In this section, we explore the details of earning your degree online. Which skills are needed, the details, and...

What You Will Need To Get Started:

A computer, an internet connection and a phone line are the tools you need to earn your degree online. One of the best advantages of an online degree is that you can be just about anywhere that has an internet connection, to study.

Generally online schools will provide you with the software necessary to study. In addition to that, you may need Word and Excel to complete assignments as necessary.

Admissions and Details Regarding Completion of Your Degree:

How long does it take to earn my degree online?

Completion time depends on the number of credits you transfer and how fast you complete your coursework. In a nutshell, your schedule (work, friends, and family obligations) will determine your time of completion. Online universities do not have set timelines, they allow you to decide how long it will take to complete your coursework and degree.

In terms of the number of hours it takes to complete your program, online degree courses will typically require that you devote the same amount of hours as a traditional university would. The standard number of hours usually ranges between 10 and 25 hours per week.

Getting Started:

Once you enroll in an online school you will be assigned an Advisor who will outline a plan for completing course requirements and earning your degree. Your advisor will be a great resource, providing you with helpful tips and advice to succeed. The guidance you will receive will include deadlines for coursework, when to sign up for certain requirements, etc...

Most online programs will provide an orientation program to give you the tools you will need to thrive as an student. It is very important to take advantage of this introductory course so that you don’t miss details about how your particular school and program will function.

Occasionally, the online university or college will recommend certain classes and may also require specific coursework. In other situations, you’ll be able to choose which courses you take and in what order. Your advisor will guide you through this process.

Interacting with Teachers and Students

For each of your courses, you will get a roster of the students and professor(s) within your degree program. This will allow you to reach out to fellow students and classmates whenever required.

Interacting with your professor(s) will normally be through email, instant messaging (IM) and chat rooms. It may also include bulletin boards and in some cases items sent by postal mail. The software that most online universities use with their students may include a dedicated website for the class, instant messaging and chat room tools specifically designed to interact with teachers and other students. Streaming audio and video lectures or podcasts are also a features of online learning.

One key item to remember is that most online courses encourage interaction with other students. In some cases, you will be asked to work in groups to solve specific problems, address questions, and demonstrate teamwork.

Online Course Details

Online coursework will be similar to taking classes at a traditional university. It will be necessary to be well prepared on all course materials and have a thorough understanding of the subject you are studying. While an online degree program provides a lot of flexibility, you will still have due dates for coursework and you may not be able to make up late work. Earning your degree online will be every bit as challenging as in a traditional setting.

Using the software and websites discussed above, your virtual lecture hall will have all of the required material for your course. Course materials may include the calendar, syllabus, and required reading list in much the same way you would expect to see in a typical campus program. There are also many unique features of online courses in use by your professors, designed to make your studies more relevantl. You will have access to your teacher for assistance— you will not be asked to go it alone! Your instructors will often reply to your email questions within a day.

As reviewed earlier, some elements of an online course will be live through chat rooms or video podcasting, but others may be traditional assignments meaning you will have to research or review the necessary material on your own to complete assignments. Online schools require a fair amount of reading and writing since classroom discussions and forums will be limited to online interactions. There will not always be set class time to log-in to particular courses - depending on the course; students will interact often with bulletin boards to participate in class discussions. Students usually log-in to bulletin boards and forums several times a week. Because most of your course materials are archived, you can reference them at any time and location. The professor usually posts weekly assignments and schedules for online group sessions.

At the completion of the course you will normally have a final exam or a final essay, much like a traditional university.

In some cases, courses have certain offline meeting requirements. This means you may have to meet during a given course with your teacher and/or class mates. Often this occurs at the beginning of a course as a sort of in-person orientation.

Course length varies and may last a month, quarterly or even bi-yearly depending on the degree type and institution. You should consult your enrollment advisor when learning about a school and a program.

You can expect your professors to very knowledgeable about your course of study and to provide a high quality educational experience.