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 Engineering at Illinois to provide online courses to students in Greece

URBANA, Ill. ( July 11, 2006) – As a world-class university, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign attracts students from around the globe. But some computer science students don’t have to leave home to receive their education. Recently, the university signed an agreement with INTEGRAS to market online computer science certificate programs, online CS courses, and the online Master of Computer Science degree to students located in Greece.

“We expect the first Greek students in Fall 2006 or Spring 2007,” said Laura Miller, director of Engineering Online Programs in the Office of Continuing Engineering Education at Illinois. “Through our online programs, we continue to expand the reach of the college and provide students anywhere the opportunity to obtain a University of Illinois education.”

In April 2005, the university signed an agreement with Samsung SDS Co., Ltd. , Seoul, Korea , to provide online graduate courses through the university’s Department of Computer Science (DCS). Ten Samsung employees are currently registered as Illinois online degree students as a result of that agreement. More Samsung employees will be joining the program in Fall 2006 and in subsequent semesters.

“What separates this program from the many ‘diploma mills’ you hear about is that the quality of education our online students receive is the same as those on-campus,” explained Mehdi Harandi, associate head and director of online programs for the computer science department. “The DCS has developed online courses that can be delivered in connection with its Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree program or on a non-degree basis. Our goal is to provide online students with as much of the on-campus experience as possible, while offering a flexible, convenient option for busy professionals who want to advance their careers through education.”

The Illinois Internet Computer Science Program offers the department’s Master of Computer Science degree as well as specializations and single courses. Online students enrolled in engineering and computer science programs are held to the same standards as on-campus students. On-campus lectures are captured and streamed over the Internet, and the online students are required to participate in class projects, turn in the same homework, and complete the same exams as on-campus students. They also have access to the same teaching assistants and help resources as on-campus students.

Students wishing to apply for the online master’s degree must have graduated from an accredited institution with a minimum of a university-equivalent bachelor’s degree. Admission is competitive and is based on academic performance and the potential for excellence in the program. The degree requirements can be completed in as few as 18 months as a full-time student, or longer as a part-time student. Since its inception in 1998, 144 students have successfully completed the master’s degree program. Hundreds more have enrolled in online classes and earned specialization and single-course certificates.

Students do not need to be admitted to a degree or certificate program to enroll in online courses. This non-degree option allows students to audit individual computer science courses or take them for credit. Non-degree courses taken for credit may be applied to a master’s degree program in the future. According to Harandi, the certificate program provides a means of obtaining in-depth knowledge in a sub-area of computer science such as computer security, information systems, networking, software engineering, and system software.

“Part of the mission of the College of Engineering is to provide educational programs on a continuing basis to practicing engineers,” Miller said. “The top-tier education available from the College of Engineering is now available to students located anywhere in the world. A degree earned in our online program is the exact same degree that is awarded on-campus.”

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Contact: Mehdi Harandi, associate head and director of online programs for the Department of Computer Science, 217/333-6952, harandi@uiuc.edu.

Laura Miller, director of Engineering Online Programs in the Office of Continuing Engineering Education, 217/265-8430, arriola@uiuc.edu .  

Writer: Rick Kubetz, Office of Engineering Communications, College of Engineering, 217/244-7716, rkubetz@uiuc.edu.