Stanford Online is an educational initiative launched by Stanford University[1] which offers a variety of professional education opportunities.[2] As a part of Stanford Online, Stanford University created an open access OpenEdX platform which offered a variety of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in 2013, but that site is no longer accessible.[3] Online classes previously offered on that platform can now be accessed on an updated platform known as edx[4] that offers a wide range of online courses covering many topics.[5] Some of the online classes offered by Stanford Online on this platform are available free of charge. Classes can be accessed from anywhere around the world.[6]
Although Stanford Online was founded in 1995 through the Stanford Center for Professional Development,[7] it has a history that spans back to the late 1960s.[8] The start of the center began in part to the Engineering School within the University[8] which created the university's first TV network as a new digital medium for students to take professional online courses and earn academic certificates, undergraduate and graduate degrees.[9] Anoop Gupta[10] was a professor of Computer Science for 11 years at Stanford University and invented the program that became integral to the formation of Stanford Online in 1996[8] and the first full-length online course available offered a masters a degree in Electrical Engineering.[8]
Students that complete programs engage in self-reflection throughout the process in many aspects to meet their personal goals.[11] At Stanford Online, students are able to engage with Stanford coursework at their own pace.[12] Students have the opportunity to enroll in complete degree programs or gain knowledge by paying to watch individual lectures. There are 12 graduate programs currently offered. [13] The traditional Stanford University Campus application requirements and classes are consistent with the Stanford Online model. Regardless of location, any student is able to apply to Stanford Online.[14] Stanford Online reaches students across the world.[1] Enrolled students are able to receive academic support through Stanford Online in real-time from Stanford Faculty. Students are able to navigate the course sequentially with all of the necessary materials included in each module.[15] There are classes available from various colleges and departments within the University available online.[16] Stanford Online has several learning collaborations with third-party organizations to offer material tailored to students' needs.[17]
The availability of this learning format affects the financial state of Stanford in many ways.[15] Students not yet enrolled, can participate in free courses in preparation for college at their own will.[18] Students can also opt-in to receive premium services that in turn fund the University at large.[15] These free courses are taught by Stanford Faculty and allow faculty to educate the broader public in this non-traditional format.[18] The free courses offered have reached millions of people across the globe to date.[18][19] Stanford was the first to introduce learning programs offered virtually. The introduction of Stanford Online provides financial stability to the University.[15] Prices vary between degree programs. Some programs offered within Stanford Online charge reduced tuition rates if enrolled in as a group.[20] The difficulty of the various programs progressively increases depending on the category that the course falls within in accordance with Stanford's requirements.[9] Some of the degree programs offered online follow the same timeline as the degree program offered on the traditional campus.[14]
