Want to return to college to earn a degree or complete additional studies, but cannot commit to a college program that requires you to meet on campus at a particular place and time? With a fast paced modern life so prevalent today, it is often hard for many working adults to find time to take an on-campus college course. With this in mind, Clemson University offers courses and degree programs online through its distance education, which is available to anyone, anywhere in the world.

Clemson University, founded in 1899, is a U.S. public, coeducational, land-grant and sea-grant research university. Located in Clemson, the university comprises 5 colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Architecture, Arts and Humanities, Business and Behavioral Sciences, Engineering and Science & Health, Education and Human Development. According to U.S. News and World Report, Clemson is ranked as the 25th best public schools in the nation for the year 2012.

As part of Clemson University’s education, distance education also gives students opportunities to earn college credits and degrees. With Clemson University distance education, students around the world can complete courses online or via video conferencing without attending any classroom-based classes. Even better, each distance education class has an instructor who interacts with students, leads the course and offers assistance.

Students participating in distance education can learn by various formats, such as reading textbooks and study guides, engaging in online chats, watching videos and taking advantage of online discussion boards. They can also take part in group projects and write papers. Currently, the following degree programs are offered by Clemson distance education.

• College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Science: Master of Science in Biological Sciences

• College of Architecture, Arts & Humanities: Master of Construction Science Management

• College of Engineering & Science: MENGR Degree, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) & MENGR Degree; Department of Industrial Engineering (IE) with a concentration in Capital Project Supply Chain

• College of Health, Education & Human: Master of Human Resource Development; Master of Science in Youth Development; Ph D in Educational Leadership

• Interdisciplinary Programs: Master of Public Administration

Note: You must be a Clemson University student to be able to register for distance education classes.

No matter which program you are engaged in, classes of these programs are given in various forms. If you prefer traditional classes but have a busy schedule, hybrid courses may be right for you. For those who want to attend classes online 100%, you can also be satisfied. Now, let’s take a close look at these forms…

1. Fully Online

For fully online courses, all instruction is delivered online. The instruction can include web conferencing and interaction through the Blackboard Course Management System via login to MyCLE. Additionally, these courses are probably supplemented with additional materials offered on DVD.

2. Hybrid

Hybrid courses are actually traditional classroom-based courses, completed with web technology. For courses of this type, 50% or more of the class instruction may be delivered online. Plus, these courses may be supplemented with additional materials provided in other media formats. The interaction for these courses may occur through conferencing technology as well as through the Blackboard Course Management System via login to MyCLE.

3. Off Campus by Site/Web Enabled

In general, these classes are typically held at sites, but not the Clemson campus. In this form, courses meet its traditional format, but use one or more of the Blackboard tools to supplement learning or communication. For instance, Blackboard may be used to distribute the Course Syllabus, Collaboration, Assignments, Blogs, Testing and so on. Please note that off campus classes may be supplemented with additional materials offered in other media formats.

4. Video Based

Video based courses at Clemson are available in various forms. Traditional video based courses are delivered by DVD recordings, while other video courses may be delivered through video conferencing. The advantage of video conferencing broadcasts is that they have two way video and audio between multiple sites. Instructors and students are able to see and hear each other. Usually, video conferencing courses occur once a week for 3 hours.

5. Satellite

For courses of this type, class information is distributed through digital satellite broadcasts. Digital satellite broadcasts can be available from around 2,000 potential sites within South Carolina through the SCETV system. Remote site students have the ability to see the instructor on a monitor/screen. In addition, they also have the opportunity to interact with the other sites through telephone (or e-mail after class). These courses are generally taken once a week for 3 hours.

Plus: Significant identifiers for all these courses are displayed in the “Notes” column of the Schedule of Classes. The credits for online courses are the same as for campus-based courses.

Note: This web site is not affiliated with or connected to Clemson University. For accurate and professional information, go to Clemson University official site.