NATCHITOCHES - Taking classes online requires some dedication, but Mark Bynum is willing to set the time aside. Bynum, a senior psychology major from Franklin, is completing his degree online at Northwestern State University.

     “It is a really good program. All the classes are there for you,” said Bynum, who is a graduate of Franklin High School. “You have to be dedicated and set time aside to take classes. When you are trying to study, your cell phone could ring or company will drop by, so you can’t let that keep you from doing your work.

     Bynum is also getting a good value, according to a national survey. Northwestern’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Psychology/Substance Abuse Prevention Counseling programs are rated among the Best Values in Online Colleges by the Web site GetEducated.com.

     The Web site examined costs for a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services at accredited public and private colleges and universities in the United States. NSU’s program was about half the cost of the average program in the survey.

     "There has been great demand for our program ever since we made online degrees in psychology and substance abuse prevention counseling available,” said Dr. Susan Barnett, acting head of the Department of Psychology. “Students who wanted to earn a college degree are able to do so while balancing job and family demands. Each of our faculty who teach online has worked to use the latest teaching methods and provide our students with the best possible education.”

     Bynum lives just under an hour from the nearest college campus. Normally, that would not be a problem, but Bynum was injured in a car accident when he was 19 and is a quadriplegic.

     “I am not able to attend a university in a conventional manner,” he said. “I found the program I wanted online at Northwestern and was able to work toward my degree there.”

     Bynum plans to graduate this spring. He hopes to be able to work with children with disabilities as a case manager.

     The online degree program in psychology and substance abuse prevention counseling are among 24 online degree programs at Northwestern on the associate, bachelor’s and graduate level. One of the advantages of Northwestern’s program is that it does not charge out of state tuition for online students.

     “The Northwestern psychology online degree is not only an exceptional value but is a superb program,” said Director of Electronic and Continuing Education Hedy Pinkerton.  “We continually strive to improve our online degree programs and to instill a sense of community for our students including making student services accessible online.  A student can literally accomplish all they need to do thorough the Internet to enroll and complete a class.”

     The first student at Northwestern to earn a degree completely online was in psychology. Students from five countries, 35 states and 63 of 64 Louisiana parishes are taking online classes at Northwestern.