Answers to common questions about online learning:

Are Northeastern University Online courses accredited?
All Northeastern University Online programs and courses are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Is the quality of online courses the same as campus-based courses?
Online courses are held to the same high standard as our campus-based courses, and are taught by experienced instructors who are scholars and industry leaders. All of our online discussions are designed so students feel connected with the instructor and with other students. Discussion boards and interactive tools help students feel they are a part of a dynamic learning experience, just as in a traditional campus-based course.

Does a degree earned online differ from a degree earned in campus-based courses from the Northeastern University?
A degree earned by taking online courses is a Northeastern University degree - there is no difference. Your diploma is exactly the same as that of a campus-based student.

Are the policies and procedures for online courses the same as for campus-based courses?

The policies and procedures for online courses are the same as for campus-based courses (i.e. registering, withdrawing, prerequisites, course requirements, etc.).

Is online learning right for me?

Successful online students are self-motivated and comfortable using a computer and the internet. View a demo of an online course to help you determine if online learning is right for you.

How do Internet-based courses work?
Course content (lectures, additional materials, discussions, assignments, etc.) is presented using an online learning system called NU Online. Course material is presented on a weekly basis and you normally complete the assigned readings, assignments, etc. within that same week. You interact with other students and the instructor via the discussion board and email. You may also collaborate on group projects through the web interface. Midterms and finals are usually taken online and, once started, must be completed in a set amount of time. You may also be required to upload assignment files to NU Online. You don't need to log in to the course at any specific time during the week, but you do need to complete all your course work within a given time period (usually that same week). The work load is similar to that of traditional campus-based courses.

How do you develop your online courses?
In addition to using standard tools such as discussion boards, multimedia lectures through Articulate Presenter, and streaming video, we have incorporated Podcasts of lectures and combined them with printable copies of the lecture in Adobe PDF format to allow students with different learning styles to be successful in online learning. The course content is delivered in a consistent format to give students a familiar, intuitive method to complete your courses.

Highly qualified instructional designers, who have graduate degrees in instructional technology, support the faculty to ensure each course meets Northeastern standards. As a Northeastern University Online student, you know that your courses are both academically sound and solidly delivered.

How do you prepare faculty to teach online?
Northeastern University Online requires all faculty, including those with prior online teaching experience, to complete an Online training program that teaches them how to design and deliver courses according to our requirements and expectations. So, in addition to providing instructors who are leaders in their field of practice, Northeastern can also assure students that our instructors are highly-qualified to teach online.

What technology do you use for online classes?

The virtual classroom is provided by NU Online using Blackboard, the recognized leader in learning management systems.  Within NU Online there are additional tools to ensure your success, such as SMARTHINKING, an online tutoring system; Live Classroom, a web enabled synchronous conferencing tool, and Voice Tools, a community building technology, both provided by Wimba.

What computer equipment do I need?
Please see Technical Requirements.