Educational Opportunities for Members of the Military

GSU’s School of Extended Learning offers continuing educational courses for adults who may not be available for traditional daytime on-campus classes due to work and family schedules or military service.  One of the ways we have reached out to active-duty service members is by proudly participating in the Navy College Program for Afloat College Education (NCPACE) since 1997.   

The NCPACE program is directed at shipboard sailors who wish to continue their education while at sea or when stationed at off-shore assignments.  Since the courses are in a CD-ROM format, they can be taken without the need of the Internet and completed as an independent study.  Each course begins once the ship departs and ends at the conclusion of the deployment.

Over the years, thousands of sailors have enrolled and successfully completed NCPACE courses from GSU and other participating institutions.  Once the service member is back on base, GSU programs can be continued as Internet, correspondence or televised classes.  All NCPACE courses from Governors State are three semester credit hours.   

Examples of a couple of the courses offered through the NCPACE include an: Introduction to Management Strategies; Substance Abuse: Current Concepts; and Living Literature: The Classics and You.  The Intro to Management Strategies course introduces students to classical management, behavioral and management science. The course reviews the basic functions of management emphasizing the interrelationships among planning, organizing, directing and controlling and much more.

To learn more about how the program works, please refer to our website.  Tuition for the NCPACE is covered through the military tuition-assistance program.  Also books and supplies can be ordered online through MBS Direct, or for regular GSU courses contact the bookstore.

In every college we have outstanding programs and world-class professors; all focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  Academic excellence and innovation are natural partners. At Governors State University you’ll find an abundance of both.  We look forward to helping you achieve your educational and career goals.

GRE Test Preparation Workshops

According to an article from U.S. News and World Report, more than 700,000 people take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) for admission to graduate or business school each year.  In fact, Educational Testing Services reports that now over 800 MBA programs worldwide accept the revised GRE as an alternative to the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).  The GRE includes questions that incorporate verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing.

The GRE is similar to the SAT, but there are some significant differences that you will want to know if you plan to take the test.  First, the GRE is a computer-adaptive test and is not done with paper and pencil.  The U.S. News and World Report article explains that, “the difficulty of the questions is based on the accuracy of your answers to previous questions. The better you perform on the first sets of 20 verbal and quantitative reasoning questions, the harder the next sets of 20 questions will be.” 

At GSU’s School of Extended Learning, we offer a GRE Test Preparation course.  During the course, you will acquire strategies in math, reading comprehension, writing, and verbal and quantitative skills to improve GRE scores using acclaimed Cambridge test preparation materials.  Textbook, practice tests, and all course materials are included in the fee. 

By taking the workshop, you will more fully understand the requirements, scoring, and logistics of the GRE.   In addition you will recognize specific question types on the GRE and become familiar with the skill sets that the GRE seeks to test. 

We also offer an online course in partnership with The Princeton Review.  To enroll in the GRE LiveOnline course, you need to go to the Princeton Review website, and during checkout, type in the promo code: GSUGRE.  Please refer to GSU’s School of Extended Learning’s website for more information on our GRE Test Preparation Workshops. 

Source:

usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/2012/04/30/test-prep-6-tips-for-gre-success?int=96ef08,ets.org/gre

We encourage you to explore our many degree, certificate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  Each college has stellar programs and world-class professors; all of which are focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.

 

GSU’s School of Extended Learning: Off-Campus Locations

GSU’s School of Extended Learning is designed to meets the needs of life-long learners by providing a wide range of courses in a very flexible manner.  One of the ways we do this is through offering several off-campus locations throughout the greater Chicago area. 

One of our larger off-campus sites, GSU Naperville Education Center (NEC) in Naperville, IL, offers various graduate degree programs that includes a M.A. in Psychology and School Counseling, several Bachelor of Arts programs, Communications Workshops and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt courses.  Our Bachelor of Arts degree programs in criminal justice, psychology and interdisciplinary studies at the NEC are designed for students entering with an associate’s degree or 60 college credit hours.  Most of our B.A. programs will except up to 80 credits.

The Governors State University at South Suburban College and University Center is another of our off-campus sites located in Oak Forest, IL.   Currently Our College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Division of Communication Visual and Performing Arts, offers one credit hour undergraduate/graduate level special topic courses from the Communication program curriculum.  Please see our website for more information. 

In a partnership between Triton College in River Grove, IL and GSU, students may now earn a B.A. in Criminal Justice or in Communication from the College of Arts and Sciences.   The College of Health and Human Services also offers a Bachelor of Health Administration or Social Work.  Furthermore, a new Master of Arts in Criminal Justice cohort was started in Spring 2015 at the campus.  

The James R. Thompson Center in Chicago offers another convenient opportunity to pursue GSU’s exceptional graduate programs at an off-campus site.  Currently students can pursue their Master of Public Administration or a Master of Arts Political and Justice Studies.   These accredited programs are offered as evening classes and are adult focused coursed taught by industry leaders.  We also have special incentives for veterans.  Please see our website for details. 

In every college we have outstanding programs and world-class professors; all focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  Academic excellence and innovation are natural partners. At Governors State University you’ll find an abundance of both.  We look forward to helping you achieve your educational and career goals.

 

One of the Chicago Area’s Top Six Sigma Certification

GSU’s School of Extended Learning is for anyone who desires to continue learning throughout their lifetime.  Here you will find quality courses and workshops that will allow you to acquire new skills and knowledge for personal and professional advancement as well as to obtain CEUs and Certifications.

One such offering is the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification course that is designed to provide a thorough understanding of Six Sigma Methodology.  The course focuses on both Advanced Lean Techniques and Six Sigma "Green Belt" practices.  To enhance the learning process, lean thinking skills are presented with detailed and realistic hands-on examples.  Students will acquire the necessary expertise to be Green Belt certified and to be a practitioner of Lean Six Sigma at their organization.  Moreover students will develop the framework for becoming a Black Belt. 

The hybrid instruction consists of four in-class and four online classes where you will be given the tools to become a process change agent for your organization.  The course is designed to sharpen the direction of your efforts as well as teaching you how to drive profitability throughout your organization and improve the financial bottom line.  Once you integrate the Six Sigma methodology into your organization, you will be able to solve complex problems with greater efficiency.  

This internationally-recognized training and certification program is perfect for executives who wish to utilize an “advance” team in your group’s process.  Furthermore, it offers college or graduate level students the opportunity to get a competitive edge in the hiring process.  The program can also be useful for displaced workers who are seeking to enhance their background for future employment.   Please see our website for the complete course details and schedule. 

We encourage you to explore our many degree, certificate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  Each college has stellar programs and world-class professors; all of which are focused on delivering academic excellence in a small-class setting.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.  

GSU’s American Language and Culture Institute

The School of Extended Learning’s American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI) serves the needs of both international and U.S. students who wish to improve their English language skills.  ALCI’s primary focus is to ensure the academic success of students whose first language is other than English.  The Institute provides English Language Learners a range of services designed to improve speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar skills as well as test-taking skills and TOEFL test preparation.  

The ALCI offers an ELS Summer Youth Program which provides international young adults an opportunity to be immersed in the English language. Participants will receive English language instruction, workshops on American culture and history as well as cultural excursions. The program is open to international students between the ages of 15-25 and includes housing; most meals, ESL classes, cultural excursions, and even airport pick up and drop off services.  We offer TOEFL® testing on site if desired.

The ALCI exceptional programs also include the Cultural and Professional Development Experience, which is a 10-week summer program held at GSU.  The program provides participants with an American cultural experience that includes evening and weekend excursions to museums, restaurants and historical sites in the Chicago area.  

Furthermore, while participating in the program, you will have the opportunity to meet and coordinate with members of the GSU faculty to discuss pedagogy and research practices.  Participants will also receive instruction in speaking and listening, reading and writing and multimodal literacy.  For those who have an interest, TOEFL® test preparation and onsite TOEFL testing is available.  The program includes housing, two meals a day, local transportation, textbooks, all course instruction, evening and weekend trips and insurance. In addition participants will sign up for a free online orientation course that is provided three weeks prior to the beginning of the summer program.

To discover out more about ACLI’s broad range of services, workshops, private tutoring, community outreach programs and socialization opportunities, please see our website or contact one of the staff.

At GSU you will discover a highly diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds and courses that are taught by gifted professors.  At the School of Extended Learning, we are dedicated to providing support and resources to all students, faculty, and the community to enhance individual growth and global understanding.

Corporate Training Opportunities at GSU

The School of Extended Learning at GSU believes that investing in lifelong learning provides employees more satisfying, productive working lives. Furthermore, we feel it is one of the best ways to enhance job performance, teamwork and overall corporate competitiveness. Thereby our mission at GSU is to assist companies in their quest to become industry leaders by offering their employees the most effective training available.

Governors State University’s Corporate Education and Training program will bring professional level training right to your company or organization.  The various offerings range from courses such as Supply Chain Optimization Leadership Overview and the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certificate course that focuses on both Advanced Lean Techniques and Six Sigma "Green Belt" methodologies.

Our extensive list of courses allows corporations to delegate Governors State as their regional headquarters for workforce preparation, employee training, business development and technology deployment.  These resources are available throughout the Chicago Southland Area.  While we want to encourage you to take a look at our current training courses and online selections, be sure to check back with us frequently to see about any new courses and training opportunities we may have added.

Furthermore, GSU has partnered with OnCourse Learning.  They are a provider of high-quality, state approved, customized training solutions, textbooks, and occupational tools for both pre-licensing and continuing education.  Courses include topics that cover real estate, appraisal, mortgage, home inspection, IT, engineering, insurance, and bank and credit union industries.

The School of Extended Learning recognizes that on-campus daytime classes are not always possible for students because of work and family schedules or active military service.  We also know that many students – often GSU alumni who found their love for learning here – want to keep on learning for a lifetime. We are designed to meet those needs and more.

We invite you to explore our many degree, certificate and individual course offerings listed on our website.  GSU has a highly diverse student body made up of individuals of all ages and backgrounds and our courses are taught by gifted professors.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.  

Learn More About: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Would you like to learn the proper techniques for achieving resolution of a problem?  Or are you a college or graduate student looking for a competitive edge in the hiring process or currently unemployed and need to enhance your credentials for future employment?  The solution can be found at the GSU School of Extended Learning’s unique course offering called Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification.

The course is designed for anyone who would like to get a thorough understanding of Six Sigma Methodology.   During the training, you are prepared to become Green Belt certified and to apply the techniques at an organization.  As part of the instruction, the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification offers assistance with project planning and a variety of statistical tools.  Students are instructed in methods to integrate theories of business, statistics, and the elimination of waste with a goal of achieving real, tangible results.     

The School of Extended Learning’s course also lays the foundational framework for Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.  An interesting statistic from the 8th Annual iSixSigma Global Salary Survey indicates that professionals with Black Belt Certification in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $122,627.  Additionally their statistics show that U.S. professionals who complete any Six Sigma training earn $12,642 more than those without it (2011QP Salary Survey). 

The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate course is offered at the main GSU campus and the Naperville Education Center. In addition Governors State University’s Corporate Education and Training offers the option of bringing the training to your organization or corporation.

At GSU we believe that investing in lifelong learning leads employees toward more satisfying, productive working lives. Lean Six Sigma is ideal for executives, managers, front-line supervisors, business owners, engineers and practitioners of continuous improvement.  Learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.  

ESL Students – Improve Your Skills

If you are a student in the Chicago area and want to improve your English language skills, Governors State University offers a program you may be interested in through our School of Extended Learning.  The American Language and Culture Institute’s (ALCI) program is designed and taught by a professional faculty to prepare students academically, socially, and culturally for success as university students.

Our Intensive ESL Program is for both international and U.S. students and is available year-round.  It is taught by an ESL faculty that is experienced in assisting students who consider themselves English Language Learners, and the program utilizes cutting-edge teaching methods, curriculum design, and up-to-date research.    

Students are provided with specialized course work that includes Listening and Speaking, Reading and Writing, Integrated Studies, Multimodal Composing, Pronunciation and Cross Cultural Contexts.  Our program is also intended to help student with TOEFL test preparation. 

Regardless of whether you are a beginning learner or a student with more advanced English skills, our program can help to prepare you to do better academically at the university level.   Please keep in mind that students applying to the Intensive ESL Program are not automatically guaranteed admittance to Governor State’s undergraduate or graduate programs.  Students are still required to meet the university standards for admission, and the application process requires a transcript evaluation as well as TOEFL® or IELTS scores.

To apply to our Intensive ESL Program, we offer a convenient online application.  The program accepts students 18 years or older, and for students 17 years of age, they need to submit their school transcripts.  For your convenience, we offer an easy online application.   Please see our website for more information.

Along with our extensive ESL programs, GSU’s Office of International Services is available to assist all international students, international faculty, staff and scholars, study abroad students and their families.  We are proud to be home to a diverse population with representation from countries around the globe. We encourage you to learn more about the rich history, cultural amenities and beautiful campus that contributes to making us one of the top colleges in Illinois.