1Running head: DISTANCE EDUCATION AND WOMEN Final Project Letter of Intent Campus of Alberta Applied Psychology: Counselling Initiative Issues and Perspectives in Women and Distance Education: A Guidebook

Distance learning has been in existence for at least 100 years, and due to changes in technology, has advanced rapidly in the last forty years (Galusha, 2004). Distance Education (DE) is defined by Rezabek (1999) as: The transportation of information and the involvement of a learner in the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of an area of study through planned, usually structured, and organized (but also incidental) communication, that also uses supplemental resources and media-assisted two way communication, where the learner and instructor are separated by distance and/or time. (p. 12) DE provides the opportunity for study with freedom in relation to time and place of study for those unable to attend traditional classroom based instruction. It allows for a high degree of flexibility for individuals pursuing education for professional purposes or as part of their leisure pursuits. Consistent with this perspective, Chung (1990) advocated that: Distance education provides opportunities for adults to change careers later in life; to enhance their skills and qualifications while retaining their jobs; to bring up a young family while continuing with their education; to keep up with ever-changing technologies; and t