UMass Online - University of Massachussetts Online

About

Where Is UMass Located?

University of Massachusetts is available online and also has four physical campuses available for students. Campus locations can be found in:

Amherst
Boston
Dartmouth
Lowell

Is UMass Online Accredited?

UMass Online is regionally accredited. Before we explain, keep in mind that there are two types of accreditation: regional and national.

National accreditation is more common for trade and technical schools. National accreditation does not necessarily ensure that credits can be transferred from school to school. UMass Online is regionally accredited.

Regional accreditation helps ensure that credits can transfer from school to school. It also helps ensure that students who pursue degrees in certain subjects, such as teaching, accounting, and healthcare, can pursue licensure. Regional accreditation is typical for public research universities like the University of Massachusetts.

Is UMassOnline regionally accredited?

UMassOnline is regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The NEASC is an independent nonprofit organization. It works with the University of Massachusetts and other regional schools to establish and maintain high standards and quality education.

Regional accreditation helps ensure that credits can be easily transferred between schools.

Is Umass online hard to get into?

Even though UMassOnline offers programs that students can access without being on campus, its admissions standards and requirements vary by campus. Why is that? Primarily because UMassOnline offers the same courses to on-campus and online students. The only difference is that online students access their courses remotely. Therefore, you’ll be applying to programs offered by specific campuses.

How hard it is to get into UMassOnline therefore depends on the program and campus you apply to.

Accreditation

UMassOnline is regionally accredited by NEASC, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (209 Burlington Road, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730-1433; 781-271-0022). In addition, many of each campus' schools and colleges are also accredited by discipline-specific agencies.

Online Programs

Program Listings

Master’s Degree Programs
- Master's Degree in Curriculum & Instruction: Autism Studies Option
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  The M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Studies Option is a 30-credit (10-course) master's degree program which can be completed entirely online. Offered through UMass Lowell's Graduate School of Education in cooperation with the Psychology Department, this interdisciplinary program combines UMass Lowell's award-winning Behavioral Intervention in Autism online graduate certificate program with one of the University's most popular online Master's degree programs in Curriculum and Instruction.
  Please note: This program does not lead to teacher licensure. Candidates interested in pursuing this Master's Degree Option must first complete four of the courses as part of the Online Graduate Certificate Program in Behavioral Intervention in Autism. Generally, all four certificate courses will be transferred into the M.Ed. degree (if the candidate has earned a grade of B or better); however, if the candidate has taken an elective as part of the certificate, that is not also on the list of courses below, this course will be assessed by faculty for its appropriateness for the M.Ed.
  RESIDENTS OF Arkansas, Kansas and Minnesota: The University of Massachusetts Lowell is not presently accepting applications or registrations for online courses, degrees or certificate programs from residents of Arkansas, Kansas or Minnesota. Due to recent legislative changes the University of Massachusetts Lowell is not seeking state authorization to offer online programs in those states. State and federal laws require colleges and universities to receive state authorization to offer online programs in states other than their own.
Certificate
- Behavioral Intervention in Autism
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  UMass Online's Behavioral Intervention in Autism Certificate is a four course certificate is designed to provide professionals in psychology, education, child care, and human services with an understanding of autism and related developmental disorders. It introduces behavioral methods and details how such methods can be used and evaluated. The certificate was developed in partnership with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center, a pioneer for over three decades in research, education, and service for people with developmental disabilities and their families, the University of Massachusetts Medical School who formed a partnership with the Shriver Center in 2001, and UMass Lowell, to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth in an effort to reduce the impact of disease and disability, address inequalities in health and human service systems, and educate and develop compassionate healthcare and human service professionals. All courses BACB approved.
- Certificate in Accounting
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  The UMass Dartmouth's undergraduate Certificate in Accounting is a one-year (30-credit) certificate program for students who have already earned bachelor's degrees in other fields.
  If you have a business degree:
  - The accounting certificate program provides an opportunity to acquire the credentials for a career in accounting through advanced courses in the discipline.
  - Once you complete this track, you will qualify to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam in Massachusetts as well as in many other states. You can use the 30 credits in the accounting certificate program—in conjunction with 120 credits awarded in the standard undergraduate degree program—to satisfy the 150-hour credit CPA requirement.
  - The accounting certificate program also prepares you to take the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) exam.
  If you have a non-business degree:
  - The accounting certificate program provides an intensive introduction to the accounting discipline.
  - If your professional goals include management responsibilities, you will find the accounting certificate particularly helpful for career development. Engineers as well as professionals in the healthcare and legal fields have chosen the accounting certificate as a way to enhance their managerial expertise.
  - If your goal is to sit for the CPA, you can complete this certificate and then take several additional business courses to meet the CPA requirements.
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS: UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Certificate in Computer Science
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  The UMass Dartmouth Computer Science Graduate Certificate will provide students with advanced knowledge of selected areas of modern computing including but not limited to intelligent information systems, parallel and distributed computing systems, computer networks, and software engineering.
  
  Successful completion of this certificate program waives the GRE requirement for applicants to the Master of Science in Computer Science (MSCS) program. Students accepted into the UMass Dartmouth MSCS program will receive credit for each certificate class with a grade of B or higher.
  
  Goals
  
  The Computer Science Certificate Program is designed to provide students with:
  - Knowledge of advanced computer systems and software development
  - Understanding of new advances in the discipline of computing such as neural and evolutionary computing, image processing and data science
  - A route into the MS program in Computer Science at UMass Dartmouth
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS: UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Graduate Certificate - Business Foundations
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  The Business Foundations Graduate Certificate offers students who hold a bachelor's degree in a non-business area of study the opportunity to meet the demands of new careers in management or to advance their professional goals. This program is compatible with our MBA degree requirements, enabling certificate recipients to transition into the MBA program. Certificate recipients who wish to apply for admission to the MBA program must follow the application requirements. The Business Foundations Certificate is a great option for students who want to continue their education at the graduate level and explore the world of business, and is intended for fully-employed individuals interested in career advancement, professional development, or a career change.
  The purpose of the Business Foundations Graduate Certificate is to develop skills that enable individuals to operate more effectively in business organizations. The program's graduates will:
  - Develop an understanding of statistics and analytical techniques
  - Examine the environmental impacts of business operations
  - Gain knowledge of basic accounting and finance concepts and practices
  - Develop an understanding of legal and regulatory systems.
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS:UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Graduate Certificate - Educational Policy
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  The Graduate Certificate in Educational Policy is designed to expose students to present-day and emergent developments in educational policy. To fulfill the certificate requirement, students are required to successfully complete four online courses, two of which are required and two of which are from a set of three elective courses. These courses have been designed to provide students with the opportunity to undertake a graduate level exploration of major contemporary educational policy issues, while at the same time firmly grounding their understanding of these topics both in an historical context and with sensitivity to the critical role of educational institutions in the development of a more democratic society.
  
  The curriculum has been designed to prepare students for a professional management or analytical role within a local or state education agency and/or to continue their study at the graduate level.
  
  The Educational Policy Certificate program will provide students with:
  - Critical transformative knowledge to examine educational policy within a global socio-economic context.
  - Conceptual framework to critically grasp policy analyses and research with a transformative purpose.
  - Critical understanding of current debates in education policy and policy answers to address educational problems.
  - Theoretical framework of the historical, political, social, and economic context of education in the United States.
  This Certificate can be completed in one year, and all the credits can also be applied toward the Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from UMass Dartmouth, also online.
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS:UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Graduate Certificate - Environmental Policy
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  The Environmental Policy Certificate offers an excellent opportunity to achieve advanced knowledge and professional certification in the formulation and implementation of policies that achieve sustainable operations. It is offered by the Department of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The Certificate in Environmental Policy introduces students to environmental issues of local, state, regional, national, and global concern. The goals of the program are to provide an understanding of the major ecological issues, to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills with an emphasis on policy analysis, and to foster the development and implementation of environmentally sound policies and practices.
  
  Successful completion of the certificate should enhance a student's current career or aid in the development of new job skills. And successful completion of the Certificate is a substantial positive consideration for students who subsequently apply to the full Master's in Public Policy program, and courses completed with an average GPA of 3.0 or better in the Certificate will count toward the Public Policy Master's degree.
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS:UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Graduate Certificate - International Business
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  The Graduate Certificate in International Business is designed for professionals currently working in or aspiring to work in companies that compete globally. The IB Certificate is a great option for students who want to continue their education at the graduate level or for fully-employed individuals interested in career advancement, professional development, or a career change.
  The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in International Business is to develop skills that enable individuals to operate more effectively in global organizations.
  The program's graduates will:
  - Develop an understanding of cultural differences
  - Examine the environmental impacts of business operations
  - Gain knowledge of global marketing and finance
  - Develop an understanding of different legal and regulatory systems.
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS:UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Graduate Certificate - Organizational Leadership
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  The Graduate Certificate in Organizational Leadership at the University of Massachusetts is designed for individuals currently working in or aspiring to work in managerial positions in business, nonprofit, or governmental organizations. This certificate is a great option for current undergraduate students who want to continue their education at the graduate level or for fully-employed individuals interested in career advancement or professional development. Students enrolled in this certificate program can expect to learn:
  - The main components for leadership, motivation, and empowerment of others.
  - Strategies for effective management of change processes and initiatives.
  - The key principles of organizational design and structures that facilitate high-performance work system.
  - Corporate social responsibility and its impact on organizational effectiveness.
  This 12 credit certificate program can be completed entirely online.
- Graduate Certificate - Public Management
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  The Graduate Online Certificate in Public Management exposes students to the essential principles of public management within the context of public policy. Students learn about the foundation of policy development and public management. From this foundation students choose from a variety of electives that focus on areas which include state and local public finance, regional economic development, program evaluation and other aspects critical to public management.
  
  ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, KANSAS, MARYLAND, and MINNESOTA RESIDENTS:UMass Dartmouth does not presently consider applications for online degree or certificate programs from applicants whose permanent residence is in Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland or Minnesota because of the regulations resulting from legislation in these states. For details about regulations in your state that may affect your enrollment in an online program offered by another state, you may wish to consult your state's Department of Education and/or learn about efforts of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements at http://nc-sara.org/. If you are a resident of Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Maryland, or Minnesota, UMass Dartmouth welcomes your application to a face-to-face program only.
- Undergraduate Certificate - Women's and Gender Studies
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  The field of Women's Studies is multidisciplinary and offers a valuable component to any major. Calling upon such fields as history, economics, psychology, health, music, and literature, Women's Studies seeks to understand the position of women in society. The interdisciplinary nature of Women's Studies fosters an active examination of the varying influences upon women's and men's lives such as race, class, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, and age. The UMass Online Women's Studies certificate program provides students an opportunity to think about the construction and influences of gender in contemporary society, to discover the historical factors that have shaped the current status of women from all backgrounds and countries, and to explore paths to achieve equality for all people. Women's Studies students have used their unique preparation to pursue graduate degrees in Women's Studies and other disciplines. Students have pursued careers in law, human services, business, the health sciences, graphic design, publishing, and education.

General Info

Facts & Figures

Institutional Accrediting Agency:
New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
Institution Type:
Public Higher Education
Total Online Enrollment:
0-999
Calendar Type:
Quarter Schedule (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer)
Delivery Format:
Online.
Carnegie Classification:
Doctoral/Research University—Intensive
Technical Requirements:
You must have: access to a personal computer (Mac or PC), basic computer skills, Internet connection, e-mail program and account, at least a 56 kbps modem, Java-capable browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari), Shockwave plugin (to use chat).
Geographic Restrictions:
None.
On-Campus Requirement:
None.
Loans Offered:
Availability of financial aid varies depending on course status and matriculation. Check with your advisor to determine your eligibility and application procedures.

UMassOnline

Where Is UMass Located?

Is UMass Online Accredited?

Is UMassOnline regionally accredited?

Is Umass online hard to get into?

Master’s Degree Programs

Certificate

Institutional Accrediting Agency:

Institution Type:

Total Online Enrollment:

Calendar Type:

Delivery Format:

Carnegie Classification:

Technical Requirements:

Geographic Restrictions:

On-Campus Requirement:

Loans Offered: