What do students in the freezing city of Moscow have in common with those enjoying mild California weather at Cal State Dominguez Hills? They will both be able to take the same classes without buying a new wardrobe.

Students at the Moscow State Academy of Instrumental Engineering and Computer Science University will soon be able to earn three academic degrees entirely online through Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Russian university has formed a partnership allowing Russian students to take English- language online courses to obtain a master of business administration, master of science in quality assurance or a bachelor of science in quality assurance.

The program represents another step in Cal State Dominguez Hills' expansion of online degree programs. The university has the largest distance learning program in the state, with students residing in all 50 states and in more than 60 countries.

The Academy already has had 150 inquiries for courses that officials hope will begin this fall.

Having an agreement with a foreign university means that international students can get the computers and language instruction they need to succeed in online course work, said Marge Gordon, Dean of Extended Education at CSUDH.

"I think more and more international agreements are going to be taking place, because I think it's more and more important that we understand each other and are able to operate successfully in each other's countries,' she said.

"And this is one of the ways to do that.'

She added that she hopes that the agreement will lead to faculty and student exchanges.

A student from the Academy who came to the United States to attend Loyola Marymount University heard about CSUDH's online program. He jump-started negotiations that led to the signing of the partnership agreement at a ceremony Monday.