West Virginia University Extended Learning has awarded $129,000 in grants for the development of six online projects. The initiative is designed to spur the development of new online courses that will reach new audiences.

The funding will go to five internal colleges at WVU and WVU Institute of Technology.Recipients will work with the Instructional Technology Resource Center to meet nationally recognized quality standards for online learning.

Courses will be offered beginning in summer 2010.

Grants were awarded to:

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  Emergency medicine certificate program $24,000 to the Department of Emergency Medicine for the development of six online courses.

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  Digital marketing communications certificate program $20,000 to the School of Journalism for the development of five courses in the graduate certificate program.

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  Hybrid executive Masters of Business Administration $28,000 to the College of Business and Economics for seven courses leading to the development of a hybrid online MBA program.

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  Online instructional design and technology masters program $25,000 to the College of Human Resources and Education for the development of six courses leading to an online graduate degree.

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  Sport and exercise psychology online undergraduate minor $12,000 to the College of Physical Activity and Sport Science for three courses to complete the online sport and exercise psychology minor.

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  Two-plus-two program leading to a bachelors degree in accounting for WVU Tech $20,000 for the development five upper division courses in the accounting program. These courses will be offered online in as part of an initiative with community colleges.