• Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA)
  The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA) is a consortium of Human Sciences Colleges at ten universities that can help you reach your goals. Each university brings a unique strength to the multi-institution academic programs.
  
  In a multi-institution degree program, you apply, and are admitted at one university; enroll in all your courses at that university; and, graduate or receive a certificate from that university. However, your online courses are taught by the best faculty in the discipline from several universities.
  
  For more information regarding the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (GPIDEA) contact Karen Murie by email at karen.murie@ndsu.edu or NDSU Distance & Continuing Education at 1-800-726-1724 or 701-231-7015.

* Community Development

* Dietetics

* Family Financial Planning Program

* Family and Consumer Sciences Education

* Gerontology Program

* Merchandising Program

• Communication
  The Department of Communication is committed to instructional innovation and technological advancement by offering a web-based master's degree program. Currently, sufficient classes to complete the master's degree are on-line and available for students. Additional courses are in the planning stages.

  On-line courses are equivalent to on-site classes, with similar rigor and expectations regarding student performance. However, the time frame for completing on-line courses is student-driven, enabling participants to control the rate at which they move through the program.

  Plan of study:

  Required Core Courses (6 Cr):
  		COMM 700 –Research Methods in Communication		3 cr
  		COMM 711 – Communication Theory		3 cr
  Research Core Courses (6 Cr):
  Choose 2 of the following courses.
  		COMM 750 - Quantitative Research Methods		3 cr
  		COMM 750 - Qualitative Research Methods		3 cr
  		COMM 767 - Rhetorical Criticism		3 cr
  Elective Courses (18 Cr):
  		COMM 602 – Contemporary Rhetorical Theory		3 cr
  		COMM 621 – Issues, History of the Mass Media		3 cr
  		COMM 721 – Intercultural Communication		3 cr
  		COMM 725 – Communication and Change		3 cr
  		COMM 752 – Theory of Argument		3 cr
  		COMM 755 – Rhetoric of Environmental Science		3 cr
  		COMM 761 – Survey of Rhetorical Theory		3 cr
  		COMM 785 – Advanced Crisis Communication		3 cr
  		COMM 786 – Risk Communication		3 cr
  Portfolio Requirement (no additional credits):
  To satisfy the disquisition requirement of the NDSU Graduate School, the candidate for the master's degree, with the advice and consent of his/her advisor, will designate three major papers, drawn from three different courses in the program of study, to submit as a portfolio of scholarship. This portfolio will be submitted for review to the student's supervisory committee, constituted from the professors of record for the courses from which the papers were drawn. The portfolio must be approved in order for the student to matriculate to graduation.
  		Total credits		30 cr

  For more information regarding the online Master's Degree in Communication contact the Department of Communication at 701-231-7705 or NDSU Distance & Continuing Education at 1-800-726-1724 or 701-231-7015.

• Construction Management
  The Department of Construction Management and Engineering offers an online Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Construction Management. The M.S. degree prepares students for managerial opportunities in the construction industry. Students will focus on key elements of estimating, scheduling, equipment, and project management. In addition these core elements, students may choose from a variety of elective courses to develop an individual plan of study with the assistance of a faculty mentor. The online M.S. degree in Construction Management is offered as a comprehensive study (paper) option which emphasizes applied research applications in the construction industry.

  The student and an assigned advisor will develop a program of study consisting of at least 31 credit hours of graduate level courses to meet individual educational goals. A minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 is required for degree completion. . An oral defense is required for the comprehensive study (paper) option. The M.S. degree is designed to advance the technical knowledge, competence, and interdisciplinary understanding of the students and to prepare them for entering or advancing within the construction profession.

  Sample plan of study for a 9 month program:

  Fall Semester 2008:		CM&E 603 – Scheduling and Project Control		4 cr
  		CM&E 611 – Construction Cost Estimating		4 cr
  		CM&E 790 – Graduate Seminar		1 cr
  		CM&E 600 or 700 Level Elective		3 cr
  		CM&E 600 or 700 Level Elective		3 cr
  Spring Semester 2009:		CM&E 701 – Construction Technology and Equipment		4 cr
  		CM&E 612 – Construction Management Capstone		3 cr
  		CM&E 797 – Master’s Paper		3 cr
  		CM&E 600 or 700 Level Elective		3 cr
  		CM&E 600 or 700 Level Elective		3 cr
  		Total credits		31 cr

  For more information regarding the online M.S. degree in Construction Management go to the Graduate School website at www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/bulletin/d_constmgmt.htm or contact NDSU Distance & Continuing Education at 1-800-726-1724 or 701-231-7015.