No, you do not have to come to campus. You have full access online or at a distance to everything you will need as an online student — admission, registration, counseling, financial aid, veterans benefits, textbook ordering and delivery, and library services.

Continuing Education's online credit courses and degree programs offer the same rigorous instruction from renowned and tenured faculty that on-campus students receive. Students earn degrees that carry the full accreditation of Colorado State University and are indistinguishable on student transcripts from a degree earned on campus.

If you are an independent learner, self-motivated, and interested in accelerating your course of study, online learning may be appropriate for you. Since the coursework can be completed any time of the day or night, it is ideal for those who are unable to attend regularly scheduled classes. However, if you cannot set and maintain a schedule which allows you to keep up with your coursework and assignments, it is likely you will not complete your online course.

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Online learning is when a course can be accessed through an online learning platform. At CSU our online platform is Blackboard which CSU has called RamCT. RamCT provides user-friendly access to course materials, discussion groups, assignments, exams, and other learning services.

Distance learning is when the primary course curriculum is not delivered online but requires additional media such as DVDs, VCDs, CD-ROMs, or other media to provide class materials and/or course enhancement. Most distance courses use RamCT to some extent to provide interaction with students and faculty.

Studying online is different from traditional forms of study especially in terms of students' own responsibility and independence in planning their studies. It also requires different studying skills. Studying on a computer screen requires different uses of our mind and eyes. Normally we read in a scanning method when browsing the internet. Now, with studying, reading will be required to be more deliberate and careful. This increases material understanding, comprehension, critical evaluation, and practical application.

Also, it is important to find your internal motivations. When attending a traditional on-campus college program, the motivation to succeed and do your work is all around you. It even comes in the form of the setting itself - "Hey, I'm on a college campus, with buildings and libraries, I should study!" External motivations are found everywhere; attending a classroom with professors who can see you, remind you and even reprimand you in person, as well as being surrounded by other students who are also pursuing their education. While taking classes online, these external factors are not present for you, so it is important to find your internal motivations in order to be successful within your online program.

Communication with your instructor is a critical component of an online course. The easiest way to reach your professor is through email or RamCT. Your instructor will provide their preferred method of communication as well as their contact information in the course syllabus which you will be provided on the first day of class. Instructors who teach online courses anticipate the needs of distance students and are prepared to respond quickly to questions.

No, online classes do not have scheduled or required meeting times. One of the best features of an online class is the convenience to decide when and where to access your course. It is important to know that online courses require the same amount of effort that traditional on-campus courses require. You should expect to be involved in your online course work several times a week.

Writing skills are important in an online course as your primary mode of communication for contributing to class discussions and assignments is through written communication. Therefore, your writing ability, including grammar and spelling, is a skill you will rely heavily upon.

Yes. Colorado State uses Blackboard (called RamCT) as its online learning platform for all credit courses and many noncredit courses. RamCT provides user-friendly access to course materials, discussion groups, assignments, exams, and other learner services. You will be able to communicate and interactively chat with students in your class and personally correspond with them through email.

Many courses use streaming media or video clips to enhance the instruction and learning.

Transcripts for students taking online or distance courses are identical to those of on-campus students; no differentiation is made between distance and on-campus instruction. In addition, no indication of the delivery method of the course is made on the transcript or the diploma.

The computer requirements for online courses are very minimal. The easiest way to determine if your computer meets the technical requirements for online courses is to complete a free browser check at the RamCT website. This free browser check will ensure your computer is properly configured.

Some courses may require additional software or computer requirements to meet the instructional requirements for the course — check the details on the course webpage for information on these requirements.

You do not need technical skills to take an online course. However, you should be comfortable navigating the Internet, using email, and using Microsoft Office (or equivalent) programs like Word, Excel, and potentially PowerPoint.