A study of the history and evolution of distance education. Social and political/economic factors, theories, learning and teaching models, technology and media innovations, institutions and systems, and major writers that have shaped the development of the field are critically examined. A variety of technologies are used to support the development of foundational skills that are integral to current practice.

An exploration of the online teaching and learning dynamic, including its theoretical foundation and best practices. The themes that shape the online teaching/learning relationship are addressed through individual and collaborative projects. Topics include philosophical frameworks; instructional, social and cognitive presence; interaction, collaboration, and participation; community and engagement; and administration and management. 

A review of the history and the terminology of technology used in distance education. The basic technology building blocks of hardware, networks, and software are identified. Analysis covers the characteristics of asynchronous and synchronous technologies and tools used in the teaching and learning, as well as the administration, of distance education. The relationship between technology and the goals of the educational/training organization are critically examined. The relationship between information technology (especially online technology) and distance education is explored. Topics include the criteria and guidelines for selecting technologies for distance education and the future directions of technology in distance education.

A study distance education in the larger context of the economics of education. A variety of methodological approaches (including cost/benefit and cost/effectiveness analyses) are applied to the distance education context. A variety of costing techniques and economic models are explored and applied to different institutional forms and levels of distance education.

An introduction to the theories and concepts of support for learners in distance education and training. Various types of learner support, including tutoring and teaching; advising and counseling; and library, registrar, and other administrative services, are examined. Discussion addresses management issues, such as planning, organizational models, staffing and staff development, designing services to meet learner needs, serving special groups, and evaluation and applied research.

An overview of the development and delivery of digital resources for distance education. Discussion covers the intellectual property issues affecting the use of copyrighted works in distance education, developing and delivering library resources online to a faculty and student population, and the future of digital information delivery and the impact of digital rights management (DRM) technologies and social networking.

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An examination of distance learning and professional development in the business sector. Discussion covers various issues, problems, and solutions related to distance learning and professional development in the workplace.  Topics include knowledge management, performance improvement, delivery of learning Gand development, and evaluating learning and development. 

An examination of the highly competitive global business environment for distance education and training. Topics include the supply and demand of education services in emerging and existing market, the competitive positioning of organizations, and increasing reliance on collaborations. Emphasis is on the skills distance education managers need in planning and developing programs, products, and services that are targeted to specific markets and cost-effective. 

An introduction to the organization , management and administration of distance education and e-learning training programs and systems. Topics include management theory and practice, organizational behavior and change, leadership roles and styles,a nd planning and policy. Discussion covers education and training in academic and corporate settings and the knowledge and skills necessary for a distance education practitioner to function effectively in either type of organizational environment. Assignments include individual and group case-study analyses, brief essays and literature searches related to distance education and e-learning.

A capstone study of distance education training designed to demonstrate cumulative knowledge and skills through two major projects: an electronic portfolio and a case study. The personal e-portfolio documents credentials and accomplishments to date and also serves as an ongoing resource and record of continuing professional development. The case study , which focuses on a distance education/ train ing program or organization, involves in-dept analysis of the setting and application of concepts and strategies to enhance practice and performance in distance education and training. 

An examination of the instructional design process, its history and place in today's course development efforts, and the use of instructional design components in practice. Emphasis is on the nature of learning and the requirements for effective instructional design in online and blended environments. The theoretical underpinnings of learning are explored and applied to the design of a prototype classroom. Management issues surrounding course and curriculum development efforts are discussed, and a comprehensive project plan is developed for design implementation.

An overview of the use of digital media in a variety of educational settings, designed to identify properties, strengths, and weaknesses of multimedia in different learning contexts. The basic psychological processes of perception, understanding, and learning with multimedia are introduced. Focus is on multimedia and instructional design for online learning systems, such as learning management systems or stand-alone learning objects. Hands-on experience with several multimedia applications is provided. Topics include collaborative learning technologies, open educational resources, the impact of multimedia on learning outcomes, methods of multimedia evaluation, quality assurance, and project management of e-learning initiatives.