The people have asked, and the college will oblige!
Outside the College of Media and Communication.
Last week, Dean David Perlmutter announced the College of Media and Communication will soon offer an online graduate school program.
“There’s more of them out there than there are in Lubbock.”
Perlmutter said the graduate school has had a very successful semester, with a record of 102 students enrolled in the masters and doctoral program. Perlmutter said inquiries have come from near and far about an online program.
“It’s very important today to be there, where your students are,” Perlmutter said. “And at the masters’ level, Dallas-Fort Worth, and the rest of the world, there’s more of them out there than there are in Lubbock.”
Perlmutter said the flagship degree is tentatively titled Strategic Communication Innovations. He said that this degree will teach students how to manage a communication division. He said that budgeting and planning skills will play a role in the curriculum.
Perlmutter described two groups that will be interested in a program such as this one. He said it will appeal to the younger professionals who are looking to move up, and to the mid-age experts looking to refresh and update their skills.
“So, we want to provide classes for both groups,” Perlmutter said. “Strategy planning for the younger folks and more of the new technologies, new methods, new venues for the middle-aged folks, and sort of both give them value.”
The students who will enroll in this graduate program are in fields that are technologically savvy. Perlmutter said the online program will not only offer quality instruction, but a quality interface as well.
“But the good news is, Texas Tech is coming to you.”
While at the University of Iowa and University of Kansas, Perlmutter saw how successful their online programs were. He said student interaction is the key to programs like this succeeding.
“Nowadays, the online course deliveries are much more rich than just like an instructor talking, and there’s a video of him,” Perlmutter said. “There’s a lot of interactive curricula, there’s exercises, there’s the ability for students in the program to work together.”
One issue the online program will have to overcome is the reputation of most online degree programs. Perlmutter said that he thinks that other online platforms spend more money on advertising and a convenient platform than on faculty and curriculum. He said he hopes to have the best program, but still be able to enroll the most students possible.
“If you want, frankly, Brand X, go to it. Enjoy it,” Perlmutter said. “But, if you want the Texas Tech brand and all of the quality behind it, you’ve got to go to Texas Tech. But the good news is, Texas Tech is coming to you.”
The college plans to have up to five classes available in the online program by the fall of 2014, with the full program premiering in the 2014-2015 school year.
About Sarah Self-Walbrick
