Saint Leo University Introduces Five New Online Degree Programs

Saint Leo University is making it easier for working adults to further their education with the addition of five new online degree programs. Applications to enroll in the programs are currently being accepted for the Fall 2019 Term, which starts August 19.

The new programs include a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education, Bachelor of Arts in human services, and Bachelor of Arts in educational studies, with a specialization in early childhood development. The Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in software engineering will also be available online this fall.

"There is a high demand for qualified professionals with degrees in these industries," said Mary Spoto, vice president of Academic Affairs at Saint Leo University. "By bringing more of our strong and established academic programs online, we are making it convenient for people to pursue rewarding careers in these fields."
 

Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
Saint Leo has adapted its highly regarded Bachelor of Arts in elementary education to make coursework available to potential online learners in Florida. The online delivery format will prepare graduates for certification to teach in Florida, just as the program taught in classrooms at the main campus and at several education centers does. The online option is expected to appeal most to people who cannot attend classes in person, usually because of transportation or child-care issues, but are motivated to become teachers.

Online students will still have to complete the same number of field placement hours and internship hours in schools that Saint Leo requires of all other elementary education majors. Saint Leo handles the connections with the elementary schools and tracks the future teachers' progress in the field setting. The ample classroom experience, combined with instruction that satisfies state requirements for certification in teaching reading and teaching English to speakers of other language, makes the Saint Leo teaching degree well respected by employers.

About half the content for the program will be delivered at scheduled evening sessions of 90 minutes, allowing for rich, real-time interaction among students and faculty; many of the sessions involve collaborative exercise in real time. The balance of the online coursework will be completed through individual assignments. Still, students will be expected to contribute to a video discussion board that tapes their answers to questions and allows them to comment on classmates' responses.

Semesters are 16 weeks long and require of the completion of 120 credit hours. More details are available here: saintleo.edu/online-elementary-education-bachelors.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies
The Saint Leo Undergraduate Education Department is also offering online a Bachelor of Arts in education studies specializing in early childhood development, from birth to age 5. This program is expected to appeal to individuals who are already working in pre-school settings, but do not have a four-year degree. Increasingly providers of care and education for young children prefer or even require employees to have a college degree.

Through online coursework, students will learn about the different stages of development and learning capacity among small children, and ways that pre-K children can best be exposed to language, math concepts, creativity, and play, depending on their age. The degree candidates will also learn about interacting with parents, with community organizations, and meeting the teaching requirements of faith or values-based school systems.

The instruction is delivered over a rich web environment to permit interaction between classmates and the faculty members. Semesters are 16 weeks.

Those who earn this Bachelor of Arts degree can be employed in settings that do not require state licensing of the individual educators. Alternately, graduates who seek a state license can contact their state regulator for information on licensing. More details are available here: saintleo.edu/online-early-childhood-education-bachelors.

 

Bachelor of Arts in Human Services
For those who like to help others, Saint Leo is adding a new fully online Bachelor of Arts in human services.

Saint Leo's new online program prepares students for rewarding careers in which they can make a positive impact on various communities in need. It offers a hands-on, experiential learning process. The program consists of 48 credit hours in foundation courses. The remaining credits include electives (30 credit hours) and University Explorations (42 credit hours) courses, providing students with a well-rounded education.

As a part of the foundation courses, students complete 350 hours of field placement (internship) and sit for the Human Services Board Certified Professional (HS-BCP) exam at the end of the program. Upon graduating, Saint Leo students have the knowledge and experience to apply for employment, a new position, or a promotion at a nonprofit, for-profit, or government agency.

Tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year for undergraduate bachelor's degree courses is $370 per credit hour for civilians and $250 per credit hour for active duty military members. For more information, visit saintleo.edu/online-human-services-bachelors.

 

Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Software Engineering
In the area of technology, Saint Leo is adding both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in software engineering under the Tapia College of Business. The software engineering program will help address workforce demand for trained individuals who can create and test new software applications, especially for mobile platforms. Systems integration skills are also needed by employers. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 24 percent increase in the number of software development positions nationally from 2016 through 2026.

The Bachelor of Science in software engineering prepares graduates for entry-level positions. It is a 120-hour degree program, including 74 to 77 credit hours in computer science, software engineering, and mathematics. Advisors work with students who may have earned college credits elsewhere to determine if previous work can be applied to the degree. Internships are optional. Tuition is charged on a credit-hour basis, and in the 2019-2020 academic year is $370 per undergraduate credit hour for civilians, and $250 per undergraduate credit hour for active-duty military members. Additional information is available at saintleo.edu/bachelor-software-engineering.

The Master of Science degree in software engineering is a 30-credit hour advanced program that will prepare technologies professionals to move into supervisory roles. It is intended for those who already have a four-year degree in computer science; however, advisors will counsel applicants with degrees in other fields on which additional courses they need to complete for admission to the master's program. Tuition is $720 per credit hour for the 2019-2020 year. Saint Leo is a military supportive university that works well with veterans pursuing new careers. More information can be found online at saintleo.edu/online-software-engineering-masters

For more information about these programs and Saint Leo University, call the Admissions Office toll free at (877) 622-2009, or go to saintleo.edu.