Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my lessons?
When you enroll, you will receive the Web address of your course home page and your password either by US Mail or e-mail prior to the first day of class. Your course home page will guide you through the requirements for your course, and will include links to all of your lessons.
How do I get my textbooks?
Textbooks are available from Friday Center Books & Gifts, a bookstore operated by UNC Student Stores at the Friday Center, and can be purchased in person, by fax, by mail, or online.
How much time will I spend on my course?
Courses taught via Carolina Courses Online are equivalent to those taught on campus, and you can expect to spend at least as much time on an online course as you would if you took the class in a traditional setting. You can expect to do a significant amount of reading and writing, and you may need to log in to your course pages or discussion forum daily.
How will I communicate with my instructor?
Communication methods vary from course to course, but most instructors employ e-mail and discussion forums as their primary methods. Please note that our courses are taught in English and students need to be proficient in reading and writing English.
How many courses can I take at one time during the regular fall and spring semesters?
Two, unless you are a full-time or part-time UNC-Chapel Hill student, in which case you can only take one online course per semester.
How many courses can I take at one time during summer session?
All students are limited to two courses during the summer session.
Do I have to meet with my class?
No, all course work is done online.
Will I have to take tests?
The requirements vary from course to course, but many courses have midterms and final exams. Some courses require that the final be taken under supervision at an approved testing site.
Are online courses harder than classroom courses?
Online courses are a different way of learning. They require self-discipline and motivation in order to meet deadlines and complete required work. Some students enjoy the flexibility of online courses and the opportunities they provide for reflection and independent learning. Other students miss the immediacy of a classroom and its opportunities for communicating face-to-face with classmates and teachers. Most students agree that online courses require hard work and determination, but that the benefits of successfully completing them are great. These are college-level courses, and you should be at least a rising senior in high school to enroll.
Do I need to know a lot about computers?
Carolina Courses Online are designed to be accessible to people with a wide range of experience using computers, so you don't need to be an expert. You will need to be comfortable sending e-mail and using the Internet. You'll need to become familiar with posting messages to a discussion forum, and it is likely that you will be creating documents and attaching them to e-mail messages.
Do I need to know a lot about the World Wide Web?
Web research and Web sites play a significant role in most courses. If you are a novice Internet user, you should spend some time at the start of the course learning to use search engines (like Google, Yahoo, HotBot, Lycos) and strategic bookmarking. Make sure you are familiar with your browser and your Internet service provider.
Am I likely to encounter technical problems?
Carolina Courses Online uses simple software and straightforward page design to keep technical problems to a minimum. Most students can easily access the course Web pages and discussion forums. Occasionally students using certain Internet Service Providers will need to reconfigure their browsers or use a different browser. Some students have encountered difficulty posting to discussion forums from their workplace if their companies employ firewalls in their computer networks. If you encounter a technical problem that you are unable to resolve on your own, please contact Student Services.