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Online Information

Two Types of Online Courses

Online learning (or distance learning) is instructional delivery that does not require you to be physically located in the same site as your instructor. UC Berkeley Extension online learning courses are either self-paced (you can enroll any time and finish within six months), or have fixed start and finish dates, like a classroom course. The history of online learning lies in correspondence study (study by mail). Today courses are also delivered through computer technologies, audio, video, or a combination.

All of our courses are carefully designed for learning at a distance. Formats differ for ease of delivery.

Online courses
Online classrooms are accessed remotely using computers with Internet access. In addition to text content such as lecture notes and course assignments, they incorporate message boards, chat rooms, and multimedia technologies. Some courses also require textbooks and other supplementary materials, which can be ordered online. To show what you have learned, you submit assignments and projects to your instructor via our website and, in most courses, sit for a proctored final examination at an approved offline site.

Online independent learning courses
Online independent learning courses offer you the convenience of online learning via Internet correspondence. You access most course material directly from our website, reading or downloading course outline, syllabus, and instructor lecture notes. Textbooks and other supplementary materials can be ordered online. You submit assignments to your instructor via e-mail and/or fax (special symbols, such as mathematics, editing, and physics, may require submission by mail or fax only–this is mentioned in the course description). Your instructor assesses and grades your work, and returns detailed feedback. In most courses, you will sit for a proctored final examination at an approved offline site.

Enrolling in an Online Course

For courses with published start and end dates, you must enroll prior to the start date. These courses must be completed within the specific dates posted in the course section information.

Many online courses are self-paced, which means you may enroll at any time and progress at your own pace, keeping in mind that you have six months (including any final exam or project) to complete the course. Plan on devoting a minimum of one month of study for each semester unit of the course. Submit no more than one assignment per week to your instructor, and wait until this assignment has been returned to you before submitting the next one.

If the course you wish to take is marked temporarily closed, you can be automatically notified when enrollment reopens. To initiate this, click on the "notify me" button in the course section block, provide your contact information, and you will be notified by e-mail when the course becomes available again.

Most courses conclude with a proctored final examination, which may be taken at any number of sites, nationally or internationally, provided the location and proctor have been certified by UC Berkeley Extension.

Access to your online classroom ends on the course end date (see your Welcome Letter e-mail for start and end dates). Plan ahead and print out any course information you think you might need before your end date.

Please note: As a condition of your enrollment and to ensure your successful completion of an online course, our courses require your participation in chat rooms and message boards specific to the course. The e-mail address and/or online identity you use when entering chats, or as you post on message boards, will be visible to all other participants. By enrolling in an Extension online course, you authorize the disclosure of your e-mail address and/or online identity for this purpose.

Enrollment in courses through UC Berkeley Extension Online does not constitute admission to the University of California.

Confirming Your Enrollment in an Online Course

Confirmations for online courses are sent to the e-mail address you provide, along with instructions on accessing your classroom.

If you enrolled in an online class, you will also receive an automated e-mail confirmation within two business days of your enrollment that will further detail how to begin your course. If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation for an online course, please contact our office at (510) 642-4111.

Not receiving your enrollment confirmation before the course begins is not justification for seeking a refund.

Technical Requirements

For you to get the most out of our online courses, we recommend that you have the following computer setup.

Minimum required Windows browser software:

Minimum required Mac OS browser software:

Browser plug-ins
Some of our classrooms require browser plug-ins; those that do will mention which ones are needed in their introductory information.

Some of the required plug-ins may already be installed on your computer. If they are not, they are available for free download for both the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

Browser settings
You will need to have both JavaScript and cookies enabled in your browser's settings to successfully use our online classrooms.

Firewall settings
If you intend to access classroom Message Boards from behind a network firewall, be sure your firewall is configured to allow traffic on port 8080.

Operating system and other software
In general, the operating system (PC, Macintosh, etc.) your computer uses, as well as what version of that operating system is installed, is not important when you take one of our courses. Meeting the browser requirements above should suffice. If a course you are interested in taking requires a specific operating system or other software, that requirement is noted in the course's description in our online catalog.

Online Course Transfers

Your enrollment is for a specific section of a course at a specific location that is identified by its own electronic data processing (EDP) number. To change sections or to enroll in a different course, you must request a transfer to the new section or course within the timelines listed below.

Requests for transfers for online courses must be received by our business office within 7 calendar days of your course enrollment date.

Approvals for transfers will be based on course and space availability and the scheduled course start date, as applicable. Any difference in course fees and resource fees will be adjusted at the time of the transfer. Transferred enrollments are not refundable.

Online Course Refunds

Refund requests for online courses must be received by our business office within 7 calendar days of your course enrollment date. Any refund is subject to a $50 nonrefundable processing fee per course unless stated otherwise. If it is necessary for UC Berkeley Extension to cancel a course, the full course fee will be refunded.

You can request a refund in person at any of our Extension centers or by calling (510) 642-4111. You may also write to the Registrar's Office, UC Berkeley Extension, 1995 University Ave., Suite 110, Berkeley, CA 94704-7000, or fax your request to (510) 642-0374. You can also send an e-mail request to refund@unex.berkeley.edu. Be sure to include your name, the name and EDP number of your course, the reason for requesting a refund, and your phone number. Failure to include all necessary information may delay processing.

Refund requests after the normal deadline must be submitted in writing, detailing the reason for the request. Exceptions to the refund policy are handled on a case-by-case basis and only granted when emergency or extenuating circumstances exist. The refund, if approved, will be prorated from the date of request. Please address your request to the Refund Appeals Committee at the registrar's address listed above. The decision of the Refund Appeals Committee is final.

If you have any questions regarding the refund policy, please call (510) 642-4111.

Online Course Limit

You may enroll in a maximum of three (3) distance learning courses simultaneously. Once you have made substantial progress in one or more courses, then you may enroll in additional courses.

To maximize the benefit of instruction, you are allowed to submit only one assignment at a time to your instructor. Individual instructors would be able to make exceptions to this policy on a case-by-case basis.

Final Exam Procedures

Most online courses require you to take a final examination under the supervision of a proctor in order to receive credit for the course. Please check your course description.

There is no proctoring fee to take a final exam at our facility for students enrolled in UC Berkeley Extension online courses.

Midway through your course, you should begin making arrangements for your final exam. You will need to complete an Exam Request Form, which will also be available in your classroom. Final exams must be completed no more than two weeks after the course end date.

Students take examinations under the supervision of a proctor. We have authorized proctor centers or you may find an authorized proctor who meets the needs of your schedule and location. You may have your exams proctored by any one of the following in your area:

If there is a charge for examination supervision, you are responsible for the fee. Under no circumstances can a family member or tutor serve as proctor, nor can the exam be sent to a home address.

Our office will review your proctor selection, and should you choose someone not previously authorized to proctor, we will send verification forms to that person. These forms must be completed and returned to our office. Please allow extra time for this process. We will send the final exam to the approved proctor, who will monitor you during the exam and return your exam to us. We will then forward it to your instructor for grading. Please note that final exams cannot be faxed or sent by e-mail.

Sample Classroom

Take a tour of our sample classroom to get a feel for your online experience.

We also have a demo to give you some more experience with an actual course.
Mystery Fiction Revealed

Diana Wu, Ed.D.

Diana Wu, Ed.D.

Dean, UC Berkeley Extension