Prospective Students FAQ

 

• What type of student does well in a distance education environment?

  This is an important question because distance learning is not for everyone. Students who do well in the online environment:
  • Take command of their own learning
  • Are self-disciplined, self-guided and flexible
  • Have the necessary computer skills
  • Are comfortable with online text-based and email communications
  • Do not require the face-to-face interaction of a traditional classroom
  

• What are the technical and software requirements for participating in online courses?

  In addition to a confident level of computer and internet literacy, certain minimum technical requirements must be met to enable a successful online learning experience.
  The system requirements include:
  • A Pentium processor PC or equivalent Mac system; Windows 98/Me/2000/XP or Mac OS 9.x or OS X 10.x
  • Internet access with 56.6 kbps modem (minimum); high-bandwidth connection recommended
  • 128 MB system Ram; 500 MB free disk space or sufficient storage
  • Sound card
  • CD-ROM capabilities
  

• Software requirements include:

  • Web browser: Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, AOL, Mozilla or Safari. For eLearning-supported browsers and versions, please see validated browser list. Please also see browser configuration information below.
  • Microsoft Office 2000 is the minimum standard. (The latest version of MS Office and other MS software is available at a nominal cost from UT Dallas. See online services.)
  • Virus detection/protection software such as McAfee (available free at UT Dallas).
  "Plug-ins" including (free version available for downloading):
  • RealPlayer
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Java - Sun Microsystems
  • Flash Player
  • A zip file expansion tool such as WinZip
  Web browser configuration:
  
  For eLearning courses, you will need a full-featured browser that eLearning supports. Please see the recommended browsers listed above. Your browser should be JavaScript-enabled with cookies enabled. It is also important that you set the cache settings to "every time" to verify web documents. You should also disable any pop-up blocking for the eLearning site. The methods for configuring these settings vary among browsers and versions; you may find more information at eLearning's browser tune-up. You can also check your browser's documentation for details.
  

• How do faculty and students interact in the virtual (online) classroom?

  • Web page format presentations with streaming audio lectures
  • Downloadable course files
  • Online text-based conferences which create "threaded discussions" of key topics
  • Email exchanges
  • Real-time, text-based chatting for class discussions and instructor office hours
  • Electronic submission of written assignments
  • Online exams and quizzes
  • Occasional web conferences
  

• How are exams administered?

  The academic integrity of online courses is an important concern. Exams may be administered in several different ways: embedded in courses, uploaded by email or proctored. For courses requiring one proctored exam, the online student is responsible for making arrangements with a testing service convenient to them or must come to UT Dallas on the exam date set by the course instructor. Specific information is available on the proctored exam information page and also in each course syllabus.

• Are campus visits required?

  Campus visits are not required. Instruction is completely online, as are other services such as registration and book ordering. However, for a course which requires a proctored exam, a student may choose to take that exam on campus on the day designated by the instructor, or arrange for UTD's Testing Center to administer the exam during the exam period.

• What is the difference between the UT Dallas online courses and TeleCampus MBA online courses?
  

  UT Dallas offers an MBA online program called the Global MBA Online. UT Dallas also participates in the UT System TeleCampus MBA online program by offering two of its 16 courses: AIM 6305.0T1 and MECO 6303.0T1. Students in the UT TeleCampus program who select UT Dallas as their degree-granting institution must take a minimum of 35 credit hours from UT Dallas, but may request transfer of 18 credit hours from other UT System schools in the TeleCampus program. Please see the UT TeleCampus MBA online program for details about the program.