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.
Successful online learners are:
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Self-motivated and self-disciplined
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Comfortable communicating through written online correspondence and discussions
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Unafraid to seek assistance and ask questions when needed
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Able to stay on a schedule and meet deadlines
What is the difference between an online course and "remote instruction"?
Online courses have been specifically vetted, approved, and optimized for online learning. Courses being delivered remotely were designed for in-person instruction, and are being adapted for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis.
Summer 2020 Online Courses
There are more than thirty online courses representing a variety of discplines offered during the summer. Current offerings are listed below. To learn more about each course and to enroll, log in to GOLD.
Session A
| Course | Course Titles | GEs and Special Requirements |
| ED W 125 | Schooling in the U.S. (4 units) | |
| EEMB W 22 | Concepts and Controversies in the Biological Sciences (4 units) | C |
| ESS W 3 | Nutrition For Health (3 units) | |
| FEMST W 20 | Gender and Power: Introduction to Feminist Studies (4 units) | D; WRT |
| FEMST W 150 | Sex, Love, and Romance (4 units) | WRT |
| GEOG W 8 | Living with Global Warming (4 units) | C; QNT; WRT |
| GEOG W 12 | Maps and Spatial Reasoning (4 units) | C |
| HIST W 2A | World History (4 units) | E; E1; EUR; WRT |
| HIST W 4B | Modern Europe (4 units) | E; E1; EUR; WRT |
| HIST W 80 | Chinese Civilization (4 units) | E; NWC; WRT |
| MCDB W 108A | General Biochemistry (4 units) | |
| POL S W 121 | International Politics (4 units) | D; WRT |
| SPAN W 1 | Elementary Spanish (4 units) | |
| THTR W 19 | Design Fundamentals for Dance and Theater (4 units) | |
| WRIT W 107WC | Writing for Web Content (4 units) | A2 |
SESSION B
| Course | Course Titles | GEs and Special Requirements |
| CHEM W 142A | Biochemistry (3 units) | |
| DANCE W 36 | History of Modern Dance (4 units) | F; WRT |
| EARTH W 20 | Geological Catastrophes (4 units) | C; QNT |
| EEMB W 146 | Biometry (4 units) | |
| ENGR W 3 | Introduction to Programming (3 units) | |
| ESS W 3 | Nutrition For Health (3 units) | |
| FEMST W 20 | Gender and Power: Introduction to Feminist Studies (4 units) | D; WRT |
| FEMST W 150 | Sex, Love, and Romance (4 units) | WRT |
| GEOG W 12 | Maps and Spatial Reasoning (4 units) | C |
| HIST W 80 | Chinese Civilization (4 units) | E; NWC; WRT |
| INT W 20 | Introduction to the Research University (2 units) | |
| MCDB W 138 | Medical Immunology (4 units) | |
| PSTAT W 120A | Probability and Statistics (4 units) | |
| PSTAT W 182T | Tutorial in Actuarial Statistics (2 units) | |
| SPAN W 2 | Elementary Spanish (4 units) | |
| THTR W 19 | Design Fundamentals for Dance and Theater (4 units) | |
| WRIT W 107WC | Writing for Web Content (4 units) | A2 |
| WRIT W 109ST | Writing for Science and Technology (4 units) |
Online pedagogies can vary substantially. While some courses allow for a certain degree of self-pacing, others have assignments or required activities frequently (even daily). Students who regularly miss required assignments or activities may be dropped for non-participation. To learn more about the expectations for a course you are considering, please reach out to the instructor or department offering the course. Once you have enrolled, log into Gauchospace to view the syllabus and look out for any email announcements the instructor may send out before instruction begins, as these may help you to better understand the expectations for your specific online course.
Technical Requirements
Generally, you will need:
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A broadband Internet connection
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A personal computer that is:
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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).
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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).
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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:
