How Online Learning Works

Interaction is built into our Anytime Online* courses in a variety of ways including discussion forums, online collaboration and peer review. Our secure and easily accessible Blackboard Online Classroom allows you to:

• Attend class for assignments and lectures on your own schedule
• Meet and interact with fellow students
• Discuss lessons with instructors
• Complete and submit assignments to your professor electronically
• Conduct research at the online library
• Receive support from services like the Writing Center and the Tutoring and Study Skills Center

As an active enrolled student you will login into our secure Blackboard online classroom and see a list of the courses you are registered for. Simply by selecting or clicking the course name you will enter your Anytime Online (asynchronous), or online virtual classroom. The course contains all the lessons, assignments, links to any live sessions and discussion boards provided by your instructor. For an Anytime Online course, you set your own schedule — during the day, at night — whenever it fits into your busy life.

Each week, you find the time that is most convenient for you to get your work completed on time for that week. While there are set start and end dates for each class and regular coursework due dates within each class, there are no regularly scheduled class times, so you have the most flexibility to fit school into your life.

For online courses that are at a set time (synchronous), classes are scheduled with live class instruction in a virtual, online setting called Connected Campus. Students and instructors join from various locations. Live attendance is required. You will complete assignments for the week outside of class time at a time most convenient for you.

Classes and programs start on an ongoing basis. We offer open enrollment and most programs have several start points throughout the year. For more information, please visit with a Bellevue University Admissions Counselor.

How long to complete an online Bachelor's degree:

A: For undergraduate students enrolled full-time, a bachelor's degree typically takes four years to complete if attending full-time at a pace of 11-12 credit hours each term, for three terms per academic year. Part-time students will take longer. A bachelor's degree usually requires 120-127 credit hours of coursework, depending on field of study. However, at Bellevue University, you can maximize your transfer credits, potentially reducing the time and cost needed to earn your degree. If you've completed prior college coursework, military training, or professional certifications, you may be able to apply those credits toward your degree. Contact us to have your credits evaluated.

• If you're eager to complete your degree quickly, an accelerated bachelor's degree program can be finished in as little as 24 months. These cohort programs often feature shorter terms (e.g., 6- to 8-week courses, some with multiple courses per term instead of traditional 16-week courses in one term), more intensive coursework, and year-round classes, including summer terms. If you have earned at least 60 credit hours or an associate degree from a previous institution, you may be eligible to enroll immediately into an accelerated cohort major. Enroll once up front, and move seamlessly through your program with the same community of peers to the finish line. Talk to an admissions counselor for more details today.

How long to complete an online Master's degree:

A: Most students complete a master's degree in 2-3 years, depending on several factors, including how many credits you take per term and how many are required (part-time students will take longer). Most master's programs require 30-36 graduate credits at Bellevue University. (An exception is the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at 60 credits). For full-time students enrolled at a pace of 2 courses per term, (3 terms per academic year), it is possible to finish in 6 terms or about 2 years if you are continuously enrolled and progress according to the degree plan.

• Part-time students often take 3 to 5 credit hours per semester or term, extending the timeline to 3 to 5 years—or longer if they take breaks.
• If you're eager to complete your degree quickly, an accelerated master's program can be finished in as little as 12 to 18 months. These cohort programs often feature shorter terms (e.g., 6- to 8-week courses, sometimes with multiple courses per term instead of traditional 16-week courses in one term), more intensive coursework, and year-round classes, including summer terms. Not all classes are offered year-round.
• You may be able to transfer in up to 6 previously earned credits from an accredited institution which could lessen your time to completion. Contact us to have your credits evaluated. (The Master of Professional Studies-MPS allows you to transfer as many as 12 previously earned graduate credits.)

Our faculty, dedicated support teams, and staff are committed to help you succeed. Our Blackboard online classroom system has student communication options for peers to share and exchange ideas. Other academic resources include free peer tutoring, Writing Center, the Freeman/Lozier library collection of resources, and library staff support. See more about our OneStop Welcome Center.

As an active student you will have access to our Service Desk for hardware or software support during extended hours of operation seven days a week, via phone, email and online help response system. Online ticket submission is available 24/7. Bellevue University offers many additional resources for you, such as online tutorials and tools. View regular hours and contact information for technical assistance.

Bellevue University's approach to exceptional online learning starts at the top, with our faculty. All of our online instructors participate in a rigorous 6-week training program for online course delivery techniques. Our faculty actually experience online learning so they can better understand you, the student's, point of view, learning first-hand what works and what doesn't work.

We know that online learning requires much more than dry, static presentations that have been hastily converted to fit an online course. Faculty employ a variety of multimedia tools to present demonstrations and lessons. You will not only read about concepts – you will see how they are applied.

Bellevue does offer certain degrees in which you may take online courses, either asynchronous "Anytime Online", or synchronous online courses (offered at a set time) in a hybrid version called Connected Campus. Our student coach/advisors can work with you to find courses that meet your needs.

There is no requirement to take classes on campus. Online classes count toward residency requirement. Certain degrees may not offer all courses online so be sure to check the Curriculum pages for the degree you are pursuing. Also, see the list of our Satellite campus locations.