public University System) and is accredited. The classes are occasionally hit or miss but overall I've been very happy with the quality of the classes (even going in as an online ed skeptic who couldn't afford grad school at a brick and mortar).
posted by brilliantine at 1:59 PM on January 25, 2012
posted by brilliantine at 1:59 PM on January 25, 2012
Northern Arizona University offers a graduate certificate in professional writing entirely online.
posted by TrarNoir at 4:56 PM on January 25, 2012
posted by TrarNoir at 4:56 PM on January 25, 2012
Does it have to be in the US? SFU, in Canada, has an online tech writing program with a non-credit certificate.
And there must be other online technical communication programs in the US if that's something of interest to you.
(Full disclosure: I used to work in this program but don't any more. Instructors are usually professional technical communicators so you're usually getting material based on current industry practice.)
posted by wenat at 7:12 PM on January 25, 2012
And there must be other online technical communication programs in the US if that's something of interest to you.
(Full disclosure: I used to work in this program but don't any more. Instructors are usually professional technical communicators so you're usually getting material based on current industry practice.)
posted by wenat at 7:12 PM on January 25, 2012
There are a few online professional science masters programs. Mine's through Johns Hopkins, and it's pretty flexible (but expensive - you'd blow more than half that yearly amount on one course). I think the cutoff for finishing is 10 courses in 5 years? They have certificates, too, and since you're in the DC area, you could also take courses on site in the future if you ended up near their Baltimore or Montgomery County locations. But if you're interested in something more one-off, try looking at local or large state schools. UC Berkeley's Extension program, which Guybrush mentioned, has an all-online catalog, and they run $800-$900/course, I think.
From a career development standpoint, when you say "I'd love to try to get as much out of this opportunity as I can," I'd consider enrolling in a degree-granting masters program if you have a decent sense of your career direction. In my experience the online learning experience makes course selection even more of a gamble than picking professors in a traditional setting, and adjunct faculty mean that you often have no clue whether an interesting-sounding class is going to be great or a total drag. But getting a degree at the end makes it worth the slog even after a long week at work.
posted by deludingmyself at 8:50 PM on January 25, 2012
From a career development standpoint, when you say "I'd love to try to get as much out of this opportunity as I can," I'd consider enrolling in a degree-granting masters program if you have a decent sense of your career direction. In my experience the online learning experience makes course selection even more of a gamble than picking professors in a traditional setting, and adjunct faculty mean that you often have no clue whether an interesting-sounding class is going to be great or a total drag. But getting a degree at the end makes it worth the slog even after a long week at work.
posted by deludingmyself at 8:50 PM on January 25, 2012
Response by poster: Just found this really awesome site which lists tons of options for getting certifications and degrees in science and medical writing.
http://www.kokedit.com/ckb_2.php
posted by forkisbetter at 9:52 AM on March 21, 2012
http://www.kokedit.com/ckb_2.php
posted by forkisbetter at 9:52 AM on March 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mareli at 10:40 AM on January 25, 2012