San Jose State has partnered with Udacity Inc. to offer several online for-credit classes that will be available to both students who are part of the Cal State University system, and to the general public.
The first courses in the pilot program will be algebra, college algebra and statistics. Each individual course will cost $150 if students choose to take it through SJSU. However, students can also take the courses through Udacity Inc. for free, but will not receive credit for the class.
“The San Jose program isn’t limited to matriculated CSU students,” CSU Spokesman
Erik Fallis said. “Any interested Californian could take a class for the cost of a
community college course.”
Newly appointed CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White said during a press conference that
the program marks progress in using technology to help students learn.
“This partnership represents a step forward in using technology to enhance the
learning environment for our students, wherever they happen to be,” White said.
Each class will have around 100 students, according to Pat Lopes Harris, media relations director for SJSU. For now SJSU and Udacity Inc. will focus on figuring out what will work to help students pass the most difficult classes the first time, Harris said.
“San Jose State University and Udacity Inc. will be focusing real hard on the three courses in the pilot program and then based on a third party assessment, we will move forward from there,” Harris said.