Distance Learning

Distance Learning classes are designed to help students earn a degree from the University of Great Falls from their homes. We offer several complete degrees and over one hundred courses every year via distance learning.

 

 

The following degrees are available through Distance Learning:

Associate Degrees
• Addictions Counseling*
• Criminal Justice
• Paralegal Studies*

Bachelor Degrees
• Criminal Justice (with Addictions Counseling Concentration)
• Paralegal Studies*
• Psychology (with Counseling or Addictions Counseling Concentrations)*

 
Minors/Concentrations
• Addictions Counseling*
• Criminal Justice
• Psychology

Army Paralegal Program
• Army Paralegal Program

Graduate Degrees
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• LUMEN Consortium Master of Arts in (Secondary) Teaching LUMEN Homepage

 

*Individual programs may require on-campus courses. For instance, students admitted to the paralegal program after May 1, 2005 are required to complete 10 credits of legal specialty courses in a traditional classroom setting.

**If you can travel to Great Falls and attend weekend courses or finish your last semester on campus, you will be able to complete requirements for many other Associate, Bachelor, and Graduate degrees that are not offered on Distance Learning. Call Distance Learning at 800-342-9824 for details.

 

 

 

There are currently two main ways of participating in Distance Learning courses at UGF. One method is based on attending regularly scheduled live, interactive LearnLinc discussion sessions.

The other method uses an industry-leading course management system called Blackboard, which enables students to participate in class "asynchronously" (not at the same time). In other words, they log in whenever their busy schedules allow.

Courses based on the live LearnLinc discussion sessions are designated with a section of "D," while Blackboard courses are listed with a section of "BKB."

All UGF Distance Learning students are assigned an on-campus academic advisor who assists with class scheduling and program planning.

Students may be eligible for a dual-enrollment consortium tuition option if:

• They are eligible for a full Pell Grant, and
• Have completed an Associate Degree or equivalent, and
• Are dually enrolled at the University of Great Falls and another participating college or university.

 

 

"Home Study" Courses

"Home Study" is a special form of individualized study that requires a separate application for each course taken. Regularly scheduled Distance Learning courses do not require "Home Study" applications. Up to six credits per semester may be taken as Home Study but only apply to students who are within one academic year of graduation and cannot enroll in a required course any other way. Upon approval, students receive video lectures, syllabi and course materials by mail. Students are responsible for contacting individual instructors to arrange a schedule for completing the courses independently. Call the UGF Office of Admissions at 1-800-856-9544 or
1-406-791-5200 for more information about Home Study.

 

 

 

UGF Distance Learning's real-time interaction is based on an Internet conferencing technology called LearnLinc, which allows students to connect to live class sessions from their own homes or offices. The LearnLinc "Virtual Classroom" lets students participate in a multi-point audioconference with the course instructor and fellow students.

LearnLinc also provides such interactive tools as shared Web browsing, shared applications, PowerPoint slide viewing, shared whiteboards, and live text chat. In addition, each week's interactive session is recorded electronically to provide a backup in case a student misses a live class discussion.

For the majority of Distance Learning courses, students weekly view one-hour video lectures available from our Campus Store and then participate in follow-up LearnLinc discussions with the instructor and fellow students.

For many Distance Learning classes, students are required to have a local contact to proctor their exams. Click here for the Distance Learning Proctor Certification Form. A proctor should be a local professional. Many students choose an employee of the local school district, a local law enforcement officer, or a supervisor at work. The proctor may not be a relative unless specific arrangements are made with an individual professor.

 

 

Students wishing to connect to live, interactive UGF Telecom conference classes via LearnLinc will need the following:

• An IBM-compatible computer running Windows 95 or later on a Pentium 166 MHz or faster processor.
• Minimum of 64 MB of RAM.
• A reliable dial-up Internet account at speeds of 28.8 Kbps or better. (Most non-local, "free" accounts you qualify for when buying a computer package typically do NOT provide a reliable enough data rate to support audioconferencing.)
• Internet Explorer 5.0 or later is strongly suggested for maximum compatibility.
• 16-bit Soundblaster-compatible sound card (full duplex recommended) supporting Microsoft DirectX 6.0 drivers (available for download from Microsoft).
• Good quality speakers and compatible microphone.
• Monitor supporting 800x600 and 16-bit color, or higher

If you have the above hardware and software, you can download a free copy of the LearnLinc Client software to install on your computer.

Click here to request LearnLinc access.
 

 

 

The online course is delivered to the student using the highly interactive Blackboard platform. Blackboard is the world’s largest provider of this type of service. This teaching model allows students to participate in class asynchronously each week of their course(s). This means that students do not need to be online at the same time. This is especially helpful to students who are working full time, raising a family or the campus students who can not fit a specific course into their schedule. The Blackboard model enables users to extend learning beyond the traditional classroom or other types of distance learning models. Collaboration between instructor and students is essential and builds a true learning community. Blackboard online courses are not independent study courses. They are completely interactive using any internet ready computer (see technical requirements below). Additionally classes will have the availability of a virtual classroom component where the instructor and students can be interactive in real time. Both undergraduate and graduate courses may be available to the student online (refer to the University of Great Falls Distance Learning Course Schedule). The Paralegal Studies Bachelor’s degree, the Master of Arts, Secondary Teaching degree (initial licensing degree program) and the Master of Education graduate degree programs are available using the Blackboard platform.

Commonly Asked Questions about Blackboard Online Courses:

When does my class meet? Technically, there are no class times. Online courses are conducted asynchronously, which means individuals “take turns” sending messages between students and instructors.
 
Will hundreds of other students be taking my class at the same time as me? No, UGF limits enrollment. Most classes are rarely larger than 15 students.
 
What kind of computer do I need? Any PC or Macintosh computer is fine. Plus you will need a modem and a connection to the Internet (see specifics below).
 
Will I need to learn complicated software? Blackboard is extremely user friendly and anyone with basic computer skills will be successful in its use. You will also have online orientation from the Director and your instructor in advance of the start of your course(s).
 
How much time do I get to complete the course? Each course will have a start and end date. In between the schedule of course work, assignments, and due dates are determined by each instructor. The amount of hours needed each week will be indicated by the instructor at the beginning of the weekly assignments.
 
Who will help me if I run into technical problems? Each instructor will problem solve your needs. UGF employs a technician assigned to Blackboard technical support by phone or email.
 
Questions about how best to approach online learning? This online document has many useful tips:
       "Free Advice on How to Be a Successful Online Student (.PDF)"

 
Contact our Distance Learning Team for further information.

Blackboard requirements and instructions are provided here.

 

 

 

 

To register for Telecom courses

• Click on the semster below to access the schedule.

• Spring 2008
  
• Summer 2008
  
• Fall 2008

• Select classes and fill our registration form (Access the Registration form here), book order form and method-of payment form.
• Confirm schedule with academic advisor.
• All students must be accepted to UGF before they may register for courses.

In Addition for Home Study

• Fill out a separate application for each Home Study course, obtained from the UGF Distance Learning Office or online.
• Obtain approval from the course instructor and academic advisor.

 

 

 

 

 

Financial aid is available for qualified students.

Click here to visit our financial aid website for more information.