Prospective Students

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• Is Distance Education Right for You?
• Technical Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Register

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Is Distance Education Right for You?

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Not everyone should take an online course. Online learners must be very motivated, self-directed and goal-oriented. You may be required to work alone from week to week, setting your own schedule to complete the work on time, or you may be given weekly assignments with specific due dates. Although online course are often more convenient and easier to fit in your schedule than a classroom course, students often find they spend more time doing work for an online course than they do for a classroom course.

Here is some information on what it takes to succeed in a Distance Education course:

• What is Distance Education?
• How to be a Successful Online Student

Before you register for an online course, take these self-assessments to see if Distance Education is right for you:

• Distance Learner Assessment Quiz

How well would distance education courses fit your circumstances and lifestyle? Select an answer for each question and click 'Calculate' below. Students who tend to be most successful are those individuals who are self-directed and self-motivated in their learning and study habits. Answer honestly, no one will see this but you!

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My need to take this course now is:

High - I need it immediately for a specific goal.
Moderate - I could take it on campus later or substitute another course.
Low - It could be postponed.

Feeling that I am part of a class is:

Not particularly necessary to me.
Somewhat important to me.
Very important to me.

I would classify myself as someone who:

Often gets things done ahead of time.
Needs reminding to get things done on time.
Puts things off until the last minute or doesn't complete them.

Classroom discussion is:

Rarely helpful to me.
Sometimes helpful to me.
Almost always helpful to me.

When an instructor hands out directions for an assignment, I prefer:

Figuring out the instructions myself.
Trying to follow the directions on my own, then asking for help as needed.
Having the instructions explained to me.

I need faculty comments on my assignments:

Within a few weeks, so I can review what I did.
Within a few days, or I forget what I did.
Right away, or I get very frustrated.

Considering my professional and personal schedule, the amount of time I have to work on a distance education course is:

More than enough for an on-campus course.
The same as for a class held on campus.
Less than for a class held on campus.

Coming to campus on a regular schedule is:

Extremely difficult for me - I have commitments (work, family or personal) during times when classes are offered.
A little difficult, but I can rearrange my priorities to allow for regular attendance on campus.
Easy for me.

As a reader, I would classify myself as:

Good - I usually understand the text without help.
Average - I sometimes need help to understand the text.
Slower than average.

When I need help understanding the subject:

I am comfortable approaching an instructor to ask for clarification.
I am uncomfortable approaching an instructor, but do it anyway.
I never approach an instructor to admit I don't understand something.