- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock /news-archive/tag/online-education/ ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:05:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Ranked Top School for Online Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice /news-archive/2022/03/03/top-ranked-online-program/ Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:05:10 +0000 /news/?p=81127 ...]]> The education resource website, OnlineMastersDegrees.org, ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 10th in its list of the “.” “The Master of Science in criminal justice is a professionally-oriented, 36-hour degree offered completely online,” said Dr. Tusty ten Bensel, director of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “It is designed to develop the essential knowledge and skills needed to become an effective practitioner or supervisor within the criminal justice system. The online convenience of this program allows students, who are currently in the criminal justice field or have a full-time job, the flexibility to advance their education and be more marketable in the field from anywhere in the country.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Master of Science in criminal justice degree is a unique online program geared toward working professionals in the criminal justice system. It provides students with advanced academic training, special expertise in advanced issues within the criminal justice system, supervisory and administrative proficiency, and the methodological and statistical skills necessary to understand research and new developments in criminal justice. Graduates of this program will gain applied knowledge enabling them to rise toward the highest levels in criminal justice organizations. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s recognition comes at a time when enrollment in master’s degree programs is on the rise. In October 2021, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reported a 7.3 percent increase in first-time graduate student enrollment in Fall 2020. First-time, part-time student enrollment rose by 13.5 percent. The CGS report cites the growth of online and hybrid learning options as a primary driver of these trends. “Our goal was to find the master’s programs that are making online learning a priority,” said Kyle Darland, co-founder of OnlineMastersDegrees.org. “Each school in our criminal justice ranking offers at least one partially or fully online master’s degree option, and for a price students can afford.” OnlineMastersDegrees.org researched and analyzed more than 7,700 accredited schools using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and from the schools themselves.]]> Building Rapport with Online Students Will Lead to Greater Student Retention and Success, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Professor States in New Book /news-archive/2021/12/06/rapport-online-students-retention/ Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:10:27 +0000 /news/?p=80458 ...]]> Dr. Rebecca Glazier, associate professor in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock School of Public Affairs, said that building a rapport with online students can revive the promise of online education. This leads to greater success for students, more fulfilling teaching experiences for faculty, and improved enrollment for universities. “Generally, online enrollment has been growing so much over the past 20-30 years,” Glazier said. “Yet our online students are dropping out at greater rates than face-to-face students. With the pandemic, a lot of people are paying attention to the importance of online education right now. If we really engage with our online students and make human connections, they can be just as successful as our face-to-face students.” John Hopkins University Press will publish her new book, “,” on Dec. 7. Glazier will also give a presentation on her new book on Feb. 2, 2022, for the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Academy of Teaching and Learning Excellence. “It can be very hard to build relationships with your online students,” Glazier said. “You don’t have eye contact, casual conversations, or chance interactions walking across the quad. I advocate intentionally creating ways to build connections with your online students. When you do that, students are significantly more likely to stay enrolled, have higher grades, and to graduate. And it’s more fun to teach a class where you connect to your students. The key thing is to share with students that you care about their success, and then students will care about your class more.” Drawing from her own experience as an online educator, Glazier provides techniques that online instructors can use to build rapport with their students. These include: • Proactively reaching out through personalized check-in emails • Creating opportunities for human connection before courses even begin through a short welcome survey • Communicating faculty investment in students’ success by providing individualized and meaningful assignment feedback • Hosting non-content-based discussion threads where students and faculty can get to know one other • Responding to students’ questions with positivity and encouragement “There are some very easy actions that online teachers can take to build a relationship with their students, such as humanizing yourself by introducing yourself to the class with a short video,” Glazier said. “You can also tell students the shows you are binge watching and let your cat appear in the background of your lectures. You should make sure the students know you are a real person, and you care about them and their progress.” Another one of Glazier’s strategies is to get students engaged in classroom work by giving the students ownership over classroom content. “The students appreciate being given some ownership over classroom content and a say in what they are learning,” Glazier said. “You can ask students to vote on what case studies they’d like to review, what current events articles to read, and let the students be discussion leaders.” While the book is geared toward online educators, Glazier said there is also a chapter for education administrators so they can create a culture that supports online education and tips for parents and students to be successful in their online classes. “When we really invest in creating relationship-rich online classes, we see the results in terms of student success and retention rates,” Glazier said. “It’s worth it to invest in better online teaching, and I am excited to share that message. There are a lot of people who are talking about the importance of online education because of the pandemic, and my book adds to the conversation with evidence supported by data.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock online graduate programs listed among the nation’s best by U.S. News and World Report /news-archive/2021/01/26/best-online-program/ Tue, 26 Jan 2021 22:37:00 +0000 /news/?p=78222 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been recognized as having some of the best online programs in computer information technology in the country. U.S. News & World Report ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 19th in its 2021 ranking of “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.” “Our university continuously encourages innovative academic programming to help students and faculty achieve academic success,” said Dr. David Montague, executive director of online learning and faculty mentoring. “This significant accomplishment in these prestigious academic rankings demonstrates commitment to academic excellence, optimal functionality, accessibility, innovation, universal inclusion, and user-friendly education.” This ranking assesses online master’s degree programs in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information systems, and information technology. For ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, this ranking includes the online Master of Science in information quality and Master of Science in information science programs. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also ranked 19th in the 2020 U.S. News list. “We are really gratified to make the list again this year. The online degree market has become very competitive,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pierce, chair of the Department of Information Science, which houses both programs. “There are a lot of good schools offering good web-based degrees so we need to keep improving what we offer each year in order to stay a competitor.” The online master’s degree in information quality is a 33-hour program that can be completed in as little as 18 months. The program is designed to prepare students for industry and government careers as well as advanced doctoral studies. Developed with support from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Information Quality Program, the curriculum balances information quality theory with industry best practices using state-of-the-art technology. “The Information Quality Graduate Program was launched in 2006, and it’s the only graduate program in the U.S. devoted to the study of data governance and data quality management issues,” Pierce said. “The program is attracting a lot of attention from the chief data officers community due to the strong synergy between this program’s curriculum and the need for chief data officers to ensure their organization has trusted data that is available when needed.” The online master’s degree in information science is a 33-hour program designed to familiarize individuals with the advanced knowledge, skills, and technologies for working with large amounts of complex data. Students learn how to compete in an industry with an ever-present demand for new innovations in data science and analytics, advanced information systems design and development, and emerging information technologies. Both degrees serve as a stepping stone for other advanced graduate degrees, such as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Ph.D. in computer and information science. For the 2021 rankings edition, U.S. News evaluated schools on five categories, including engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, service and technologies, and student excellence. Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Jerry L. Maulden-Entergy endowed chair and distinguished professor of information science who teaches online courses in the graduate programs, said the professors work hard to meet the challenges of online students. “Online students face a variety of challenges,” Agarwal said. “Aside from technological challenges, online students miss peer-experience, engagement and participation during asynchronous classes, instant access to instructors and on-campus resources. We recognize these limitations of online education and make a concerted effort to improve students’ learning experience.” Pierce said that the success of the online programs is driven by several factors, including the use of innovative online technologies to deliver a live classroom webcast from video classrooms in the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, skilled instructors, and support from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “In our programs, we have worked hard to improve the delivery of the online learning experience,” Pierce said. “We encourage students as much as possible to take their classes synchronously online to get as much interactive engagement with their instructors as if they were physically on campus. In addition though, we do offer students the flexibility to view the recorded sessions anytime their schedules do not permit them to join the live session at the given time. The other part of the equation is the quality of the program’s instructors and course content. In addition to our regular graduate faculty, we recruit highly qualified individuals from industry to teach specialized content so that our students can get the best combination of real world experiences coupled with sound academic principles.” Two of the information science professors who teach for the graduate programs, Dr. John Talburt and Dr. Richard Wang, were recently named to Chief Data Officer Magazine’s 2021 . ]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s new flexible MBA program offers best of online, face-to-face classes /news-archive/2020/07/01/mba-program-online/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 13:51:43 +0000 /news/?p=77043 ...]]> “What makes the program special is the degree of flexibility and convenience offered to our students,” said Sonya Premeaux, associate dean for graduate students in the College of Business. “Traditionally, they would come to campus one to three nights a week, depending on their chosen course schedule. Now they can come to campus whenever they want. It’s eliminated the commute, the fighting rush hour traffic, or having to rush out of work to make it to class.” Beginning in the fall 2020 semester, all required MBA courses will be offered via Zoom video conferencing. For students who prefer in-person classes, all courses will be taught on-campus in classrooms outfitted with advanced technology. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s MBA will allow the student to choose the delivery method that best suits them at the time – in class or through Zoom technology,” College of Business Dean Jane Wayland said. ”If life gets in the way, the class is recorded with a transcript for the student to view at any time. This provides the ultimate convenience for the student.” MBA students will have the freedom to attend classes on campus, online, or to switch back and forth at any time and as often as they like. Online and on-campus students will be able to see, hear, and interact with their instructors and classmates. “This MBA program solves one of the major problems we see for our students,” Premeaux said. “Many of them receive a promotion, transfer, or new job offer and move in the middle of their program, and they need a way to finish their degree. The new flexible learning option makes completing their education seamless. They can continue as if they were still here, even if they have moved out of town.” All classes will be recorded and made available for review. To make it easier for students, all class recordings will be accompanied by a searchable transcript indexed in the video recording that allows students to easily find content without the hassle of continuously fast-forwarding and rewinding the video. “The new option will help me earn my MBA by allowing me to have the option to either learn in person or at home,” said Michael Kramer, an MBA student from Heber Springs. “It also allows me to re-watch the lecture, in case something was missed in real-time. Students have different schedules and learning styles, and this option has broadened the ability to cater to all styles and schedules. These options allow for the utmost flexibility as most students’ schedules can change from week to week.” College of Business faculty and students have been testing the hybrid learning classes for the past academic year. “The faculty and students are loving the flexibility,” Premeaux said. “They are offering us invaluable feedback with suggestions to improve the experience for incoming MBA students.” Kyle Davis, an MBA student from Redwater, Texas, said the transition to a flexible MBA program is a “great move” for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I know that many people may have the desire to pursue higher education, such as an MBA, but cannot commit to the time constraints of a traditional curriculum,” Davis said. “By providing prospective students with online class options, I think that many more people will seriously consider obtaining the degree.” Since he is also pursuing a Ph.D. in pharmacy while completing his MBA, Davis said the new MBA option is offering him the opportunity to have the life and education he wants. “The increase in flexibility of the curriculum will hopefully allow me to have more control over my schedule and alleviate some of the pressures of time constraints,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of having the ability to complete my coursework on my own time, and I believe that the transition ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is making will drastically increase the likelihood that people will enroll to pursue a higher education with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online Master of Arts in Mass Communication program ranked among best in nation /news-archive/2020/06/17/ua-little-rocks-online-master-of-arts-in-mass-communication-program-ranked-among-best-in-nation/ Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:22:48 +0000 /news/?p=77060 ...]]> College Consensus, a college review aggregator, has ranked the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online Master of Arts in Mass Communication program 16th on its list of the degree programs for 2020. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s fully online master’s degree in mass communication emphasizes critical thinking in mass media and its strategic communication and journalistic practices as they relate to media content and its effects on the public as a whole. “The master’s degree is a well structured and flexible program for all interested in pursuing a graduate degree in strategic communication, journalism, and media research,” said Dr. Kwasi Boateng, graduate program coordinator. Divided into 11 courses, the 33-hour degree provides a media research choice that prepares distance learners to evaluate and conduct academic research in mass communication. Students are equipped with how to write and present their research findings to both academic and non-scholarly audiences. The professional mass media option gives students advanced professional experience in strategic communication/public relations or multi-platform journalism. All students will either create a professional project or write a master’s thesis for their capstone experience. College Consensus compiled its list of colleges and universities with online or hybrid master’s degree programs based on reputation, convenience, and affordability. Ranks were calculated with data from U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, and each school’s College Consensus Score.]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online master’s criminal justice programs earns top rank /news-archive/2019/02/05/online-masters-criminal-justice-programs-earns-top-rank/ Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:02:29 +0000 /news/?p=73267 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online master’s degree program in criminal justice has been ranked among the best in the country for the second time in 2019. OnlineMasters.com ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 24th in its 2019 list of the. The research identifies 50 top programs in the nation based on curriculum quality, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes. Additionally, SuccessfulStudent.org ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock 25th in its article featuring the. and was the only school in Arkansas selected for the list. The online Master of Science in criminal justice is a 36-credit hour program designed to help graduates develop the essential knowledge and skills needed to become an effective practitioner or supervisor in the criminal justice system. Today’s tense social climate means there is an increasing need for criminal justice professionals who have relevant insight into the sociological, legal, and practical areas of law enforcement as well as the skills to critically think, problem-solve, and lead. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will receive advanced academic training, special expertise in advanced issues, supervisory and administrative proficiency, and the methodological and statistical skills necessary to understand research and new developments within the criminal justice system. Graduates will gain applied knowledge enabling them to rise toward the highest levels in criminal justice organizations. In addition to insights gained from industry professionals, OnlineMasters.com leveraged a data set comprised of interviews and surveys from current students and alumni. Each online degree program was analyzed with only 50 making it to the final list. The methodology incorporates the most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System () and statistical data from the . “Professionals with a master’s in criminal justice can distinguish themselves as leading experts in the field,” said Barbara Montgomery, program recognition manager. “Students who pursue a master’s in criminal justice can gain employment as corrections managers, FBI agents, forensic accountants, forensic psychologists, paralegals and more. The steady job growth in this market is just one of the many reasons OnlineMasters.com researched, analyzed, and ranked the Top Master’s in Criminal Justice programs.”]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online social work graduate program ranked among best in country /news-archive/2019/01/22/online-social-work-graduate-program-ranked-among-best-in-country/ Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:15:39 +0000 /news/?p=73142 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s online Master of Social Work program has been ranked among the best in the nation. OnlineMasters.com ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as 25th on its list of the Best Online Master’s in Social Work Programs for 2019. The research identifies 45 top programs in the nation based on curriculum quality, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Master of Social Work online degree program prepares social workers for advanced practice and leadership roles. The 60-hour program particularly focuses on clinical social work practice, where students will learn contemporary, evidence-informed practice approaches that can be used across a wide range of settings and with diverse individuals, families, and groups. This nationally accredited program can be completed in three years, which includes the completion of both course work and field internships. In addition to insights gained from industry professionals, OnlineMasters.com leveraged an exclusive data set comprised of interviews and surveys from current students and alumni. The methodology incorporates the most recent data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System () and statistical data from the . Most importantly, only programs from accredited nonprofit institutions were eligible. “According to the , employment for social workers is expected to increase by 16 percent over the next several years,” said Barbara Montgomery, program recognition manager. “This job growth is much faster than the average for all occupations, which means significant opportunities for new graduates.” Students who pursue a master’s degree in social work can gain employment as a mental health counselor, school social worker, foster care therapist, human service assistant and more. To access the complete ranking, please visit. ]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student sees instructional design as key to improve education /news-archive/2019/01/11/lily-valibaba/ Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:39:36 +0000 /news/?p=73087 ...]]> Lily Valibaba envisions a classroom experience for her son that is far different than the one she had growing up. At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she is working on a Master of Education in learning systems technology and is incorporating technology into curriculum design that will benefit future youth. “The thing about education is that you really do need a love of learning,” she said. “I have had that love most of my adult life, but not so much when I was younger. Looking back, I realized I was bored and that the educational system was meant for the average learner, but the outliers are the ones who bring on the thought-provoking change. They are the ones who shine the brightest. Those are the ones that mean the most to me. Those are the learners I want to reach.” Valibaba, 39, began questioning traditional classroom education after her son was diagnosed with autism. “I have an atypical child,” she said. “He did not learn well in the traditional environment. His autism prevented him from participating in so many things. The more atypical kids I met, the more I realized how little we shifted to their needs and how much we pushed for integration into the mainstream. “I began questioning. How can we tailor an education to meet the needs of an individual learner? How can we track progress and be notified when they need more assistance? How can we let them excel in areas while simultaneously modifying instruction to boost lower performance areas? How can learning be more inclusive? Her questions led her to blended classrooms, technology in classrooms, and eventually course/curriculum design. “I realized through my research that instructional design can be used to answer those questions and that not only atypical kids would benefit, but that any learner truly benefits from a well designed course.” Valibaba also sees a career in instructional design as a way to improve education. “The future of how and where our kids are educated is moving online,” she said. “By designing online courses and helping others bring their courses up to par, I am shaping young minds so to speak. Not shaping them to an ideally framed book of knowledge, but to think. To ask questions. To move beyond what we already think we know and extrapolate data and then apply it to real world problems and scenarios. I am helping create great thinkers and it makes me feel good! Reimagining our education system is at the cusp of a giant leap forward, and I am along for the ride.” Valibaba said she chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for its convenience and affordability, but “ultimately it was the faculty that pulled me in.” “I took a sociology class and that led to an anthropology class that led to my calling – people. I love to study people. I fell utterly head over heels for anthropology. My classes were not over populated, which allowed for relationships to be formed. Many of the students were non-traditional like me. My professors were accessible and willing to help.” She completed her undergraduate studies in 2015 and received a degree in anthropology with a minor in international business. She started the Master in Education in learning systems technology program in fall 2017 and is a full-time online student. “The moment I stepped on campus for my interview, I felt like I was home,” she said. “This is where I grew up as a learner. This is where I laid my foundation, and it has only grown ever since.”]]> On the road to success /news-archive/2018/12/21/cynthia-mclellan-2/ Fri, 21 Dec 2018 17:12:15 +0000 /news/?p=73021 ...]]> McLellan takes online and hybrid classes in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. The hybrid class requires her to come to campus once a week. “This is my dream, and there’s not a sacrifice I won’t make to make this happen for myself,” she said of the weekly drive. McLellan lives in Mena, a rural community on the state’s western edge, where she has worked in social services for more than 20 years. For the past 10 years, she has been the social services director at Rich Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. “I wanted to help others to face their challenges,” she said. “It’s my love. Even if I wanted to leave it, it would follow me.” McLellan earned an associate degree in 1999 from a two-year community college in her native New Jersey. She’s always known that she needed to complete a four-year degree for her career field, but accessibility has hampered her from doing so up until now. With a job she loves, and a husband, a stepson, and grandchildren all rooted in Mena, moving wasn’t an option, and educational opportunities in her community are limited. “I am unable to relocate,” she said. “I have to work and meet my responsibilities here.” McLellan, 45, had been searching for an online program when she discovered ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Bachelor of Social Work was the perfect fit. Her previous college credits transferred to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and she started the program in fall 2018 as a junior. She received a lottery scholarship, which helps offset tuition costs. At the time she was accepted, the online program was at maximum capacity, but there was a slot in the hybrid program, which allows students to complete courses mostly online with periodic meetings on campus. “Without this online program, I would be unable to attend college. There is no other program available to me,” she said. “With this online program, I’m able to continue working and attend the college and take courses I need, and it plugs right into what I’m doing for a living. The courses I’m taking help strengthen what I do at the nursing home, and the nursing home will benefit from me getting a degree.” Right now, she’s taking five courses – 15 credit hours – while working full-time. Thursdays are the only days she spends on campus, but her Thursday class isn’t the same week after week. The courses rotate, so that on one Thursday, she’ll have Human Behavior in Social Environments with Professor Tina Paxton. The next week, she takes Policy I with Kathleen Logan, and the next week, Diversity with Kent Wolf. She takes advantage of the weekly trips, arriving early to meet with her academic advisors or professors. Beginning in January, she’ll have all online classes, which will mean less drive time and more study time. Right now, she’s holding four As and one B. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s online BSW program began in Fall 2018 and has 17 students. Dr. Stephen Kapp, director of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Social Work, says online programs are particularly helpful for training workers in high-demand areas. “In rural areas, there’s an absolute shortage of social workers,” Kapp said. “Through online programs, we’re able to build capacity in those areas.” Online classes can be challenge, McLellan said. “You have to be self motivated and stay on top of deadlines,” she said. “I have to do that in the workforce anyway.” For the most part, though McLellan has been impressed with the way technology provides ways for meaningful interaction between her and her professors and other students. On the first day of her first Persuasive Writing class, she logged on and watched a video of professor Melvin Beavers welcoming her to class. In her Diversity class, she’s working on a small group project. One of her classmates lives in Hot Springs and two live in Little Rock. With Google Docs and Google Slides, the group often works on projects simultaneously. “Distance learning is no longer just reading and writing,” she said. “I’m interacting with my professors and other students. We’re chatting and collaborating.” On a recent night, she was working on a group project for Behavior Class and a fellow student needed help. “We exchanged phone numbers, and worked on paper online together,” she said. It is a profession to which McLellan feels a strong calling – perhaps because at one point she was on the receiving end of social services. In 1995, as a mother of four children, trying to go to college in New Jersey, McLellan struggled with poverty – even experiencing homelessness at one point. She got enough money together to stay in a motel where she could take public transportation to a community college. “After getting that degree, I was able to provide for my family,” she said. “With an education, you have power to make choices. I got myself out of poverty and broke the cycle.” Her daughter graduated from SAU last year with a 4.0 GPA and is now a kindergarten teacher. Her son joined the U.S. Army and is working toward a college degree in computer science. “It’s my turn now,” she said. “I really want that BSW for myself. It will be the icing on the cake for me.” Photo by Benjamin Krain]]> ��Vlog��ý Little Rock ranked top college for affordable online journalism education /news-archive/2018/12/06/top-college-affordable-online-journalism-education/ Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:29:27 +0000 /news/?p=72898 ...]]> The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been ranked among the most affordable colleges in the country offering online degrees in the journalism field. ranked ��Vlog��ý Little Rock seventh on its list of the “30 Most Affordable Online Colleges Offering Degrees for Journalism Jobs 2018.” For an affordable $280 per credit hour, hopeful journalists can earn a Bachelor of Arts in applied communication online, which consists of 120 credit hours and teaches students how to analyze messages, develop messages, anticipate communication barriers, accomplish communicative goals, embrace difference, and influence discourse. Students can also complete this degree in an accelerated format with eight-week courses. Another journalism-related option, the Bachelor of Arts in professional and technical writing offers a curriculum that provides practical writing, editing, and document design skills. The program has two concentrations: nonfiction and technical writing. This online bachelor’s degree can earn graduates positions as grant writers, freelance writers, teachers, nonfiction writers, ghostwriters, web developers, and editors. Students also have the option to continue their studies with online master’s degree programs like the Master of Arts in mass communication, which offers a media research option and professional mass media option, or the Master of Arts in professional and technical writing. According to the , the outlook for reporters, correspondents and broadcast news analysts is dim with a 10 percent decline from 2016 to 2026 with almost 5,000 fewer jobs in the market. On the other hand, employment of general media and communication occupations is projected to grow 6 percent during those 10 years, which is about the average growth for all occupations and will result in about 45,300 new jobs. The BLS states, “Demand for media and communication occupations is expected to arise from the need to create, edit, translate, and disseminate information through a variety of different platforms.” The rankings were based on information from the National Center for Education Statistics’ College Navigator Database, the individual school’s website, and additional college resource websites.]]>