Online Courses

Taking an online course in the summer is similar to any summer course in time, effort and quality. The obvious difference is that you will interact with your professor and fellow students online instead of in the classroom.
People who are successful online learners are:

  • Self-motivated and self-disciplined

  • Comfortable communicating through written online correspondence and discussions

  • Unafraid to seek assistance and ask questions when needed

  • Able to stay on a schedule and meet deadlines

Summer 2018 Online Courses

CHEM W 142A Biochemistry
Session B

DANCE W 36 History of Modern Dance
Session B

EARTH W 20 Geological Catastrophes
Session B

EEMB W 22 Concepts and Controversies in the Biological Sciences
Session A

ENGR W 3 Introduction to Programming
Session B

ESS W 3 Nutrition For Health
Session A

ESS W 3 Nutrition For Health
Session B

FEMST W 20 Gender and Power: Introduction to Feminist Studies
Session B

FEMST W 150 Sex, Love, and Romance
Session A

FEMST W 150 Sex, Love, and Romance
Session B

GEOG W 8 Living with Global Warming
Session A

GEOG W 12 Maps and Spatial Reasoning
Session B

HIST W 80 Chinese Civilization
Session A

MCDB W 108A General Biochemistry
Session A

MCDB W 138 Medical Immunology
Session B

POL S W 121 International Politics
Session A

POL S W 157 The American Presidency
Session B

PSTAT W 120A Probability and Statistics
Session B

PSTAT W 182T  Tutorial in Actuarial Statistics
Session B

SPAN W 1 Elementary Spanish
Session B

THTR W 19 Design Fundamentals for Dance and Theater
Session B

WRIT W 107WC Writing for Web Content
Session B

Technical Requirements

Generally, you will need:

  • A broadband Internet connection

  • A personal computer that is:

    • a Windows XP or later PC with the most current version of the free Firefox Browser, the most current version of the free Adobe Flash Player, a recent version of an office suite (e.g. Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, Star Office).

    • an OS X 10.5 or later MAC with the most current version of the free Firefox Browser, the most current version of the free Adobe Flash Player, a recent version of an office suite (e.g. iWork, Microsoft Office, NeoOffice).

Exams in Online Courses

Some online courses may require proctored exams, either online or in person. Most summer online courses at UCSB have online exams. For proctored exams online, your course instructor will guide you to an online proctoring service. If you are able to come to campus for in-person exams, you will take this proctored exam in a room arranged by your instructor.

If you are not able to come to campus for an exam, it is your responsibility to let your online course instructor know and to locate and arrange for a proctoring service in your area. You will be responsible for the cost of using a proctoring center or online proctoring service (the range is typically $20-30). You must make arrangements for a remote testing location at least 2 weeks prior to your exam date. Acceptable private proctors normally include, but are not limited to, faculty, other university or college testing centers, ministers, military education officers, non-direct superiors and corporate executive officers, and public librarians. Community colleges often offer proctoring services for a minimal fee.

Technical Support

You will have technical support from two sources: