Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. - For people wishing to upgrade their skills but without a lot of time at their disposal, Oregon State University's Extended Campus offers a solution - OSU QuickSkills Online - a series of non-credit, short courses on the Web for people interested in improving computer skills, learning a new language, or simply taking an interesting class.

QuickSkills Online courses have proven popular with students, OSU staff, career professionals, and retirees. Enrollment has been increasing steadily since OSU began offering the courses in 2002, growing nearly 200 percent from 2003-04 and still increasing.

With an inventory of 300 courses in many different subjects and a flexible online delivery system, QuickSkills offers choices and training solutions for people from many different walks of life. Computer courses range from office software applications to beginning Web design, and more advanced computer languages. The most popular QuickSkills courses today are Creating Web Pages, Speed Spanish, and Accounting Fundamentals. Other popular courses include Grant Writing A-Z, Learn to Buy and Sell on eBay, Grammar Refresher, and Project Management Fundamentals.

Much of the program's popularity is due to the convenience of being able to take the courses from home, on one's own timeframe, and the fact that a course can be completed in 6-8 weeks. The cost of the training is also motivating; courses are under $90 each. Endorsed by OSU, these courses utilize qualified instructors from their respective fields, and student comments are favorable.

Roger Lewis, OSU alum and self-employed IT consultant from Beaverton, praised his experience with this online training. "You can choose a course that meets a specific need at a specific time," he said. "These courses have absolutely met my objectives."

QuickSkills courses run year round and start every five weeks. The next courses begin Dec. 14 and Jan. 18. Visit the OSU Extended Campus website for additional dates and the complete list of courses: http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/online-degrees/quickskills.htm.