The department of Political Science and International Affairs offers numerous sections of online courses every semester with an AA degree and two graduate degrees available completely online.

 

As early adopters of online education, the department has been committed to offering a variety of quality courses in an effort to meet the diverse needs of our students across five campuses. More and more students are choosing to complete their degree requirements online.

 

Senior Lecturer of Political Science Maria Albo asked her online American Government students what they would tell a friend who was taking online classes for the first time.

 

  • I would tell a friend to make sure they make a calendar and keep up with their due dates. In online classes, it is very easy to overlook or forget assignments and this can seriously hurt your grade. I would also tell them to make sure they ask questions immediately if they are confused or behind. It never hurts to ask your advisor or professor for help.
  • I would tell them to keep a planner and go through the syllabus and write down all the due dates up to 2 months in advance. Be sure to go over the syllabus completely and make sure you know if the discussions require a bibliography or if the quizzes are usually open note. Take the time to get to know the professor’s preferences and make sure to be aware of the things that are not necessarily restated every time an activity is due. I would tell them to check the course every day and make sure they are aware of the extent of each activity due. Be sure to put aside the appropriate amount of time for tests, quizzes, papers, and everything else of the sorts. Online classes are all about your own time management and your will to stay focused and comprehend the information given on your own time. I would tell them that if they were not very self motivated or had a low drive to complete work, then an online class might not be the best option.
  • I would make sure that they are aware of having to keep up with everything on your own, which can be different than going to class and your professor telling you all that needs to be done. I would also tell them to make sure they stay on top of their online work each week, because it can add up all at once if you don’t pace yourself and be responsible. Lastly, I would tell them to be sure and communicate with their online professor for whatever questions they might have because it never hurts to ask or make sure of something that you may be confused about.
  • My advice would be to not wait until the last minute to do your school work. You never know when your internet will go out or an issue will occur.
  • Build a regular schedule around the workload. The program has worked greatly for me with the structured schedule it provides, allowing me to essentially work by my own schedule and within my own means. I do believe that some classes may be more challenging than others in an online environment, but assuming the school and instructors provide potential means around that, there is no reason why anyone wouldn’t be successful working through an online program.
  • Be on top of everything. Always try to complete your work early and plan out when you assignments are due. It is easy to forget about them if you do not plan accordingly.
  • Check it daily, even on the weekends. The biggest thing with online classes is just how fast and how much they change. You need to check it everyday, it will never hurt – only help.
  • I would just make sure they manage their time well. Do not wait until the last minute to do an assignment and always try to stay ahead of the work.Let us know what you think! What would you tell a friend about taking an online course for the first time?