Tusculum College's Professional Development Institute is offering a new opportunity for individuals seeking to advance their career or gain skills - online training courses.

The Professional Development Institute has partnered with Gatlin Education Services to provide designed to provide online courses to help individuals attain the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions for many in-demand occupations in the fields of healthcare, business, the Internet, design and technical, networking and CompTIA certification, Microsoft certification training and video game design and development.

The Institute, headquartered at the college's Knoxville Regional Center at the intersection of Lovell Road and Pelissippi Parkway, is an extension of Tusculum College's Graduate and Professional Studies program. It provides additional educational services to the business community, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions through specialized workshops, courses, consulting, and customized educational services to businesses, educational professionals, and non-profit organizations.

The online venture is the latest in the Institute's efforts to provide professional development. The courses, which can be accessed at http://www.gatlineducation.com/tusculum/, can benefit individuals at any stage of their career. Whether the student is interested in switching career paths, obtaining advanced training and certificates, or a first-time job seeker in need of specialized training, Tusculum with its partner, Gatlin, provide the necessary resources for workforce, corporate, vocational rehabilitation or individual career training, all from the convenience of an individual's own home or office.

Gatlin's courses blend various types of instruction in a unique format, differentiating them from ordinary online courses. The blending of instructional types provides a logical, comprehensive and effective education. The typical course combines online instructional content, traditional textbook material and instructor-facilitated lessons. Though the courses are self-paced, personal instructors are available to guide every student. Each course is open enrollment, which means that students can start their desired training on their own schedule, and takes an average of 90 days to complete.

Web-based instruction is growing in popularity. Gatlin reports that its enrollments with their partner institutions have increased by more than 80 percent in the last year. The company has strategic partnerships with more than 480 institutions of higher learning worldwide. Established in 1989 by Stephen Gatlin, Gatlin Education Services is the largest provider of Web-based, instructor-supported training to community colleges and universities.

For enrollment information, contact Marisa Galick at (865) 693-1177 or mgalick@tusculum.edu.