5 Questions to Consider About Online Degree Program Course Schedules

As Anelle Ammons searched for an online graduate program, she says researching course schedule structures and academic calendars was important for finding the right fit.

Currently pursuing a master's degree in horticultural sciences at North Carolina State University--Raleigh, Ammons juggles her education with raising her children. Luckily, she says, she can enroll on a part-time basis, often completing about seven credit hours each term.

But experts say online programs vary in how they structure their academic calendars and course schedules for each term -- an important consideration for online students, who are also often busy with a job or family responsibilities.

"They should think about whether the structure, schedule, format for the program meets their needs -- is that going to work for their life?" says Kim Scalzo, executive director of Open SUNY at the State University of New York, a collaboration between 64 SUNY campuses that offer online programs.

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As you research online degree programs or speak with advisers or staff members, experts recommend considering these five questions about academic schedules.

1. How is the academic year divided? Not all online degree programs operate around the same type of schedule as some students might initially expect, says Lynda Hambourger, academic adviser for online and distance education at NC State.

While NC State has a semester system for online courses, for-profit Capella University offers a quarter ly system option. In these cases, graduation credit requirements may vary.

"It is a bit more of an accelerated time frame," Rhonda Capron, Capella's dean of business and technology, says of the quarterly system. "For our adult learners, that really is something that they are striving to do -- to achieve their educational goals as quickly as possible."

Ashley Henyan, an online master's student studying English and creative writing, with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University, says her program offers 10-week terms.

"It is a fast-paced learning environment, which I love," she said in an email. "But it also provides enough time to dive deep into the topics and gain a thorough understanding of the subject matter."

2. How many online courses can you take at once? It's important for students to first ask whether they can choose courses that fit into their daily schedule or if they have to stick to a set curriculum calendar, says Antonia Matthews, marketing manager for UNC Online, the online extension of the University of North Carolina's 17 institutions.

[Discover what to ask about flexibility in online degree programs.]

If there's flexibility, prospective online students should weigh the number of courses they are allowed to take at once with how many they can handle, experts say. At ASU Online, the online extension of Arizona State University, most students may enroll in up to 18 credit hours per spring or fall semester.

Many online programs have both part- and full-time options, though this varies.

"If there's a time of the year where work is really busy, maybe they slow down the number of courses that they're working on at that time," Capella Dean of Business and Technology Capron says.

3. How long should it take to complete the online program? Many online students want to earn their degree quickly for an immediate career boost, experts say. That's why an expected graduation year is something to consider -- and it can help determine how many classes to take each term.

Scalzo, from Open SUNY, suggests inquiring about whether every online course the students need to take to graduate will be offered in the anticipated time frame. She says prospective students should ask for a potential road map to graduation to guarantee they will earn their degree as planned.

4. Are there options for shorter or accelerated programs? Among other types of accelerated options, some online degree programs offer students the chance to progress through course material they are already familiar with at their own pace by illustrating mastery of clearly defined competencies, or skill sets, through assessments.

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Capella offers the FlexPath option, enabling students to move through certain degree programs on their own time. Students complete written assignments to illustrate their competencies, says Stephanie Luetgers, Capella's FlexPath coach. They pay a flat fee for 12 weeks -- so students save money the faster they progress.

5. Will an adviser help you remotely build your schedule? Building a schedule can be tricky for online students , given that the number of courses they take each term can vary, and they often need to create their schedules while far away from campus.

At UNC Online, students connect with program coordinators for questions about academic schedules and calendars via email, phone and sometimes videoconferencing, says UNC Online marketing manager Matthews. Hambourger, of NC State, also suggests that degree-seeking students contact a program adviser.

"That's where the information they need will be," she says.

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Jordan Friedman is an online education editor at U.S. News. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at jfriedman@usnews.com.