Degrees and Certificates
Masters Degrees
M.S. in Agricultural and Extension Education
The MS in Agricultural and Extension Education is designed for agricultural educators who work in the public schools or who work in non-formal adult and/or youth education programs. There are two concentrations available, one in teacher education and one in extension education. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available in either concentration. Students should complete a minimum of three core courses in one of the concentration areas and a minimum of 12 credits of approved graduate course work within the department, along with additional graduate electives to meet the course requirements of each option. The non-thesis option emphasizes more course work designed to meet the needs of the practitioner. The thesis option emphasizes completion of fewer required courses with the expectation that the student will conduct thesis research and contribute to the literature of his/her profession.
M.S. in Civil Engineering, Public Works Option
The Public Works graduate program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is tailored to students in a traditional academic setting as well as to practicing professionals interested in continuing education. Some opportunities will be provided to permit you to integrate your academic studies with an internship program with local municipalities and consulting companies. Practicing engineers may have access to academic courses via internet delivery to your desktop computer, wherever you are.
M.S. in Environmental Engineering, General Environmental Engineering
The Environmental Engineering graduate program at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, focuses on environmental pollution control, management, and protection of resources, including air, water and land. Through Distance Education and Independent Study the student can specialize in a program in general environmental engineering resulting in a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering.
M.S. in Industrial and Information Engineering (Engineering Management concentration)
The engineering management concentration has an additional admission requirement of two years of industrial experience as a practicing engineer or scientist in a company in the United States, or current full-time employment in an appropriate engineering or applied science position. The program is non-thesis and requires 33 semester hours of coursework plus a 3-hour design (capstone) project. This concentration is fully supported off-campus utilizing electronic media for video taping and interactive distance teaching methods, and is made available through the cooperative efforts of the Department of Industrial and Information Engineering at The University of Tennessee main campus in Knoxville and the Space Institute campus in Tullahoma, Tennessee.
M. S. in Information Sciences
The University of Tennessee, through the School of Information Sciences, offers a M.S. in Information Sciences. This degree prepares information professionals for work in all types of libraries and information centers. The degree program is accredited by the American Library Association (ALA).
This program prepares students to understand the nature of information and the role of libraries and other information agencies in the management of information resources and the facilitation of information transfer.
Instructional Technology (WebIT)
WebIT is the University of Tennessee's new Online Master's Degree Program in Instructional Technology. The program consists of 11 courses (33 Credit Hours) taught over a period of two years (6 academic semesters). The first group of WebIT students (Cohort 1) will enroll in one course during the Summer of 2008 and two courses per semester during each of the following five semesters. WebIT cohort groups will begin every two years. The second WebIT cohort will begin in the Summer of 2010.
The WebIT curriculum consists of a sequence of eleven courses designed for delivery through electronic media. The WebIT curriculum will cover instructional applications of the Internet, Managing Instructional Networks, HTML Development, Web 2.0 applications, Instructional Design, Multimedia Development, Collaborative Networking Theory and Practice, and Educational Foundations (Teachers, Schools and Society, Understanding Educational Research).
WebIT participants will use a variety of computer-mediated communication tools, and proprietary and open-source applications to facilitate learning. The WebIT program will empower students to become online teachers and mentors, as well as learn how to best use technology to improve their face-to-face teaching.
M.S. in Nuclear Engineering
Distance students can complete the entire coursework requirements for the Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering program by taking primarily interactive web courses that are basically the same as graduate nuclear engineering courses taught on campus at The University of Tennessee (UT). The MS program requires eight 3-hour graduate courses: four Nuclear Engineering (NE) courses, two courses in a related technical discipline (or two more NE courses), and two courses in mathematics, statistics or computer science. In addition, at least six hours of research or engineering practice are required for a total MS requirement of at least 30 hours. Up to one-third of the credit hours for the MS degree can be transfer credit from another accredited institution.
Rehabilitation Counseling Program
The University of Tennessee graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling (RC) is designed to prepare students for professional careers as clinicians in the field of rehabilitation. The RC Program is service-oriented and includes practica and internship experiences. Completion of the program culminates in a Master of Science Degree. The Rehabilitation Counseling (RC) Master of Science (MS) degree maintains national accreditation from the Council on Rehabilitation Education, Inc. (CORE). There is no specific undergraduate major required for students who are interested in the RC Program.
M.S. in Reliability and Maintainability Engineering (RME)
The RME academic program was developed to meet the needs of industry and government by providing formal education in the RME area. The M.S. program is an interdisciplinary program in the College of Engineering. Students choose a concentration in Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Nuclear Engineering. RME focuses on the use of management systems, analysis techniques and advanced condition-based and preventive technologies to identify, manage and eliminate failures leading to losses in system function. Once perceived as a practitioner or manufacturing issue, reliability and maintainability engineering is now considered a business issue of urgent priority.
M.S. in Social Work
The College of Social Work is offering a Distance Education M.S.S.W. program for students who are unable to come to campus due to their physical location. This program will be available to Advanced Standing students beginning Summer 2008, and to other M.S.S.W. students beginning Fall 2008. Distance Education classes will be taught by a variety of technologies and will include some face to face Saturday meetings held at a central location. Student internships will be arranged within a reasonable driving distance from the communities within which Distant Education students reside.
The Master of Science in Social Work program seeks to prepare M.S.S.W. graduates to make demonstrable improvements in the quality of life of at-risk and vulnerable populations across individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, the state of Tennessee, the nation, and society. The concepts of critical thinking, evidenced-based practice, complexity, culturally affirming practice, social and economic justice, and at-risk populations permeate the M.S.S.W. curriculum.
Graduate Certificates
Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics
The Graduate School and The Department of Statistics have approved a program of courses which leads to formal recognition of graduate level training in statistical methods, via a Graduate Certificate.
UT's Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistical Strategies focuses on nuts-and-bolts application of advanced statistical tools useful in your professional career.
Graduate Certificate in Computational Fluid Dynamics
Newly organized, completely Internet-based graduate course sequence constituted of ES 551, ES 552, ES 645 plus an elective. A hands-on CFD Laboratory course (ES 652) for code applications in 3-dimensional validation-scale CFD problem statements will be available shortly. Requires admittance to the University of Tennessee Graduate School and counts as first 12 hours towards ES MSc in the computational engineering sciences.
Graduate Certificate in Engineering Management
The Industrial and Information Engineering Department offers a graduate certificate in engineering management. The program, designed for professionals who work in an engineering organization, consists of four graduate courses, Engineering Management 533, 534, 536 and 539. The hours may be utilized toward a graduate degree later if the student meets all other degree requirements.
Applicants must be admitted to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Graduate School. The only academic prerequisite for the certificate program is a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or college.
Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Criticality Safety
The Graduate School and The Department of Nuclear Engineering have approved a program of courses which leads to formal recognition of graduate level training in nuclear criticality safety, via a Graduate Certificate. The program consists of four graduate nuclear engineering courses (three required courses and one elective course) related to nuclear criticality safety and is intended to complement practical on-the-job training that is required of most nuclear criticality safety specialists.
Graduate Certificate in Reliability and Maintainability Engineering (RME)
The RME Graduate Certificate program is an interdepartmental program designed for students who wish to learn about advanced reliability, maintainability and asset management practices. It is also suitable for professionals and managers currently working in the field who wish to improve their knowledge and skills. The program consists of four graduate engineering courses, two required courses and two elective courses. The two required courses introduce the student to the fundamentals of maintenance engineering and reliability engineering. The two elective courses are selected from a list of RME-related courses that currently include courses in five traditional engineering disciplines.
Executive MBA
The University of Tennessee offers a range of MBA degree offerings with various levels of technology delivery:
- Aerospace Executive MBA (AEMBA) - a one-year, AASCB accredited MBA program of need-to-know essentials. Total immersion during residency periods with distance learning between. Six Residency Periods Minimize Travel and Disruptions. Five residencies on campus and one in Europe. Start in mid-November of this year and end in early November of next the year.
- Executive MBA (EMBA) - a one-year program for high-potential, mid-career executives. Program is delivered in five 8-10 day residence periods on the Knoxville campus, one 2-week residence period in two developing countries overseas, and live, internet delivered classes on Wednesday evenings. Classes start in early January; graduation is in mid-December of each year.
- Physician's Executive MBA (PEMBA) - Suited for physicians seeking high quality management and business operation skills, this specialized MBA requires only 4 one-week on-site residence periods during the 12 month program; all other course hours are available at your computer desktop via the Internet. Classes start in early January; graduation is in December of each year.
- Professional MBA (ProMBA) - a 16 month program with classes offering weekend classes on the UT campus and on selected weekday evenings via live, internet delivery to your desktop computer, wherever you are.
Contact This Department
Department of Distance Education & Independent Study
Conference Center Building
600 Henley Street, Suite 208
Knoxville, TN 37996
Phone: (865) 974-5134
Toll Free: 1-800-670-8657
TDD: (865) 974-5078
Fax: (865) 974-4684
Email: disteducation@tennessee.edu