How Carolina Courses Online Work
Course Requirements
Each course has its own set of requirements and learning activities. In general you will read from textbooks and other sources (some available on the World Wide Web), complete written assignments and projects, participate in an electronic discussion group, take quizzes, and pass a final exam. In some courses, the final exam must be taken under supervision at an accredited institution of higher education or other appropriate institutional setting. In others, the exam is given online. Some courses also include papers or projects. Each course description includes a link to a sample syllabus for the course.
If you have a disability that may require reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have equal access to a CCO course, you are encouraged to self-identify as soon as possible.
Technical Requirements
In order to enroll in Carolina Courses Online, you will need a computer, e-mail, and access to the World Wide Web. Minimum requirements are:
- Computer: 266 MHz processor (PC or Mac)
- Memory: 64 megabytes RAM
- Browser: Mozilla 1.5, Internet Explorer 5, or Netscape 6
- Modem: 33,600 baud
Some courses may have specific technical requirements; this will be indicated on the course description.
For visually impaired students: The course pages are developed to be accessible to JAWS 3.7 or similar screen readers. We encourage you to self-identify so that we can make reasonable accommodations for your needs.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides limited technical assistance to students who enroll in online courses.
Blackboard and Onyens
Courses offered through Carolina Courses Online use a course management package called Blackboard for quizzes and discussion forums. In order to fully use Blackboard, you will need to log in using a unique identifier known as your UNC Onyen (Only Name You'll Ever Need) and Onyen password. Creating an Onyen will also create a UNC e-mail account for you.
If you already have a UNC Onyen, you do not need to create a new one. If you do NOT already have a UNC Onyen, it is very important that you create an Onyen as soon as possible after you register for a course. To create your Onyen, go to UNC’s ONYEN Web site and follow the directions. You will need your name and your PID number (if you don't already have a PID, you will get one when you enroll in Carolina Courses Online). We encourage you to create your Onyen at the time you enroll, but if for some reason you cannot, please be sure to create it several days before the start of the semester. If you do not have an Onyen, you will NOT be able to log in to Blackboard and start your course.
Please make a note of your Onyen and password because you will need to use them each time you access Blackboard. It is also a good idea to make note of your PID number and your UNC e-mail address for future reference.
Submitting Your Work
Class assignments vary by course, and your instructor will provide detailed instructions on completing the work of the course once you are enrolled.
As a Carolina Courses Online student, you are responsible for obeying and supporting the UNC-Chapel Hill honor system that prohibits lying, cheating, or stealing in relation to the academic practices. The honor system also requires you to refrain from conduct that significantly impairs the welfare or the educational opportunities of others in the University community. You are expected to do your own work in all aspects of your course. Please see Honor System for more information.
Communicating with Your Instructor and Classmates
Your primary method of communication in Carolina Courses Online is electronic. You will communicate with your instructor and your fellow classmates via e-mail and through the class discussion forum. Your instructor will make assignments that you either will submit via e-mail or post to the discussion forum, and will monitor the exchanges between students and enter the discussions as necessary. Some courses also require the submission of a few assignments via regular US mail.
Contact the Credit Programs for Part-time Students staff at the Friday Center if you have any non-technical logistical questions as you work through the course.
Using E-mail in Your Course
E-mail is a primary means of communication in most Carolina Courses Online courses. It is used for asking or answering questions, to submit assignments and papers, and even to submit exams in some courses. It is extremely important for you to save copies of any work you send to your instructor via e-mail. If your instructor doesn't receive your work, you must have a duplicate copy indicating the date sent, to prove that you submitted the assignment on time. It is your responsibility to maintain copies of your sent e-mails. Please check your e-mail software to see how it manages sent and saved messages. Make sure you know how to save a copy of all work that you submit to your instructor and that you save the copy for several months beyond the end of your course.