Southeast Missouri State University plans to offer an online bachelor of arts in psychology in fall 2015, designed to serve students who are working full time, returning military and others. Department chair and professor Dr. Leslee Pollina tells KZIM-KSIM that the intent is to make education available and convenient. The program will have to be approved by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, which means it could be ready for next fall. It has been requested for a couple of years because psychology is a popular major that makes a good general degree. One thing that can't be done as well online is hands-on research experiences that on-campus students get. Once students complete the degree, there are several employment options as the demand for direct-service workers with degrees in psychology and social services is expected to increase by 25 percent by 2020, which is faster than the average for other occupational areas.