The University of Montana–Missoula

Continuing Education, Educational Outreach

Missoula, Montana

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

For students who live elsewhere in Montana, in the United States, or around the world or for students who are unable to attend class during the traditional school day, academic departments at the University of Montana–Missoula team with Continuing Education to offer programs through External Degree Programs (EDP) and/or individual courses through UMOnline and Extended Studies. The University of Montana–Missoula serves a large, rural state and has a special commitment to the continued development of high-quality, affordable distance learning options.

External Degree Programs delivers programs via a combination of traditional classroom, videoconferencing, and UMOnline/Internet instruction. Classes typically meet during evenings or on weekends, and program courses are offered each semester. Programs are open to qualified, regularly admitted UM-M students, and all aspects of the degrees are equivalent to those earned on campus. Although students are encouraged to pursue programs in their entirety, nondegree students may also register for individual courses with consent of the program's academic coordinator. For information about academic coordinators, logistics, costs, and schedules, students should contact External Degree Programs. Students are also advised to consult the University of Montana–Missoula's catalogs for complete program details and admission requirements.

UMOnline is the University of Montana–Missoula's online teaching and learning environment. Every semester, a growing variety of regularly offered on-campus courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels are also made available online. Online course sections are open to qualified, regularly admitted UM-M students and are equivalent in every respect to those available on campus.

DELIVERY MEDIA

The University of Montana–Missoula delivers courses to distance students online over the Internet, via televised videoconferencing systems, or in person to locations throughout Montana.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The Doctor of Education program is an external cohort program in educational leadership that meets on weekends on the Missoula campus.

The Doctor of Pharmacy, External, is offered through UMOnline and is intended for working pharmacists who wish to upgrade a previously earned bachelor's degree in pharmacy to the next level.

The Master of Arts in school counseling is an external cohort program that meets on weekends on the Missoula campus.

The Master of Business Administration is offered via videoconference. This off-campus M.B.A. program is broadcast on a flexible evening schedule to classrooms in nine Montana cities.

The Master of Education in curriculum studies is delivered in partly online through UMOnline and partly in person in Butte and Corvallis, Montana, during evenings throughout the school year and via condensed daytime schedules during the summer. The degree is expected to be available soon delivered entirely through UMOnline.

The Master of Education in educational leadership is delivered throughout the year entirely over the Internet through UMOnline.

The Master of Public Administration is delivered year-round entirely over the Internet through UMOnline.

The University of Montana–Missoula (UM-M), the main campus of the University of Montana System and founded in 1893, is a midsize, state-supported university located in Missoula, Montana, a small city of about 65,000 people located in the Rocky Mountain West. Approximately 10,500 undergraduate and 1,250 graduate students are enrolled, some of whom are taking courses through distance programs. UM-M is a Carnegie doctoral level–intensive university offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs through centers of excellence in its colleges and professional schools: Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Fine Arts, Forestry, Journalism, Law, Technology, and Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences. The University of Montana–Missoula is governed by the Montana University System Board of Regents and accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (professional schools and departments are approved by specialized accrediting organizations). The University of Montana–Missoula ranks seventeenth in the nation and fifth among public universities in producing Rhodes scholars.

The Associate of Applied Science in surgical technology is offered through UMOnline, with clinical experiences in Butte and Billings, Montana. The UM-M College of Technology coordinates with UMOnline, other colleges of technology, and hospitals to bring the complete degree program to students in Butte and Billings.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

The Library Media Endorsement Program is an online program intended for upper-division and graduate-level students who wish to receive endorsement in this field from the State of Montana Office of Public Instruction. The enhanced program is now offered jointly by UM-M and UM–Western.

The M.B.A. Foundation Program is an online program that prepares students for graduate studies in the UM-M Master of Business Administration degree program. The Foundation Program comprises a series of five courses offered through UMOnline over a one-year period.

STUDENT SERVICES

Distance learning students enjoy access to a wide variety of UM-M student services, including the Mansfield Library's distance education delivery services and UM-M's admission, academic advising, financial aid, registration, and career services. Select campus services are also available.

CREDIT OPTIONS

Courses are offered for undergraduate and graduate academic credit.

FACULTY

Courses are developed and taught by UM-M faculty members.

ADMISSION

EDP and UMOnline courses are available to qualified, regularly admitted UM-M students. Students may enroll in EDP, UMOnline, and on-campus course sections simultaneously or mix delivery modes over successive semesters.

TUITION AND FEES

Depending upon the program, fees may be based on a state-support resident/nonresident model approved by the Montana University System Board of Regents or on a self-support model. The typical cost for a 3-credit UMOnline course is $495 for under-graduate courses or $555 for graduate courses.

CONTACT

Educational Outreach, Continuing Education
The University of Montana–Missoula
Missoula, Montana 59812
Telephone: 406-243-2900
E-mail: edoutreach@mso.umt.edu
Web site: http://www.montanaeducation.com

FINANCIAL AID

Students receiving any form of financial assistance are advised to check with the UM-M Financial Aid Office to determine coverage. Fee waivers and state fee matrix cost plateaus do not apply for self-supported courses.