Online Learning

Prospective and New Students

Q. How do online classes work?

Answer: Online courses are all instructor-led. Instructors contact each student during the "Orientation Week" (by phone if possible, by email if needed) in order to go over a high-level overview of what will happen during the subsequent 13 weeks. Each course has its own website that you logon to in order to participate in weekly discussions (bulletin board style), access materials, submit assignments, etc. Many instructors are also making use of web conferencing systems to add a real-time component -- usually for lectures, Q/A sessions, and even team presentations. Instructors schedule the real-time events as needed. Some instructors use them every week or every other week; others use them once or twice a semester. They are recorded so you can play them back later on -- which comes in handy if you miss the actual session.

The format of each course may vary. For example, management courses are likely to have active weekly discussions where students are required to reply to questions that the instructor poses to the class. Students would also be encouraged to reply to the postings of their classmates. A mixture of team projects and individual assignments are also likely to be assigned. Exams may or may not be given, depending on the workload of the course. In contrast, there is less emphasis on weekly discussions in the more technical and math-oriented online courses. More emphasis would be placed upon homework assignments and projects.

Students may post or email questions for their instructors at any time. Instructors are required to respond within 48 hours (though in practice many check the discussion boards every day).

Q. Are WebCampus classes instructor-led or are they run as self-study courses?

Answer: Online courses are all instructor-led.

Q. What happens during "Orientation Week?"

Answer: You will be contacted by your professor(s) using the telephone numbers or email address that Stevens has on file in the "Web for Students" system. Your instructor will discuss how the class will be conducted and address any questions you may have. If you have moved or your contact information has recently changed, please read the section "Updating your Contact Information." Orientation Week gives you time to get accustomed to your online course, order your books, and even get a head start on your first assignments.

Q. Do classes meet in "real time" (I.E. conference calls, web conferences, chats, etc?)

Answer: WebCampus has made web conferencing applications available for any instructor and/or group of students who wants to use them. These applications add a real-time component to online courses -- usually for lectures, Q/A sessions, and even team presentations. Instructors schedule the real-time class events as needed. Some instructors use them every week or every other week; others use them once or twice a semester. These events can be recorded so you can play them back later on -- which comes in handy if you miss the actual session. Alternately, some instructors use pre-recorded lectures on an "on-demand" basis.

Q. What books and materials will I need? Where are they available?

Answer: You can find the list of books and materials that you will need for your classes by viewing the textbooks page (link to 4.2). Alternately, you can look up the textbook information in the appropriate course syllabus file.

Q. Are the acceptance criteria different for online students than they are for on-campus students?

Answer: The acceptance criteria for all Stevens students are the same, regardless of whether or not the students intend to pursue their studies through WebCampus online courses or not.

Q. Is the GMAT required to take graduate courses at Stevens?

Answer: The GMAT exam is only required for entry into the MBA program. PhD. students must also take the GMAT or GRE.

Q. Are there special requirements to take the Technology Management MBA?

Answer: The GMAT exam is a requirement for entry into the Technology Management MBA program.

Q. What do I need to do to apply to an online graduate program?

Answer: You will need to complete a Graduate Admissions application, which includes two letters of recommendation and the submission of your undergraduate transcript. More information about the application process can be found on the Student Resources section (see section 5.7 and 5.6)

Q. What undergraduate GPA is required to be admitted to an online graduate program?

Answer: Generally a 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required for admission into Stevens. Consideration will also be given to those who have extensive work experience but may have slightly lower GPAs.

Q. How can I submit an application for admission?

Answer: All students (domestic or international) can apply via mail or online. In addition, you will need to submit two Letters of Recommendation (PDF), Financial Verification Form (PDF) with supporting documentation, and request ETS to send TOEFL scores to Code # 2819. Some programs require the GRE or GMAT programs. Audit Students need only submit the application and the application fee.

Q. When does Stevens accept applications?

Answer: Stevens does not have an application deadline, as we have a rolling admissions policy. Those Domestic Students who wish to start as soon as possible, but will not have all their application materials available 3 weeks before the start of the semester, can start as Provisional, Non-Matriculating Students. International Students should have all their application materials submitted at least 3 months before the start of the semester in order to have the necessary documents on hand to apply for a visa.

Q. What is the process used to evaluate applications, and how long do admissions decisions take?

Answer: Once Stevens has received all the necessary documents, the application will be forwarded the to the appropriate department(s) for review. It takes, on average, 2 to 3 weeks for the departments to make a decision. After which, Graduate Admissions will inform you of the decision by mail. It takes an additional week for the International Student Services office to prepare visa documentation for those students requesting that document.

Q. What would be the cost to go through a graduate certificate program vs. a Masters program?

Answer: Information about tuition and fees can be found on the tuition and fee page.

Q. Does Stevens offer PhD programs online?

Answer: Stevens does not have a specific online PhD program, though some graduate courses may apply to your PhD. study plan. Contact the appropriate Program Director to see if your study plan is compatible with an online delivery

Q. Does Stevens offer undergraduate programs online?

Answer: Stevens offers a small number of undergraduate courses online through the Euclid Program. These are primarily for incoming freshmen, though others are welcome to participate.

Stevens is exploring the feasibility of offering an entirely-online undergraduate degree.

Q. Does Stevens offer training programs online?

Answer: Stevens offers a small number of training programs in Project Management. These courses, such as the PMP Exam Preparation course, are open for all to participate.

Q. are online programs run through WebCampus accredited?

Answer: Stevens and WebCampus are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. WebCampus is a partner of the Global Wireless Education Consortium (GWEC). The Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading not-for-profit professional association for project management, and The Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC), have jointly accredited graduate degree programs in project management at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Q. I started my graduate studies at a different college. Are my credits transferable?

Answer: Academically recognized classes which apply to your studies at Stevens are transferable.

Q. I am in international student. Is the TOFEL exam required?

Answer: Yes you do, unless you are a citizen of or have earned an undergraduate or higher degree from a country where English is the native language, or other acceptable evidence of English proficiency is provided. In addition all accepted International Students, including those exempted from the TOEFL test, are required to take an English Competency examination administered by International Student Services before enrollment. Your performance on this examination determines whether non-credit Developmental English courses will be required.

Q. What is the minimum passing TOFEL score?

Answer: The nominal, minimum TOEFL score is 500 (Paper Based Test), 173 (Computer Based Test) and 61 (Internet Based Test) for all programs except Department of Computer Science and School of Technology Management programs. The Department of Computer Science and School of Technology Management require a nominal, minimum TOEFL score of 550 (Paper Based Test), 213 (Computer Based Test) or 79 (Internet Based Test).

Q. How long are TOFEL scores good for? I took my exam a while ago.

Answer: TOFEL exams are good for two years.

Q. How do web conferences work in WebCampus classes? What percentage of the time are they used?

Answer: A complete explanation of how web conferences are conducted at Stevens can be found in the Student Resources section.

Q. Do WebCampus courses make use of pod-casts?

Answer: At this time, pod-casting has not been implemented by the WebCampus.

Q. What kind of computer hardware, software do I need to have access to?

Answer: A complete explanation of hardware and software requirements are given in the Student Resources/Requirements section.

Q. Can I access my online course from work?

Answer: Unless your company uses an unusually restrictive firewall, you should be able to access your course from where you work.

Q. What kind of technical support is available if I run into a problem?

Answer: Complete details on helpdesk support is available in the Student Resources <sec. 5.8> section.

Q. How can I get advice on which degree/program I should apply for?

Answer: For advice about which degree would best suit your career goals, consult with an appropriate Program Director. 

Q. Can I audit courses?

Answer: Yes, you may audit WebCampus courses subject to the applicable Audit Limits.

Q. How are tests conducted? Are final exams given?

Answer: Details about how final exams are administered and graded are included in each course syllabus file. A week is set aside at the end of each WebCampus semester for instructors to deliver final exams if they wish to do so. Students may have several days in which they could take their exams. WebCT exams can be automated, with any combination of multiple choice, true/false, or fill-in-the-blank questions. Grades for these automated exams are available immediately after submitting the final answer. Instructors pre-set the number of hours that students have to complete their tests once they click the exam start button. Questions and answers are randomized so that no two students will receive exactly the same test.

Essay questions may also be given, though in these cases, instructor intervention is required before grades can be posted. Some instructors may choose alternate modes of testing, such as faxed or mailed test sheets. In rare cases, instructors may wish to use proctoring centers, in which case students would need to report to a testing site to sit for their exam.

Not all instructors make use of a final examination if there were multiple assessments of student understanding performed throughout the semester.

Q. What is the grade breakdown?

Answer:

Q. How do team assignments work? How often are they assigned?

Answer: Details about how team assignments are to be conducted and graded are included in each course syllabus file. Many instructors (particularly for management courses) use a mix of team and individual assignments throughout the semester. In a typical teamwork-oriented course, teams are formed at or near the beginning of the term. The instructor may assign students to teams or have the students form teams on their own. Team members select whichever study methods work best for them, whether it involves email, conference calls, web conferences, or a mixture of all three. (The Interwise web conferencing system can be made available to students who need to coordinate team activities.) Upon completion, team assignments may be posted in the discussion area for comment, or presented to the rest of the class in a web conference, or both.

Q. Before I apply for a graduate program, is there any way that I can review course schedules, syllabus files, or contact instructors?

Answer: Each course syllabus is included in the appropriate course description page. A generic schedule is typically part of the course syllabus file. You are free to contact any instructor to enquire about course content and assignments. Instrucotr contact information can be found in the WebCampus Faculty section.

Q. How long do I have to complete my degree?

Answer: You have six years from the time you begin our studies to finish your Masters degree.

Q. I was just accepted. How do I register for classes? (And can I do this online?)

Answer: There are two ways to register. You can fax a completed enrollment form to the Graduate Admissions Division or the Registrar, or you can go to the Web for Students screen and logon to the Student Services portal. (To obtain your logon information, consult the WebCampus Student Guide.)

Q. How do I contact my academic advisor?

Answer: Each student receives the name of their academic advisor in their acceptance letter. Students can also fund out who their advisor is by going to the Web for Students screen and log into the Student Services portal. This portal contains a Student Records drop-down list. Click on the Advisor element in this list to find out who your advisor is.

Q. Are discounts available to members of professional societies and organizations?

Answer: Yes, discounts are available for members of qualifying organizations. Certain terms and conditions apply.

Q. My employer reimburses me for my tuition, but I need to provide documentation regarding my grades, etc. Who should I call to get this information?

Answer: The Registrar’s Office can furnish you with this information. The Tuition Reimbursement Form can be used to authorize Stevens to send your employer your grades.

Q Are deferred payment plans available?

Answer: A Deferred Payment Application can be obtained online.

Q I was an undergraduate student at Stevens. Do I need to submit an application in order to take WebCampus courses?

Answer: Yes, students returning to Stevens for their Graduate studies will still need to apply to graduate admissions. When you specify that you are an alumnus of Stevens on your graduate application, the Graduate Admissions Division will obtain your transcript from the Registrar’s Office at no charge to you.

Q I was accepted into Stevens but will not be taking classes immediately. How long is my acceptance valid for?

Answer: You have two years to begin classes from the tie you receive your acceptance. Then you have six years to finish your Masters degree.

Q How much time should I devote each week to my online course?

Answer: The time required will vary from student to student, but a good rule of thumb is to set aside between 8-12 hours per week for each graduate course to ensure a successful outcome.