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New Online Master’s Degree Programs – August 2020

Several schools have recently announced the launch of new master’s degree programs that are being offered in fully or mostly online formats. These include master’s programs in public health, spatial data science, higher education administration, psychology, and intellectual property law. Sacramento State University, The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the University of Oregon, and Lincoln Law School of San Jose are among the schools that will be offering these new online degree programs.

Sacramento State University – Online Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Promotion, Policy, and Leadership Degree Program

Sacramento State University has launched a new Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program through its College of Continuing Education (CCE) and its Sacramento State Downtown campus. The program is designed to be a hybrid online MPH program with a Health Promotion, Policy, and Leadership focus, although it will offer all of its coursework online when it enrolls its first cohort this fall. The program utilizes a cohort model, which means that groups of students begin and progress through a set sequence of courses together. The completion time for the program is two years, which includes one summer session and four traditional academic semesters. Applicants to the program can hold a bachelor’s degree in any field but two years of relevant work experience in public health are recommended and preferred by the program. The program, which is comprised on 14 courses, including a public health practicum, requires students to attend three intensive residency sessions at Sacramento State Downtown’s campus, and plans to eventually move from a fully online format to a hybrid format that includes weekly campus-based meetings.

The Pennsylvania State University – Online Master of Science (MS) in Spatial Data Science (SDS) Program

The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) has announced the launch of a new Master of Science (MS) in Spatial Data Science (SDS) program through Penn State World Campus, the school’s division of online education. The SDS program was designed by and will be taught by faculty from Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and its Department of Geography. It includes courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), computer programming, cartography and data visualization, and data science applications in mapping, health policy, emergency management, and other areas. Students in the program, which is accepting applications for a start date in January of 2021, must complete 15 credits of core requirements (five courses), three spatial data science electives, two spatial data science applications electives, and either a scholarly thesis or a research paper. The program is 100% online and does not require any campus visits.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) – Online Master of Science (MS) in Higher Education Administration Program

The School of Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has introduced a new online Master of Science (MS) in Higher Education Administration program. The program, which is enrolling its first cohort this fall, is designed for students who are interested in working in administrative positions at colleges and universities and includes coursework in educational leadership, higher education law, access and equity in higher education, and social concerns among diverse student groups. Students in the program have a choice between two tracks: a 39-credit thesis track that requires students to complete six credits of thesis research and a thesis defense, and a 36-credit non-thesis options that requires students to complete a research-based or experiential practicum and pass a comprehensive exam. The program does not require any campus visits and offers all of its courses online.

The University of Oregon – Online Master of Arts/Master of Science (MA/MS) in Psychology Program

The University of Oregon is now accepting applications for a new online master’s in psychology program that will begin in January of 2021. The program, which is offered through UO Online, includes coursework in the neuroscience of trauma, intervention science, and the neuropsychology of children, adolescents, and adults. Students in the program have a choice between pursuing a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology or a Master of Science (MS) in Psychology. The MA degree option requires students to demonstrate competency in a foreign language or have a minimum of two years of undergraduate coursework in a foreign language. The MS degree option does not have a foreign language requirement. The 18-course program can be completed in six semesters and does not require any campus visits.

Lincoln Law School of San Jose – Online Master of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property and Online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Intellectual Property Programs

Lincoln Law School of San Jose, a private, non-profit schools specializing in legal education, is introducing two new online program options this fall: an online Master of Laws (LLM) in Intellectual Property (IP) program for practicing attorneys who want to specialize in IP and patent law; and an online Master of Legal Studies (MLS) in Intellectual Property (IP) program for non-lawyers who are interested in studying IP and patent law. The online LLM program consists of five graduate courses that can be completed in two semesters by attorneys who intend to continue working while earning their degree. The online MLS program requires students to complete 12 courses and a capstone/thesis project and is designed to take two years to complete. Both programs can be completed entirely online without having to attend any campus-based sessions.