Embry-Riddle Opens Online Access to For-Credit Courses for Arizona and Florida High School Students

One of the country’s largest online universities has opened up some of their courses for high school students to take at no cost. On March 23, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University announced it had made a number of online for-credit courses available to high schoolers in Arizona and Florida, two states where it maintains brick-and-mortar campuses.

K-12 schools are currently closed in Arizona and Florida. Some speculate that closures for certain districts (not necessarily in Florida and Arizona) will last throughout the rest of the school year. While many instructors are scrambling to maintain instructional continuity, Embry-Riddle has decided to turn the current crisis into an opportunity.

Embry-Riddle Will Allow Florida and Arizona High Schoolers to Take Online For-Credit Courses via Dual Enrollment

Florida and Arizona high schoolers can apply to take seven different courses. These are: Aeronautics Pathway, Aviation Legislation, Introduction to Computers & Applications, Foundations of Biology, History of Aviation in America, Meteorology, and Introduction to Sociology.

As an instutituion, Embry-Riddle focuses on aeronautics and aviation. The university first launched an online program back in 1996. Today, they are one of the largest online schools in the U.S. and are ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the second-best online bachelor’s program in the country. Their online enrollment is currently above 15,000 students.

“Over the past 25 years, Embry-Riddle has pioneered remote learning and developed an exceptional platform for instruction and student engagement,” said Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler, in a statement. “That experience puts us in a unique position to help students continue to learn and develop a sense of wonder for our world, even while they’re out of school.”

Students can currently apply to enroll in these online courses. The deadline ends March 27. To be accepted, learners must have a minimum 2.75 GPA and provide an unofficial transcript. Embry-Riddle asks interested students and their families to email Embry-Riddle Director of Dual Enrollment Joseph Hoffman at [email protected].

“Helping businesses advance STEM innovation and job growth is an important way that Embry-Riddle serves its communities and industry partners, and helps bolster economic progress, particularly in Florida and Arizona, the states that host our two residential campuses,” said Mori Hosseini, chairman of Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees, in a statement. “As a pioneer in online education, Embry-Riddle has a wonderful opportunity to give back to our communities during the current health crisis.”

Other Online Learning Options

According to ClassCentral, an online database that tracks the MOOC-space, Embry-Riddle offers or has offered numerous open online courses via the Canvas Network. Their course Aviation 101 is self-paced and available to take any time. Another MOOC, “Coming of Age: Sustainability in the Aviation Industry,” is set to begin this week.

Embry-Riddle marks another online educator who is taking action to provide online education options as schools shut down. Statewide K-12 school closures have now been announced throughout the U.S. except in Maine, Idaho, Nebraska, and Iowa. Kansas has closed schools for the rest of the year.

While numerous education publishers have opened digital access to their catalogue and platforms for students, many other edtech developers have made their products and services available to teachers and learners for free.

Featured Image: Michelle Blake, Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0.