THE MDE Curriculum Explained
The Master of Distance Education & E-learning (MDE) program is offered by the Graduate School (TGS) at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) in partnership with the Center for Lifelong Learning (C3L) at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg (UOL). The Master of Distance Education & E-learning program is entirely online for working adults who want to complete their degree without interrupting their careers and aspire to enhance their professional skills and competencies within or moving into the e-learning field. The recent rapid growth of distance education – and e-learning – in both public and private education, as well as in the training sectors, has created an enormous demand for qualified professionals. The MDE provides the comprehensive, practical knowledge needed to lead the distance education enterprise within educational, business, government, and non-profit organizations.
The curriculum requires 36 credits of coursework and is divided into 15 credits of required core coursework, and 21 credits of required coursework, including a 3-credit capstone course, from one of the program specializations. Here is more information about the MDE curriculum that explains all the requirements in terms of courses for each of the specializations of the program, as well as potential career paths and jobs. The program offers three specializations:
MDE graduates will develop competencies in the following areas within the Distance Education field:
The curriculum requires 36 credits of coursework and is divided into 15 credits of required core coursework, and 21 credits of required coursework, including a 3-credit capstone course, from one of the program specializations. Here is more information about the MDE curriculum that explains all the requirements in terms of courses for each of the specializations of the program, as well as potential career paths and jobs. The program offers three specializations:
- Distance Education Technology (DETC) -This specialization is focused on providing the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage essential technology-related aspects of distance education program development, including setting up appropriate technology configurations, selecting tools, media integration, course design, and development. This specialization provides grounding in the relevant history pertaining to media and technology in distance education and e-learning, setting a framework guiding the appropriate technology choice. The specialization provides an in depth understanding of asynchronous and synchronous technologies, social media, many other emerging technologies, as well as course development tools. Read more.
- Distance Education Teaching and Training (DETT) - Emerging information and communication technologies confronts teaching personnel and trainers with new demands. Managing online teaching requires mastery of the instructional design process as well as the integration of the appropriate selection of media. The specialization covers a full array of distance teaching and training principles in different settings, including K-12 and corporate training at a distance. Read more.
- Distance Education Policy and Management (DEPM) - This specialization is especially linked to topics such as cost and economics of distance education, administration of distance education organizations and the necessary policies within the distance education system. It also includes topics such as business in and of distance education, issues related to investment in distance education by governments and individuals, as well as how distance education programs are budgeted and costs evaluated. Read more.
- Develop and communicate a mission and vision for the implementation of distance education within an organization
- Function effectively as leader, manager and team member within a distance education or training organization
- Develop strategic goals and business plans for distance education within an organization
- Analyze and recommend an organizational distance education technology plan, and manage the implementation of that technology in distance delivery
- Design, implement, and assess the necessary support services for a distance education program
MDE graduates will develop competencies in the following areas within the Distance Education field:
- Organizational and management processes
- Leadership and change management
- Information technology
- Business development, strategic action planning, problem solving, ethics, and social responsibility
The following graphics explain the organization of the program's curriculum. First we start with looking at the program's focus.
The next graphic shows the organization of specializations and courses.
For more support in creating your study plan, please visit MDE Advising and Degree Planning.