Course Formats

Frequently Asked Questions

Important information for online, remote, and hybrid courses.

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Why take an online course?

Taking an online class allows you the flexibility to study from home, using your own computer and the internet, at any hour or day you choose. You can submit work quickly and easily via the internet as soon as you have completed it. You can email your professor with questions or problems as they arise and receive feedback online. You can communicate with other students by email or through discussion boards to share ideas and information.

Why take a remote course?

Remote courses simulate the classroom experience virtually and create a sense of community with their instructor and fellow classmates. Students in these classes benefit from the structure and accountability of scheduled times, while keeping the flexibility to study from home or other location.

Why take a hybrid course?

Hybrid courses make a great combination: flexibility that comes with online classes, but also the sense of community that is found when attending face-to-face classes and meeting the instructor and fellow classmates. Taking a hybrid course requires fewer trips to campus for regularly scheduled class times. This can mean less travel time to and from class and less money spent on transportation costs. Sometimes it is difficult for a student with family responsibilities to be able to commit to a regular face-to-face class schedule, so taking a hybrid course provides more flexibility with regard to the student's time. Hybrid classes provide the best of both worlds.

Why take an accelerated course?

Taking an accelerated class allows you to complete the coursework in half the time. Students consider choosing the condensed time frame of an accelerated class if they cannot commit to a semester-long course schedule. Students who miss the semester start date have the option of taking accelerated classes that start later rather than having to wait until the next semester begins to begin a class. Accelerated courses are usually available for registration up until their start dates or until they are filled.

Note: The amount of coursework covered in accelerated courses is the same as that found in semester-long courses, which means that students are expected to complete the same amount of coursework in half the time. 

Some accelerated courses begin on the regularly scheduled semester start date, others begin at a later date.

What is expected of me?

To be successful in your online course, you are expected to:

• Have access to a computer with internet service and an email account
• Log in regularly to your classes, usually three to five times per week (or more)
• Plan enough time to study and complete assignments - six to nine hours per week per three-credit class
• Enjoy communicating in writing and reading the writing of others
• Speak up to your instructors when problems arise
• Be willing to take responsibility for your learning
• Be able to learn easily from reading and writing
• Know how to use technology properly
• Read and write well
• Be comfortable addressing problems at a distance
• Have good time management skills to follow a schedule for completing readings and assignments
• Have good research skills, including how to effectively use the internet
• Have the ability to work well cooperatively, even when your communication is restricted to email or online chat 
• Complete the Steps to Get Started prior to beginning your course
• Review Online Classroom Etiquette (Netiquette)

 

What software and equipment will I need

To take an online course you will need access to a computer that is connected to the internet, internet access, an email address, and the appropriate software.

Hardware

Pentium Class computer with 128MB RAM or Macintosh system 7.5 (or better) 

• Minimum 50MB free disk space (for assignments, course materials, etc.)
• A modem or other device capable of connecting to the Internet at a speed of 56 kbps (or faster)
• Broadband (DSL, Cable, FIOS) is highly recommended.

Note: The minimum requirements suggested here for hardware and software are those that will allow you to use all the features of the Blackboard learning environment, however, a slow modem and computer may be frustratingly slow to use and may prevent you from using some interactive features of your online course.

Software

• Windows operating system (95, 98, 2000, NT, XP, or Vista)
• Web browser: Internet Explorer 6.0 (or higher) or Mozilla Firefox 1.5 (or higher)
• Internet Service Provider software (i.e. AOL, MSN)
• Email program (i.e. AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.)
• Word processing program (Microsoft Word is the College standard)
• Virus protection software kept current with updates (i.e. Norton's Antivirus, McAfee)
• Some classes may have specific class requirements for additional software. These requirements will be listed on the course information page.