Home > News > New Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs – September 2020

New Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs – September 2020

Arizona State University (ASU), Indiana University, SUNY Empire State Collage, the University of Arkansas, and Georgia’s Thomas University are among the accredited, non-profit schools that have recently launched new online bachelor’s degree programs. The new programs give students who qualify for a bachelor’s program and who meet admissions eligibility requirements the opportunity to earn degrees in astronomy and planetary sciences, data science, security studies, human development and family studies, and social work. Most of these programs are designed to accommodate a range of students, including applicants who have no prior college credits, applicants who have transferable college credits, and applicants who have already completed a two-year associate degree program.

Arizona State University (ASU) – Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astronomical and Planetary Sciences Degree Program

The School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University (ASU) is launching a new online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Astronomical and Planetary Sciences program through ASU Online. The program, which enrolled its first cohort this fall, is designed to prepare graduates to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in elementary and secondary schools, as well as for those interested in pursuing careers in science and tech journalism and other fields in which STEM literacy is required, such as science and technology policy, advocacy, and administration. Students in the program take courses in physics and astrophysics, astronomy and planetary science, mathematics, and technical communication. ASU Online’s bachelor’s programs require the completion of 120 credits of coursework, including general education courses in a broad range of subjects. Students can complete all 120 of the credits required to graduate with a BS in Astronomical and Planetary Science degree via online courses with no campus-based requirements.

Indiana University – Online Bachelor of Science in Data Science Degree Program

IU Online, the online learning division of the Indiana University system, is offering a new Bachelor of Science (BS) in Data Science degree program. The program, which enrolled its first group of students this fall, requires students to complete 120 credits of coursework, over half of which are data science, professional communication, computer science, mathematics, and statistics courses that are required for the data science major. Students in the program take courses in data fluency, database programming, data mining, cloud computing, and data visualization as part of the data science major. They must also complete a professional data science internship. With the exception of the internship, all of IU Online’s data science program coursework is offered online with no required campus visits.

SUNY Empire State College – Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Security Studies Degree Program

SUNY Empire State College, a public college that is located in Saratoga Springs and is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system, has announced the launch of a new online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Security Studies program. The program is designed as a completion program, allowing students to transfer into the program with up to 93 of the 124 credits required for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree, up to 79 of which can be from introductory and general education courses. The BS in Security Studies major consists of ten required courses and three electives that can be completed entirely via online instruction. These courses cover topics in homeland security, cyber criminology, international relations, counterterrorism, and emergency management. The program enrolled its first cohort of students this fall.

The University of Arkansas – Online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Development and Family Sciences Degree Program

The Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food, and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas’ flagship campus in Fayetteville has announced the launch of its first online bachelor’s degree program – an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Human Development and Family Science program. The 120-credit bachelor’s program consists of general education coursework and Human Development and Family Sciences major coursework in childhood, adolescent, and adult development, family financial management, nutrition, health and human services policy and agency management, parenting, and other family-centered issues. The program is designed to prepare students for work in the human services sector, including careers in community education, family crisis assistance, hospice care, and vocational assistance. Students can take all of the required didactic coursework for the Human Development and Family Sciences major online but are also required to complete a formal internship at a human services agency approved by the program.

Thomas University (TU) – Online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Degree Program

Thomas University (TU), a private, non-profit school located in the state of Georgia, has received approval to begin offering its Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program in a fully online format starting in the fall of 2020. The program, which has accreditation from the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), is offered in a traditional, campus-based format but will now also give students the option of taking all of the social work major courses online or enrolling in a mix of online and campus-based courses. TU’s social work major consists of ten required didactic courses and two fieldwork practicums for a total of 400 hours of supervised experiential learning that takes place at community social work agencies. Students who transfer into the TU program with an associate degree or the equivalent of two years of college credits can earn their BSW degree online in just two years, or four semesters.