(AP) — The University of Kansas plans to offer 15 new online graduate programs through its School of Education.

University officials say they have signed a contract with Illinois-based Everspring to offer the classes during the next five years.

Currently, the university offers only two online programs.

The university says Everspring will split the tuition revenue with the university. Kansas will be Everspring’s first major client.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports Everspring will package content and intellectual property already used by the university’s education faculty for online classes. The company also will handle marketing and recruitment for the courses.

The first new offering will be an online version of the university’s master’s degree program in special education. It will enroll its first students in January.

Kansas State University will offer will offer an online Master of Business Administration program beginning in the fall.

The university’s College of Business Administration will work with the Division of Continuing Education to offer the online program. It is geared toward working professionals with at least three to five years of experience.

The same professors who teach graduate courses at the Manhattan campus will teach the online courses.

The university says online students will be required to attend a two-day regional student orientation. They must complete 45 credits, or as few as 30 credits depending on previous undergraduate business course work.

The students also must take a faculty-led international trip and attend development and learning seminars.