In this article, we explore the ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of earning your degree online. Specifically, which skills are needed, the details, and finally…

What Tools You Will Need:

A computer, an internet connection and a phone line are the basic tools needed to get your degree through the internet. The beauty of an online degree is that you can be in any location to study, so long as you can access the internet.

Most online schools will provide you with specific software for your degree program to install on your computer. You also may need the use of the basic standard Microsoft Office suite (including Word and Excel) to complete assignments as necessary.

Admissions and Completion of Your Degree:

How Much Time Will It Take To Complete My Degree?

This will depend on the number of credits you transfer and the pace at which you sign-up for and complete courses. In a nutshell, your individual schedule (work, friends, and family obligations) will determine your time of completion. Online universities do not set specific durations for completions; you decide how long it will take you to complete your coursework and degree.

In terms of hours spent, online degree courses will typically devote the same amount of hours as a traditional university would. That usually ranges somewhere between 10 and 25 hours per week.

Getting Started:

Generally, after completing enrollment in an online college or university you will be assigned an Advisor who will walk you through a plan for completing course requirements and acquiring your degree. Your advisor will be a personal resource providing you with helpful tips and insights into a successful experience. This will include deadlines for coursework, when to sign up for certain requirements, etc…

Most online programs will have an orientation program to give students the tools they will need to thrive as an online student. Taking advantage of this introductory course is of key importance so that you don’t miss details about how your particular school and program will function.

In some situations the online university or college will recommend certain classes and may also require certain 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 course you take, you will receive a roster of the students and professor(s) within your degree program. This will allow you to reach out to other members of your program and class whenever required.

Communication with your teacher will normally occur via email, instant messaging (IM) and chat rooms – but may also include bulletin boards and in rare situations items sent by postal mail. The specialized software that many online universities and colleges use with their students may encompass 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 feature of online learning.

One important thing to remember is that most online courses encourage and, often, require interaction with other students. In some cases, you will be asked to work in groups to solve specific problems, address questions, and demonstrate teamwork. In most cases this will take place online.

Online Course Features

Taking classes online will be similar to taking classes at a traditional university. You will have to be well prepared on all course reading and materials and have a solid understanding of the subject you are studying. Although an online degree program provides a lot of flexibility, you will still have due dates for courses and you may not be able to make up late work. Don’t expect this to be any easier than a traditional setting.

Through the software and websites discussed above, your online virtual lecture hall will have all of the required material for your course. These may include the calendar, syllabus, and required reading book list of the same type that you would expect to see in a typical campus program. There are also many unique features of online course work in use by teachers and educators designed to make your studies successful. 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 discussed, some of the 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 universities 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 times to log-in to particular classes, 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. An excellent resource is that most of your course materials are archived so that you can reference them at any time and location. The teacher usually posts weekly tasks and questions and schedules online group sessions.

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

Occasionally, courses have certain offline meeting requirements. This means you may have to meet once or twice during a given course with your teacher and/or fellow students. Often this occurs at the beginning of a course as a sort of in-person orientation.

Course length can vary and may last a month, six weeks, 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.