Greensboro - The online Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies has been named the state’s top university-level distance learning initiative for 2004-05 by an association devoted to online education.

This is the second year in a row that UNCG has won the award from the N.C. Distance Learning Association. Last year the university’s Fast Forward program for high school juniors and seniors received the honor. In announcing this year’s award, the association called the online master’s program a “hands down” winner.

“This program clearly provides educational opportunities to individuals who would not have had access to traditional face-to-face classes, and it has a curriculum that is extremely innovative and diverse,” said Kenneth M. Elliott, chair of the NCDLA awards committee. “It has the potential to be the best example of the use of distance education both in North Carolina and in the nation.”

The online degree offered through the Division of Continual Learning is designed for adults who aren’t able to travel to campus. Rigorous courses contain the same content taught on campus, but are tailored for the online environment. They are taught by UNCG instructors who are among the best in their fields, including recipients of distinguished teaching awards.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that the courses we offer online are challenging, engaging and use the online medium to its fullest,” said Kathleen Forbes, director of UNCG Liberal Studies Programs. “We’ve had excellent response from our students and are delighted to receive further validation of our approach from experts in the field of distance learning.”

For more information about UNCG online learning opportunities, including the Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies, contact the Division of Continual Learning at (336) 256-CALL or visit the iCampus homepage.

The N.C. Distance Learning Association is a chapter of the U.S. Distance Learning Association, a nonprofit organization promoting the use of distance learning for education and training. About 150 public and private organizations from across the state are members, including businesses, government agencies, schools, colleges and universities.