Professor Beth Haas, faculty director for online education at the Kline School of Law, was honored for her work in distance learning by Drexel University Online.

The award, conferred on Nov. 11 to coincide with National Distance Learning Week, recognized Haas for creating online versions of Evidence, Professional  Responsibility and other courses that make up part of the JD curriculum.

“Beth has been a pioneer on our faculty, and we’re very proud of the courses she’s launched,” Dean Roger Dennis said.

Students who are completing co-ops outside of the Philadelphia area can take the online courses in tandem with their field placements.  

Haas teaches both online and face-to-face versions of Evidence and Professional Responsibility as well as face-to-face versions of Torts, Introduction to Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiations and Products Liability.

The law school also currently offers online as well as face-to-face versions of the Lawyering Practice Seminar.

Haas is working with other members of the faculty to build online versions of courses in Sales, Employment Law, Food and Drug Law and Sports Law, which are scheduled to start in 2015.

Incorporating distance learning in the curriculum has been extremely beneficial, Haas said, noting that students tell her that the online courses are both rigorous and engaging.

“From my perspective as a teacher, the face-to-face courses help me improve my online courses,” Haas said. “My experience teaching online courses has also improved my approach in the classroom.”

The law school also offers online courses through the Master of Legal Studies program.