Technostructure Proposal for Online Delivery of STPS Graduate Program

Since physical distances and time mismatches between
the students and the instructors create problems in
education, offering online degrees through internet
has become very common in recent years. This book
presents a feasibility analysis of offering an online
graduate program. Science & Technology Policy Studies
(STPS) graduate program is an interdisciplinary
program. People having different backgrounds can be
the students in this department. Since most of its
students are working in private firms, their
attendance to the courses are not easy. That is why
online delivery of this graduate program is the
subject of this study. In the first part of the
study, distance education alternatives and
applications in the world are summarized. The second
part includes a cost analysis of offering an online
course. In this part, minimum number of students
required to compensate the total cost of an online
course is calculated. Last part presents the results
of a questionnaire made on STPS graduate students. By
using the cost analysis and the results of the
questionnaire, a decision about the feasibility of
offering an online STPS Graduate Program with a
tuition fee is made.

Autorentext

Fatma Deli is a Ph.D student in Economics, Florida InternationalUniversity, U.S.A. She worked as an Industrial Engineer for sixyears in Turkey. She received her B.S degrees in IndustrialEngineering and Physics Education simultaneously, and earned herM.S in Science & Technology Policy Studies from the Middle EastTechnical University in Turkey.

Klappentext

Since physical distances and time mismatches betweenthe students and the instructors create problems ineducation, offering online degrees through internethas become very common in recent years. This bookpresents a feasibility analysis of offering an onlinegraduate program. Science & Technology Policy Studies(STPS) graduate program is an interdisciplinaryprogram. People having different backgrounds can bethe students in this department. Since most of itsstudents are working in private firms, theirattendance to the courses are not easy. That is whyonline delivery of this graduate program is thesubject of this study. In the first part of thestudy, distance education alternatives andapplications in the world are summarized. The secondpart includes a cost analysis of offering an onlinecourse. In this part, minimum number of studentsrequired to compensate the total cost of an onlinecourse is calculated. Last part presents the resultsof a questionnaire made on STPS graduate students. Byusing the cost analysis and the results of thequestionnaire, a decision about the feasibility ofoffering an online STPS Graduate Program with atuition fee is made.