Watch CBS News

CSU To Debut Online Courses To Ease Overcrowding, Cash Crunch

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Starting in 2012, overcrowded classes could be a thing of the past at California State University .

KNX 1070's John Brooks reports schools throughout the state will offer students nearly a half-dozen online courses beginning in January.

Podcast

The cyber-school CSU Online will likely expand its curriculum in the months after its debut in an effort to ease enrollment for new and returning students at a time when statewide budget cuts are taking a toll on classes.

A new feature being developed — dubbed the CSU Accelerator — would be used by students willing to pay a higher price for online access to overcrowded courses that would otherwise be unavailable.

Several students on the Cal State Long said that while the development is probably a good thing, they still prefer the traditional classroom experience.

"If that's my only choice to be a full-time student, I would take online courses," said one student. "I prefer better having the visual."

University officials said the goal of the program is to help graduate more students and eventually bring in additional revenue, but there are issues of quality control and preventing students from cheating in online classes.

Cal State already offers 63 fully online degrees — mainly master's degrees — but currently only offers 19 for undergraduates.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.