Find out more about University of Southern Maine

Gain a broad range of possibilities through an online Liberal Studies major with a focus in Humanities. You will be able to pursue studies in history, philosophy, art, literature and more; drawing on concepts, including diversity, culture awareness, and intellectual and literary traditions. 

Enjoy the flexibility this program has to offer with 7-week online sessions. Focus on one course at a time, and if needed, students can skip a session to meet their personal or professional obligations.

Added benefits:

• Enrollment support
• Credits for eligible experience accepted
• Faculty with expertise in their field
• VA assistance

The online Communication degree balances theory, research, and application as committed faculty teach about the nature of communication. Courses cover interpersonal, small group, organizational, and mass communication; along with workplace skills including oral and written communication, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Graduates are ready for graduate school or for careers in fields such as advertising, human resources, journalism, and teaching.

Benefits of this bachelor's program feature:

• Learn on your time
• Application and admission support
• Faculty with field experience
• Personalized career advising and other learning resources

Take your career to the next level with the organizational leadership degree online.  Designed for non-traditional students, this program is beneficial to experienced personnel in a variety of technically oriented fields, such as fire science, law enforcement, medical technology, business operations, service industries, and more.  Plus, the online nature of this degree offers the flexibility needed to successfully balance your education with other obligations.  

The curriculum is built on a strong liberal arts foundation.  Core general education courses offer a coherent, integrative, and rigorous liberal education so graduates are world-minded, intentional, life-long learners.  Students are able to put their studies to immediate use with one or more internships and/or occupational competency credits related to technical expertise learned on the job or through attendance at appropriate/related schools, workshops, and/or seminars.

The online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration prepares students for the business environment with skills and knowledge in finance, marketing, accounting, critical thinking, data analysis, and business trends while providing a firm foundation in core business disciplines.  Courses also provide skills in complex problem solving, decision-making, communication, and time management.  Graduates find success in fields such as advertising, banking, government services, hospitality, and human resources.

The online Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Organizational Studies is a flexible way to attain a degree that has direct application in the workplace, combining liberal arts with an exploration of how organizations operate and how leadership functions. Courses emphasize the need to understand and work with people, the dynamics of change, the interdisciplinary nature of organizational operations, and the practical application of theories and leadership concepts. Graduates are skilled in effective communication, group dynamics, mediation, needs assessment, critical reading and analysis, and teamwork, readying them for new responsibilities and leadership roles.

In addition to a flexible online format, benefit from:

• Same high standards as on-campus programs
• Enrollment support services
• Faculty with field experience
• Career advising, tutoring and added learning resources

The online Certificate in Leadership Studies is a flexible and efficient way to acquire skills and knowledge that develop and expand leadership capacity.  An accomplished faculty teaches organizational theory, group dynamics, leadership, and global ethics.  Students also gain valuable skills in effective communication, group dynamics, mediation, needs assessment, and teamwork.

Become a leader in your career with this doctorate in organizational leadership online.  Designed for working, experienced leaders, this program has the flexibility needed to study when and where it is convenient.  Other than three in-person residencies, there is no need for your to be on campus.  

This post-master’s online organizational leadership degree offers foundational leadership and organizational theory courses with seminars in ethics, global leadership, and organizational development.  Explore leading-edge issues in innovative ways, combining scholarship, creativity, and self-inquiry while gaining knowledge and skills that lead to a transdisciplinary understanding of local, regional, national, and global organizational contexts and challenges.  

Choose from these concentrations:

• Leadership
• Organizational Development

The online Graduate Certificate in Creative Leadership and Global Strategy draws professionals interested in improving their understanding of the societal, cultural, historical, and philosophical aspects of creative leadership from a global perspective.  Courses cover leadership theory, the research and practice of deliberate creativity and innovation, and working effectively in multi-cultural and multinational environments.  Students increase their knowledge of theories of leadership and leadership contexts and develop skills in critical thinking, relationship building, and motivation.

The online Graduate Certificate in Leadership Studies is designed for working professionals from the nonprofit, corporate, and civic sectors, providing advanced instruction in leadership theory and research.  Accomplished faculty teach students about the history and theories of leadership and the nature of followership, to develop self-awareness as leaders, about social responsibility, and advanced skills in complex problem solving, conflict management, effective communications, and relationship building.  Graduates are prepared for success in a diverse range of leadership roles including diplomats, human resource trainers, and professors.

The Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development, an online organizational leadership degree, is a combination of organization studies and leadership theories.  The curriculum emphasizes organization development technologies, practical skills, and application using behavioral-science knowledge.  Learn to manage diversity and social justice in a way that creates a positive learning environment and to think critically about human systems.  In addition to leading organizational changes and building relationships, students also develop skills in:

• Adult training and development design and delivery
• Data collection methods
• Process consultation and observation

This program allows you to improve your knowledge, skills, and career without entering a master’s degree program.  However, if you wish, these credits can be applied toward a master’s degree in Leadership Studies.

The Graduate Certificate in Public & Nonprofit Management, an online public administration degree, allows students to improve their knowledge and skills in this topic without committing to a master’s degree program.  Of course, if you do decide to enter the Master’s in Policy, Planning, and Management, the credits earned can be transferred to that program.  In the meantime, the flexibility of this program allows you to study when and where it is convenient without sacrificing your career.  

This online nonprofit management degree program provides cutting-edge knowledge, skills, and techniques to professionals and volunteers that helps them respond to managerial and leadership challenges in the nonprofit and public sectors.  Choose from such courses as:

• Measuring Performance in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors
• Managing Cities, Towns, and Counties
• Grant Writing and Development
• Volunteer Engagement and Management
• Crisis and Risk Management

The online Leadership Studies master’s program is designed for professionals seeking to explore leadership issues and challenges that go beyond a particular subject or field.  This interdisciplinary program blends social and behavioral sciences and the humanities, helping students approach leadership roles with a sense of social responsibility, concern for ethics, and a commitment to the public good. Courses also teach the dynamics of leadership and the role of the individual leader in society, preparing graduates for careers as leaders in their workplace, community, and the world.

Study:

• Communication and relationship building
• Leading across cultures
• International leadership

Choose to enroll in a fully online program, or opt for a combination of in person and online classes.

Prepare for an important career with this online cyber security degree. This career field is rapidly growing, growing faster than even IT jobs and all other industries. Get ready to act as the first line of defense for governments and top organizations in a program that is nationally designated by the National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence and the Department of Homeland Security. Courses prepare students for careers in all sectors and industries in security operations, security administration, risk management, and more.  

You will learn from recognized leaders in their fields in classes that use experiential learning and simulation exercises. Credits earned can count towards the Cybersecurity MS.

Prepare for an important career with this online cyber security degree. This career field is rapidly growing, growing faster than even IT jobs and all other industries. Get ready to act as the first line of defense for governments and top organizations in a program that is nationally designated by the National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence and the Department of Homeland Security. Courses prepare students for careers in all sectors and industries in security operations, security administration, risk management, and more.

Earn your degree at your own pace. Study full-time and finish in as few as two years or study part-time and finish in four years. Either way, you will learn from recognized leaders in their fields in classes that use experiential learning and simulation exercises.

University of Southern Maine offers an online Graduate Certificate in English as a Second Language. The program offers a foundation to build upon in future studies, through studying the way English is taught and learned. Graduates typically have opportunities for endorsements or pursuing the path to become English language instructors.

Combine your love for teaching with an online master’s instructional design degree. Learn how to leverage technology to create effective e-learning programs. Gain knowledge about the different needs of diverse learners, an increased understanding of legal and ethical considerations, and interactive practices to engage learners. You will progress through a set of core courses, and round out your master’s with elective options that meet your learning goals.

Studies include, but are not limited to:

• Educational technology
• Universal design for learning
• Project management
• Classroom assessment

Coursework in this instructional technology master’s is interactive with virtual meetings and guest speakers. Small class sizes allow you to benefit from peer and professional networking. Online and on your time provides essential flexibility, especially for working professionals.

You can train as an academic advisor, corporate trainer, or program designer with the Master of Science in Adult & Higher Education from USM. This online adult education master’s program provides selection of a focus area such as:

• Student affairs
• Teaching and learning
• Adult education director certification
• Nonprofit community education leadership

The online adult education graduate program includes core courses as well as skills-based courses, electives, and self-directed projects or internships. Such experiential learning allows for application of strategies and theories in a professional environment.

You can train to serve in PK-12 leadership roles with the Master of Science in Education in Educational Leadership from USM. This online educational administration master’s program leads to career advancement in such roles as:

• School principal
• Curriculum coordinator
• Administrator
• Assistant administrator of special education

The rigorous, in-depth curriculum covers proven leadership strategies and skills. It focuses on the holistic role of teaching and the establishment of clear learning standards. Through an embedded internship, you learn to apply theory to real-world practice.

You can become an advocate for improving literacy instruction in schools with the Master of Science in Education in Literacy Education from USM. This online reading and literacy master’s program imparts the ability to make informed decisions to create and implement best practices in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Designed for those who help students grasp language usage, the online reading and literacy graduate program provides most courses in a 7-week format through asynchronous delivery. Topics of study include such areas as:

• Digital literacies
• Linguistic and cultural diversity
• Research methods and techniques
• Writing development and instruction

You can train to improve learners’ proficiency for successful second language acquisition with the Master of Science in Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from USM. This online ESL master’s program offers literacy theory, pedagogical theory, and best practices.

Through the online ESL graduate program, students learn to teach in varied settings from K-12 schools, community centers, or abroad. Besides understanding language as a system (phonology, morphology, pragmatics, semantics, and syntax), students learn such foundations as:

• Use of major concepts, theories, principles, and research around culture and cultural groups
• Planning for multilevel classrooms with diverse learners
• Selection of standards-based materials, technologies, and resources for effective teaching

You can meet the course requirements to be a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with the Master of Science in Educational Psychology / Applied Behavior Analysis from USM. This online educational psychology master’s program prepares you in the following skills:

• Conduct behavioral assessments
• Design, implement, and assess intervention effectiveness
• Provide behavior analytic consultation, training, and supervision

The online educational psychology graduate program offers both synchronous and asynchronous courses. With multiple start dates throughout the year, you can select a time that suits your schedule.

The Bachelor of Arts in Social & Behavioral Sciences (SBS) is an online psychology degree program combined with an online sociology degree program from the University of Southern Maine.  Providing enhanced understanding of the psychosocial and cultural influences shaping lives and social institutions, this degree serves as a foundation for careers in social services, mental health, public health and safety, and law and public policy.  The interdisciplinary curriculum offers courses in liberal arts with foundational SBS courses and various other courses that provide more specific tools of the trade.  Courses provide perspectives and critical analyses from Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology, helping you understand the complexity of diverse local communities and the global world.  With this online bachelor’s in psychology and sociology students have the flexibility to choose numerous electives in areas that interest them, exploring the intersections of individual, social, and cultural influences while gaining a deeper understanding of the impact of these influences. 

Courses in this program may include:

• Childhood and Society    
• Deviance and Social Control
• Applied Social and Public Policy
• Theories of Personality
• Spirituality

University of Southern Maine offers an online psychology degree, the Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Behavior Analysis.  Graduates are prepared for careers as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) in both school and behavioral health settings.  The curriculum is comprised of courses verified by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) to meet requirements for eligibility to take the BCBA exam.

Courses are taught through synchronous Zoom meetings in this online special education certification.  You will learn to provide systematic, evidence-based services as a means of promoting socially significant skill acquisition and to address behaviors interfering with successful functioning.  Coursework prepares students to conduct behavioral assessments; design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions; and provide behavior analytic training, consultation, and supervision.

The Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician (MHRT)/ Community is an online counseling degree program from the University of Southern Maine.  This program, offered within the Rehabilitation Counseling concentration, is suited for those practicing in the mental health field who wish to have more experience and training on psychosocial rehabilitation.  The curriculum consists of five courses:

• Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling and Services
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Evidence-based Practices and Treatment
• Medical and Psychological Aspects of Disability and Rehabilitation
• Multicultural Counseling: Social & Cultural Foundations of Helping Diverse Families
• Vocational Counseling and Placement in Rehabilitation

This online graduate counseling program meets all of the competencies that were implemented in 2019.