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The University of Scranton Awards Master's Degrees to 379 Online Graduates

Posted on: Monday, 29 June 2009, 07:35 CDT

Students Praise Program Quality and Convenience on Their First Trip to Campus

TAMPA, Fla., June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Among The University of Scranton students who gathered for the May 30 spring commencement ceremony were hundreds who visited the Pennsylvania campus for the first time.

"The campus is beautiful and although I took all of my classes online, I still felt a part of the campus life," said Ayanna Thorne Gass, who received a Master of Science in Educational Administration. "Everyone, from the other students I met to the professors, was warm and welcoming. I felt like a long-lost relative and not a stranger."

As a single mother working both full- and part-time jobs, Gass said the convenience of online education made earning a master's degree possible. Her experience at The University of Scranton has given her the confidence and desire to earn another advanced degree - a doctorate, which she plans to begin working on soon.

Teresa Marie Tyson and several family members made a special flight to attend the ceremony, where Tyson was awarded her Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction. "It was the proudest moment of my life," said Tyson, who emphasized the academic excellence for which The University of Scranton is known.

Other students also lauded the quality and convenience of online education, describing how the Internet-based classes fit their busy lifestyles. "When I first enrolled in the online program, I had an hour commute to work and the closest college was another hour on top of that," said Bobbie Bie, who earned a Master of Science in Educational Administration. "The flexibility and convenience of the online program really appealed to me. It allowed more time to spend with my family since I was avoiding the commute." Bie said her master's degree will help her become a department head or curriculum coordinator, plus she can now teach courses at her local community college.

For Marguerite Musgnug, a 10-year teaching veteran, the online master's program provided stability and assurance that life's interruptions would not derail her educational goals.

"My husband and I moved around a lot the first few years we were married, and each time, I was in the middle of a master's degree program," she explained. "I wanted the online format in case we moved again, since it would allow me to finish, no matter where I was living."

Whether students choose to focus on Curriculum and Instruction or Educational Administration, all online participants benefit from an interactive learning experience that features streaming video lectures, online message boards, live chat rooms, virtual office hours and more.

Students Recognized for Outstanding Performance

Four of The University of Scranton's online graduates were honored for superior academic achievement, which included maintaining a 4.0 grade point average:

-- Laura Anne Bell, Vienna, VA - MS in Educational Administration -- Lori Leigh Wilt, Waynesboro, VA - MS in Educational Administration -- Jaime Leann Ottinger, Vail, AZ - MS in Curriculum and Instruction -- Jennifer Ann Counselman, Charlotte, NC - MS in Curriculum and Instruction

For a complete list of graduates, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/news/images/summer2009/2009_CGCE_Commencement.pdf.

The University of Scranton is currently accepting applications for the next online session. For more information about earning a master's of science degree in education, call 800-605-5346 or visit http://www.uscranton.com.

About The University of Scranton

Nestled in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania, The University of Scranton was founded in 1888 and has been educating students in the Jesuit tradition since 1942. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 Master's Universities in the North by U.S. News & World Report. The University of Scranton is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) as well as the Commission of Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The College of Graduate and Continuing Education is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

About University Alliance Online

The University Alliance (UA) facilitates the promotion and online delivery of associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees as well as professional certificate programs from the nation's leading traditional universities and institutions. Powered by UA's technology and support services, our university partners have surpassed 300,000 online enrollments - making UA the largest facilitator of e-learning in the country.

Contact: Sandy Levine, VP of Marketing Services The University of Scranton/University Alliance Partner 813-621-6200 http://www.uscranton.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE The University of Scranton

Source: PR Newswire

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