Online Course Policies | Student Services

Types of Online Courses

Live Online Courses

Live Online courses provide an interactive learning experience with scheduled synchronous online sessions held via Zoom video conferencing (Pacific Time). As with courses held in-person, the teaching methods for Live Online courses emphasize lectures, demonstrations, group discussions and collaborative activities. You should be prepared to attend every session and engage in class via webcam.

Start Anytime Online Courses

Start Anytime online courses are Extension's most flexible format and are completely asynchronous. These courses have no set start date; instead, they begin when you enroll. You must be enrolled for at least 30 days per semester unit (up to 90 days) before you are eligible to complete the course. This allows for instructor-led interaction and feedback between assignments. You have a maximum of 180 days from your date of enrollment to complete the course (including the final exam or project). The 180 days begin when you enroll, not when you begin coursework. Course completion dates are strictly enforced.

There are no live class meetings and no set assignment due dates, although there are submission policies to help you pace yourself for success. You may only submit assignments for one module at a time, allowing up to a week for grading and feedback from your instructor. Final assessments must be completed with a score of 70% or higher for a student to be eligible to pass the course as a whole.

Note: Some courses may have different enrollment durations. Check the section description or email the academic department with any questions.

Fixed Date Online Courses

Fixed Date online courses offer a blend of flexibility and structure. Courses in this format have no live class meetings, but do have scheduled start and end dates and assignment due dates. Your access to the course content begins on the course start date. You will complete assignments within the specific dates posted in your online classroom and as set by your instructor in the course syllabus.

Online Classrooms Orientation

Canvas Classrooms

UC Berkeley Extension hosts online classrooms on multiple systems. Most UC Berkeley Extension online classrooms are hosted on Canvas. See “Paralegal Online Classrooms” below if you are enrolled in Paralegal Studies courses.

Extension employs the Canvas learning management system (onlinelearning.berkeley.edu) and its various tools to deliver online courses. Instruction for Start Anytime and Fixed Date online courses is fully designed and delivered through Canvas, while Live Online instructors use Canvas, in addition to Zoom, to enhance their courses by sharing extra course materials and resources and facilitating group discussion and other learning activities.

After you enroll in a course, it will take approximately one hour before you can log in to your Canvas Classroom. We recommend that you create your account as soon as possible so that you can access the course content when it becomes available:

Fixed Date Courses: You can access your class on its start date.
Continuous Enrollment Courses: You can access your course approximately one hour after you enroll.
Live Online Courses: You can access your course on its start date.

Go to onlinelearning.berkeley.edu. Bookmark this URL and use it to access your online classroom going forward.

First login:
- Click on the "Forgot password?" link.
- On the next screen, enter your Extension student account number in the Username field and click on the Request Password button.
- You will receive an email with instructions on setting up a password for this site. Follow those instructions and create your password. Your Canvas password may be different from the password you use to log into your student account on the UC Berkeley Extension website.
- Problems? If you are having difficulty logging in for the first time, please email onlinehelp@berkeley.edu for assistance.
Each subsequent login:
- Go to onlinelearning.berkeley.edu.
- Enter your student username and the password you created at first login.
- Use this method to log into onlinelearning.berkeley.edu for any additional enrollments.
Other Canvas Resources:

Zoom

Zoom is UC Berkeley’s video conferencing service. Zoom provides a stable, easy-to-use platform for interactive lectures and discussions. UC Berkeley Extension uses the Zoom platform to deliver Live Online classes. Zoom meeting information will be emailed to enrolled students before the first class meeting and posted to the announcements page in Canvas.

If you don’t already have a Zoom account, you must sign up for a free, consumer Zoom account before your class begins. Your instructor will send you invitations to your Zoom meetings.

In addition, we recommend that you:

Confirm your preferred email address in your Extension student account.
- Zoom invitations:
  - will be sent to your preferred email address
  - will also be posted as an Announcement in your Canvas classroom at onlinelearning.berkeley.edu.
Sign in to your Zoom account every time you click on a Zoom invitation link and join a Live Online class. Your instructor may also send you a passcode to join the meeting.
Alternatively, you can dial in via the phone.
Refer to the Zoom Quickstart Guide for New Users.
Review Zoom’s Equipment and System Requirements and test your internet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Download the free Zoom software to your device so that you can take advantage of all of Zoom’s features during class.
- Go to Zoom's download page. The download to your computer will start automatically.
- Zoom for Mobile/Tablet:
  - iOS
  - Android

Report Zoom Bombing

Please join us in upholding our campus Principles of Community. If you experience Zoom bombing that attacks on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation or other protected category, or is sexually explicit, we encourage you to report the incident directly to zoom-misuse@berkeley.edu. For additional resources, visit our Stop Hate website or the campus Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. UC Berkeley leadership has zero tolerance for Zoom bombing, and such incidents will be fully investigated.

Paralegal Online Classrooms

If you are enrolled in Certificate Program in Paralegal Studies courses, you will receive your login information by email within 1 to 3 business days after you enroll. Please contact the academic department for further assistance.