Find your answers below to commonly asked questions.
- How much does it cost to participate in the program?
- Is financial aid available?
- When will the next courses be offered?
- How do I register?
- My company will pay for my classes. How do I register?
- Do I have to apply to the department or university to participate?
- How do the distance courses compare to the campus courses?
- Is there a specific time that I will need to be online to participate in a course?
- How many hours of work are there each week?
- Can I apply courses I take for the Certificate to the Master’s degree?
- How do I apply for the Master's program?
- Do I have to attend the campus to complete the program?
- Can I take classes both online and on campus?
- How many courses can I take at one time?
- What hardware and software will I need to participate?
- How can I learn more about the program?
How much does it cost to participate in the program?
The current cost is $813 per 3-unit course. Most reading material is encoded within each course web site, however, many courses require books that you can order from online book sellers. If you decide to pursue the master's degree, there is also a $55 (subject to change) application fee due to the university.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. Please check with the Financial Aid office at SDSU to find out how to proceed.
When will the next courses be offered?
In general, each year the fall semester begins around August 25, the spring semester, around January 15 and the summer term around May 28.
How do I register?
The best thing to do is enter your contact information at http://coefm.sdsu.edu/dritchie/students/.We will contact you about three weeks before the beginning of the semester with information on how to register. We respect your privacy--your information will not be sold or shared with any organization or agency.
My company is paying for my classes, how do I register?
Registration with payment by a company requires a purchase order or a letter of intent from the company stating they will pay for a student, specific course, specific amount, etc. This information must accompany the registration so you will want to either mail in the registration or register in person. It cannot be done online. Purchase order or letter of intent is sent to the College of Extended Studies.
Do I have to apply to the department or university to participate?
You do not need to apply to take courses towards the Certificate in Instructional Technology. You will need to apply if you decide to work towards the master's degree.
How do the distance courses compare to the campus course?
The distance courses cover the same material, and are taught by the same professors, as the campus courses. The official transcripts from the university do not differentiate the modality of instruction.
Is there a specific time that I will need to be online to participate in a course?
Each course will have weekly synchrounous (real-time chats) and asynchronous (flex time) components. We encourage all participants to attend the synchronous sessions, but if work, travel, or family schedules prohibit your attendance, you wil be able to listen to the archived session. The day and time for the synchronous session will be determined at the beginning of each semester by the consensus of the class members.
How many hours of work are there each week?
The rule of thumb for graduate courses is 9-12 hours of work each week.
Can I apply courses I take for the Instructional Technology Certificate to the Master's degree?
One of the reasons we designed this certificate was to enable students to complete some of the core work for the master's degree program at a distance without committing themselves to an extended stay in San Diego. If you decide the program is for you, then you can either come to San Diego for one year to complete advanced coursework with the faculty and on-campus students, or complete the course work from your home. The advantage to coming to San Diego is that the courses are less expensive, and you get to work more closely with faculty and a community of learners. The deadline to apply for spring is November 1st. The deadline for fall is May 1.
How do I apply for the master's program?
Application information can be found here. Application to the master's program should occur after you have completed EDTEC 540 and 541 with grades of B+ or better.
Do I have to attend the campus to complete the program?
No. All work can be done at a distance.
Can I take classes both online and on campus?
No, you cannot enroll concurrently in an online and campus class. The university will allow you to change from a distance to campus student, but not move back and forth.
How many courses can I take at one time?
We encourage participants to start with one course per semester. Once familiar with the routine and work involved, some participants take two courses per semester.
What hardware and software will I need to participate?
Applications used in the program work on both Macintosh and Windows computers. To learn about the software and hardware requirements, please visit this site.
How can I learn more about the program?
Our recent newsletters wil provide information. For additional information or questions, please contact Donn Ritchie, Director at dritchie@mail.sdsu.edu or Elsa Tapia, Adminstrative Coordinator at etapi@mail.sdsu.edu .