FAQs

There are various types of online courses that we offer. The most common type of course is called a cohort model. A cohort model is much like a traditional face-to-face course where you go through the course with a group of students on a weekly schedule where you meet once or twice a week. But instead of meeting at a fixed time and location, your online course will run on a weekly schedule starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday evening. You will have the entire week to accomplish the tasks your instructor has assigned. Generally there are no set meeting times when the entire class meets. Despite this flexibility, you are required to login to your course at least twice a week to engage in online discussions, read announcements, and turn in assignments. Your instructor may also require online chat sessions throughout the course. We also offer self-paced courses. These courses are generally facilitated on a CD-ROM.

Technical Requirements:

Although we recommend a broadband connection (i.e., cable, DSL, or T1), you can still take our online courses if you have a dialup connection. We design our courses to run smoothly over a dialup connection; however, there maybe times when a dialup connection will impede access to the multimedia components of the course.

Approximately two weeks before the start of your online course you will receive a Welcome Email that provides you information on how to access your course. Included in the email is the contact information for your instructor, the textbooks you will need to purchase, and any additional information your instructor feels is necessary. If you register within two weeks of the course start date, you will receive an email within 48 hours of your registration. It is extremely important that you provide a working email account when you register, as well as a phone number where you can be reached in case we need to call you with information regarding the course.

For more information about accessing Blackboard for your online courses, review the Blackboard FAQ by the CSUF Faculty Development Center.

View our Online Course Demonstration.

This indicates that the course is open for enrollment up until a week before the date listed. The course is typically a self-paced type of course that comes on a CD-ROM. You have until the date listed above to complete your assignments. Before you register for a class, it is very important to determine the type of class – self-paced or scheduled.

You will receive the Welcome Email approximately two weeks before the course starts or within 48 hours after registering if you registered within the two weeks before the class starts. Please email or call the Distance Education office at (657) 278-7518 if you have not received the Welcome Email.

An online course and face-to-face course differ primarily in the way the course is facilitated. Instead of meeting on campus at a fixed location and time, you have more flexibility as to when you accomplish the course assignments and other activities. Most online courses are not self-paced. Students enjoy the convenience of online courses because it allows them to work from home. However, you still have due dates, and you must keep up with discussions, readings, and assignments. Online students have the added advantage of avoiding traffic and having to locate a parking spot on campus.

Many students who claim to be computer novices have successfully taken our online courses. Being a computer novice should not deter you from taking an online course. If you are able to access the Internet, navigate to various Web sites, send email with attachments, then you have the necessary skill to take an online course. We also provide an online tutorial for our beginning online students. This will help you learn the skills you will need to be a successful online student.

A successful online student is one that is self motivated, is able to problem solve, and is able to manage time effectively. In an online course, the burden is on you to complete your assignments and participate in the course. Setting a schedule for yourself and being able to meet deadlines without the continual prompting of your instructor is a must. You will have access to your instructor and students in your course; however, the turn-around time is not immediate. Additionally, the online learning environment can be very textually based. You will be required to read and write in significant amounts for most courses. You should take this into consideration.

Distance Education has a student help desk that you can email or call. Support Desk Access: 1-866-511-5991 (Toll Free). Call us toll-free during the following business hours (Pacific Time): Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) Saturday & Sunday: Closed For After Hours and Weekend Inquiries: Please click here to submit a Support Desk request at any time. Requests submitted after the Support Desk office hours will be reviewed on the following business day (excluding holidays). We will reply to most requests within 24 hours.