Online Study

• I've never taken an online course before. How does it work?
• What courses do you offer online?
• Do I ever have to come to campus if I take an online course?
• How do I register for an online course?
• How do I know an online course is for me?
• What is the advantage of taking an online course?
• Do I need any special equipment or software to access an online course?
• Do I need special technical skills to access an online course?
• Do online courses follow a calendar?
• Is there an instructor in an online course?
• Are textbooks required for an online course?
• Can I transfer credit from an online course to another institution?  Does my transcript indicate the course was online?
• Who can take an online course?
• Where can I learn more about a course?
• What kind of support is available to me as an online learner?
• I just registered for an online course. How do I access it?
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1.   I've never taken an online course before. How does it work?
Our online programs and courses are developed and offered completely through the Internet in an asynchronous format using WebCT. WebCT is the platform used and maintained by the University of Connecticut and by thousands of institutions around the world. This asynchronous format means you can access the course seven days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays.

Some courses have online "lectures" (in text format) within the course site, but discussion and interactivity in the form of student-to-student and instructor-to-students are a key component of all of our online courses. Much of this interactivity is accomplished using an asynchronous threaded discussion tool within the course. Some assignments have been designed for students to work in groups.   top

2.   What courses do you offer online?
For a complete list of our online courses and programs, see our Schedule of Online Courses.   top

3.   Do I ever have to come to campus if I take an online course?
Individual courses are taught completely online and do not require you to come to campus. Matriculated students in the Master of Professional Studies degree must complete a two-week residency component, which will be held during the summer months.

Read your course syllabus carefully as a few courses require exam proctoring at an approved location. If your course requires proctoring there will be more details on the course syllabus page. See our Schedule of Online Courses.   top

4.   How do I register for an online course?

• Online: To register online through our secure server, see the registration information page.
• By fax: Student and Financial Services office - 860-486-3845
• Walk-in: At the Bishop Center on our Storrs campus.

For further registration information, see our registration information page or contact our Student Services office at 1-800-622-9907 or e-mail ccsreg@uconn.edu.

We encourage you to register early for your online course so that you have the opportunity to purchase your textbook in advance and to make sure that your NetID can be assigned prior to the start of classes. If you are a new student at UConn, it takes several days for the University to issue you a NetID which gives you access to the online course system.

For registration information related to our non-credit programs, refer to the program page.    top

5.   How do I know that an online course is for me?
If you are comfortable working independently, have good organizational skills, and are self-motivated, you may find online learning to be a rewarding and satisfying experience. Online learning is not for everyone. Each 3-credit course involves an average of 10 to 15 hours of work per week, but you can schedule those hours at your convenience. The ability to organize your time and stay on track is an important characteristic of a successful online learner.    top

6.   What is the advantage to taking an online course?
Many of our students cite convenience as the greatest advantage to taking an online course. Whether you are juggling career, family, and academic obligations, or just want to add an extra course to your current course schedule, an online course provides the flexibility to fulfill course requirements as your schedule permits.

Online learning also provides greater opportunities for students to interact with each other and the instructor through the course. The format and interactivity of our online courses reinforce our philosophy that learning is enhanced when participants are engaged in an active learning environment. There is a common misconception that online learning is similar to self-study or a correspondence course. Our online courses do not follow the self-study model, but are instead developed to engage the learner with the instructor, other students, and the content.    top

7.   Do I need any special equipment or software to access an online course?
You will need access to a computer with an Internet connection. The course platform is WebCT (Web Course Tools) and operates within your browser, i.e. one of the supported versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer (see link below). You will need to make sure that your browser is properly configured to work in WebCT. If your computer and browser settings do not meet these specifications, you may run into technical problems during the course-- especially, if you have pop-up blocking utilities active on your computer.

See Preparing Your Computer Settings for WebCT for supported browsers and Browser Configurations.

Some courses require additional software. For example, Microsoft Word is required in some courses to complete certain assignments. You may also need to download and install certain plug-ins or other free software (Adobe Acrobat, for example). We will include a link for you to download directly in the course. Some courses will require the purchase of additional software and these requirements will be listed in the course information pages (click on the name of the course from the Schedule of Online Courses).    top

8.   Do I need special technical skills to access an online course?
We recommend that students taking an online course have a good comfort level using a computer and navigating the Internet. Common skills when taking an online course include using email, attaching files, and downloading files from the Internet. You will also need to make sure that your computer is properly configured before beginning your course. Even if you don't have online experience, you may still want to consider taking an online course. The majority of our students have successfully completed an online course with us even when they had never taken one previously.    top

9.   Do online courses follow a calendar?
The start and end dates for our online courses follow the University academic calendar. In addition, a specific course calendar has been developed for each online course; that calendar guides you in staying on track with the course requirements, allowing you to complete the course on schedule. You do not need to be online at a particular date and time, although there are due dates for assignments and exams (when appropriate) throughout the semester. It is important to log into your course as soon as it begins to start your readings and assignments.    top

10.   Is there an instructor in an online course?
Definitely, yes. Faculty members teaching online are the same faculty teaching on campus. Instructors are an important component in our online courses and they continue to teach, mentor, advise, and interact with students just as they would in a classroom on campus. This communication is facilitated by a variety of tools including threaded discussions and email within the course.    top

11.   Are textbooks required for an online course?
Usually, yes. Most of our online courses require a text and/or supplemental readings, just as a face-to-face course would. We encourage you to purchase your texts prior to the start of the course so that you can begin your reading assignments on time. You can purchase textbooks from a bookstore in your area, through an online bookstore on the Internet, or from the UConn Coop (in person or by phone 1-800-873-2348). Click here for further information on purchasing textbooks. To look up required texts, refer to our Schedule of Online Courses and click on the appropriate course title.    top

13.   Who can take an online course?
Our online courses are open to the public. This means you do not need to be a matriculated student at UConn to take our online courses.    top

14.   Where can I learn more about a course?
To learn more about our online courses, refer to our Schedule of Online Courses. To view the course information and course syllabus, click on the name of the course. If you wish to contact the faculty member directly, see the UConn directory or refer to our online program page for contact information.    top

15.  What kind of support is available to me as an online learner?
We offer a variety of support services to students in our online courses including academic and technical support.

• Academic support:  If you have questions directly related to the course content, you should contact the instructor directly through the course.  Free online tutoring is also available seven days a week in a variety of disciplines such as writing, accounting, math, psychology, sociology and statistics.
• Technical support:  Click here to go to technical support. Prior to the start of the semester, we will send you information on how to access your online course. Technical support is also available to assist you with any questions you may have related to your online course: Phone: 860-486-5935, Email: tech_de@uconn.edu (tech_de@uconn.edu), Fax: 860-486-0756.
• Advising:  Counselors are available to Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) and non-degree students. BGS and non-degree students at one of UConn's regional campuses may consult the BGS counselor located at your campus. Students outside Connecticut may contact Jennie Talbot at Jennie.Talbot@uconn.edu or by phone at 1-888-247-5556.

Please consult the program faculty advisor for specific advice related to your program.    top

16.   I just registered for an online course. How do I access it?
All online students should become familiar with our information page for enrolled students prior to the start of the course. These materials will explain how to look up your NetID and password, which give you access to your online course, along with other helpful information.    top