Frequently Asked Questions about the COMET Program
What does COMET stand for?
Is the COMET program only open to California residents?
Do I have to be teaching currently?
What is the cost of the program?
When is the deadline to apply?
What are the admission requirements?
Am I required to take the GRE?
Can the GRE requirement be waived?
How many units are required?
How long is the program?
How do the 1-unit workshops work?
Where can I find an application for the program?
Is it possible to take more than one course a semester?
When does the program begin?
How long will I have to complete the program?
Will completing the program give me another teaching certification?
Are students committed to moving at the same speed as the cohort
for the entire program?
Will you have a cohort starting in the Spring?
Is EVERYTHING online or are there times when I will need to commute
to San Diego?
What are the technology requirements?
Would this program be appropriate for adult school educator?
Will there be regularly scheduled online meetings?
What is the weekly time commitment?
Is coursework tailored to the K-12 teaching profession, or are students
exposed to the broader use of EDTEC skills in the professional world?
Are there any advantages to doing the on-campus Master's program,
as opposed to the on-line?
If I am admitted to the COMET program, am I committed to teaching
in the K-12 setting throughout my course of study towards the Master's?
Would the COMET program internship opportunities?
How will someone from a Third World country benefit from this program?
What does COMET stand for?
Cohort Online Masters in Educational Technology
Is the COMET program only open to California
residents?
The program is open to K-12 teachers from anywhere, however examples
and curriculum will refer to California standards and the non-resident
tuition is actually higher than that of our general distance program
that is not cohort based. TOP
Do I have to be teaching currently?
No, but if you are not planning on a teaching career you should
look into our more general distance
program which targets a broader audience-including those seeking careers
in the corporate, government, nonprofit, and military sectors. TOP
What is the cost of the program?
The cost of the program for California residents is set by the state
each academic year. Though you'll be attending at a distance, you'll pay
"in-stage" fees as California residents. See the latest fee schedule (Fall
09) at http://www.sdsu.edu/schedule/fall09/schedule_fees.html.
Tuition for international and non-California residents is currently
$372 per unit based on 2009 non-resident fees (which, of course, are subject
to change). Our "general" distance
program is offered through
the College of Extended Studies; beginning Spring 2010, the per-unit fee
is $330.
Fees do not include the cost of books, computer equipment, Internet service, or software. They do include online library database access, a university e-mail account, and space on the server to post web-based projects. TOP
When is the deadline to apply?
The priority deadline for submitting the university application (CSUMentor)
is February 1. Other materials such as the department application, GRE scores,
transcripts, letters of recommendation must be received by March 1. TOP
What are the admission requirements?
For detailed information, see: http://edtec.sdsu.edu/apply.htm.
TOP
Am I required to take the GRE?
The University requires all graduate program applicants to take
the GRE. The EDTEC Dept. considers scors on the verbal, quantitative and
writing tests. Please contact ETS to request that your GRE scores are sent
directly to SDSU (Institution Code 4682). TOP
Can the GRE requirement be waived?
Students who hold advanced degrees from institutions that are members
of the Council of Graduate Schools are exempt from the GRE requirement. TOP
How many units are required?
Our Master's program is 30 units; in addition we require two prequisite
courses (EDTEC 540 and EDTEC 541), each worth 3 units. TOP
How long is the program?
This program is designed as a cohort, which facilitates
a sense of community and collaboration among the students. Each
semester, including summers, you'll complete six units. At that
pace, you'll earn your degree in about two years. Students starting
in Fall 2010 will graduate at the end of the Summer
session in 2012. TOP
How do the 1-unit workshops work?
Students complete six 1-unit workshops
over the course of their program. Each workshop features two
to four online (synchronous) meeting sessions over a period of
two to four weeks with projects/assignments completed in-between
meeting times. TOP
Where can I find an application for the program?
You can apply online at: http://www.csumentor.edu/.
More information about the application process is available at:
http://edtec.sdsu.edu/apply.htm. TOP
Is it possible
to take more than one course a semester?
The program is designed for students in the cohort to complete 6
units per semester. For all but two semesters, this
means completing two 3-unit classes. When the 700s are offered, however, you'll
enroll in 4 courses: one worth 3 units and three (workshops) worth 1 unit
each. TOP
When does the program begin?
The next cohort will start in the Fall 2010 semester (end of August).
The exact course sequence is not yet finalized. TOP
How long will I have to complete the program?
The program is designed to be completed in about two years. TOP
Will completing the program give me another teaching certification?
No. You will receive a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration
in Educational Technology. In most school districts this will
earn teaching staff a salary increase. TOP
Are students committed to moving at the same speed as the cohort
for the entire program?
This program is designed to help students take advantage of the
experiences of their peers; thus, moving forward as a cohort is
critical. If you do not feel that you can commit to taking the prescribed
courses in this program, we encourage you to look into our general
distance
program, previously described. TOP
Will you have a cohort starting in the
Spring?
No, we only accept applicants to start in Fall semester. TOP
Is EVERYTHING online or are there times when I will need to commute
to San Diego?
The program can be completed entirely online from any location with
a broadband Internet connection. We will schedule some optional
events several times a year in which you can meet your peers and
the faculty face to face. TOP
What are the technology requirements?
For specific information, point your browser to: http://edtec.sdsu.edu/distance/compreqs.htm
Would this program be appropriate for adult school educator?
The principles and practices covered in this program are applicable
for an adult school educator; however, we do focus more extensively
on K-12 standards. TOP
Will there be regularly scheduled online meetings?
All courses will include weekly synchronous online meetings that
last 60 to 90 minutes and feature rich media applications that allow
students to chat with one another, interact with the faculty,
and participate in multimedia presentations. To allow scheduling
flexibility, all of these class meetings will be recorded (archived);
students who cannot attend live will have ready access to the
archives. Additional communication will take place via e-mail
and a variety of learning management systems that offer participants
a wealth of experience using a variety of communication methods
and new media tools. TOP
What is the weekly time commitment?
In addition to the 60 to 90 minute online sessions for each class,
most students find that they put in about 5+ hours per week for
reading, e-mail/correspondence and project-based assignments.
Like any endeavor, what you gain will reflect your effort. Many
of our students devote extra time because they know that the skills
are immediately useful and because the projects can often be put
to use in their classrooms. TOP
Is coursework tailored to the K-12 teaching profession, or are
students exposed to the broader use of EDTEC skills in the professional
world?
This program is more focused than our general Master's programs.
We'll target the K-12 world-with far less discussion about instructional
design and development as it unfolds in other sectors. TOP
Are there any advantages to doing the on-campus
Master's program, as opposed to the on-line?
It's easier to get to know people face-to-face while sharing the
experience of going out for coffee together or discussing course
projects while online courses allow flexibility along with no travel
time or expense. TOP
If I am admitted to the COMET program, am I committed to teaching
in the K-12 setting throughout my course of study towards the Master's?
No; ultimately, your career choices are your own! TOP
Will the COMET program include
internship opportunities?
We don't have internships built into the COMET schedule, but we
can review requests on a case-by-case basis. TOP
How will someone from a Third World country benefit from this program?
As technology becomes more widespread, its use will be essential
to success in many endeavors. Technology can bring people of the
world closer together more cost effectively than ever before.
Applying what you learn in this program or our regular Distance
Program will help spread that knowledge and sense of global community
to students anywhere.
Return to COMET page.
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