Officers at Fort Gordon can now pursue graduate study in computer systems management, information technology, and telecommunications management.

UMUC Offers Signal Officers Opportunity for Advanced Degrees

By Andrea Martino

With 54 years of experience providing educational services to the U.S. military stateside and abroad, UMUC has become increasingly adept at adapting its educational "product" to meet student needs. (See, for example, the January 2002 FYI Online story about the new Master of Science in Management with an emphasis in naval operations and national security.) Now UMUC provides officers in the U.S. Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia, the opportunity to continue their post-baccalaureate studies throughout their career.

Patterned after the accelerated Executive Master of Science in Information Technology program, the new program has attracted 25 students at Fort Gordon who are working as a cohort in a combination of traditional classroom and online instruction. They are pursuing master's degrees in computer systems management, information technology, and telecommunications management.

Since last summer, UMUC Professors Don Goff and Sal Monaco have visited Fort Gordon to instruct a 9-credit weekend seminar for students. In response to concerns about security and transportation after the September 11 terrorist attacks, some of the discussions were conducted via video teleconference. After leaving the Signal Center, students will take UMUC online graduate courses that offer a more general understanding of technology and management tools.

"The combination of military training students receive at the Army Signal Center and from UMUC graduate courses is invaluable," said Goff. "The UMUC component reinforces what they learn at Fort Gordon while expanding their knowledge to the level of a master's degree."

Goff said that, based on interest expressed by officers, he expects UMUC to organize two cohorts of students at Fort Gordon each year. The next cohort should begin this month.