Dr. Caroll Ryan, President of California Southern University joins us today to discuss distance education.

Tell us about the distance learning programs offered at California Southern University.

CalSouthern has been offering degree programs since 1978. We have degrees in Behavioral Sciences, Law, and Business. All degrees are earned completely online with the help of our web-interactive platform and learner resources.

Specific degree programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (BA)
• Master of Arts in Psychology (MA)
• Master of Science in Psychology (MS)
• Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
• Juris Doctor (JD)
• Master of Science in Law (MSL)
• Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies (AALS)
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

CalSouthern is unique! In addition to the numerous degrees that are approved for state licensure, we also offer every new student the opportunity to take single courses. If you are looking to take a few classes for personal growth or needing to take a few units to complete a degree or test the waters before committing to a degree-based program, our enrollment advisors will guide you to find the right classes.

What is the typical duration of each of your programs?

Each degree program is different, based on state licensure and guidelines set by state boards. Bachelor’s degrees will take the average student four years to complete. Your MBA can be earned in as little as one year with learners completing one course per month, while the Master’s degrees in Psychology and Law can be completed in two to three years. The doctorate degree in Psychology and Business Administration can be realized in only three years with the Juris Doctor completed by our students in four years.

What would you say makes California Southern University programs different and better than other comparable online programs?

CalSouthern is committed to continuing our rich history of personalized attention and prompt service to every student. We realize that our online students expect a personal touch from enrollment through graduation and our goal of creating a community for you is accomplished through our online and interactive learner website.

Another point where we differ is in the cost of education. Affordable tuition is one of the most important factors when students are deciding on which university to attend. With tuition as low as $140 per unit, you are able to start earning your degree without tuition cost keeping you from realizing your dreams.

There is some debate as to whether or not online degrees are as worthwhile as traditional degrees. What steps does California Southern University take to ensure that online students are receiving the same education that they’d receive in a classroom?

You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between CalSouthern and a traditional brick and mortar facility when looking at different course syllabi and our list of approved textbooks. Our deans and faculty are highly respected leaders of the education community and many of our faculty members are professors and lecturers at the traditional universities as well. They are also working professional practitioners in their fields. Although brick and mortar has been the tradition in higher level education, major universities are now looking to us as a model to creating their own Distance Learning programs.

What would you say are some of the benefits of earning a degree online rather than in a traditional classroom?

Flexibility and personal attention are the top reasons to choose CalSouthern over a traditional institution or other distance learning universities. Flexibility is the basis of any online degree program and CalSouthern realizes that every learner is different when it comes to study time and staying in contact with Faculty Mentors and Advisors. As a student you can balance your study schedule around work responsibilities and family time by eliminating the need to commute to school, parking costs, and the time it takes to walk to classes. In addition, new classes start every month, so you don’t have to wait for the beginning of the semester.

Where CalSouthern differs from other online universities is that we pride ourselves in maintaining a high-level of communication with each and every student. Advisors, Faculty Mentors, and University Staff are available by phone and by email. Our Advisors are committed to helping you reach your degree goals.

Online universities can also be less expensive than traditional facilities and CalSouthern has proven to be one of the most affordable universities as compared to traditional and other online programs. Many of our students find the low cost of our programs as an added benefit and a major reason they choose CalSouthern.

Is financial aid available to students in your programs?

CalSouthern provides a number of payment options including interest-free monthly payments. In addition students are able to obtain financing from Sallie Mae. With the low cost of the tuition at California Southern University, students have found our options to be very attractive for their budgets.

Do you have any advice for students enrolling in online classes for the first time?

When enrolling in any online program, you want to make sure that you are receiving the kind of personal attention that will help guide you through your educational goals. The Enrollment Advisors and Academic Advisors are proud to represent CalSouthern as leaders in personal one-on-one attention with all students.

To Request more information about the distance learning programs available through CalSouthern, Go here to visit them online.

Thank you Dr. Ryan, for sharing and participating in this piece for Online Degrees 2.0

That concludes our interview!

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