For Online Students
Georgetown Online Learning
At Georgetown's School of Continuing Studies, we realize that traditional classroom learning does not work for all students. Taking online or blended classes enables you to earn your degree from almost anywhere.
Our online master's degrees provide the same academic content as the on-campus programs, award the same number of credits, meet the same learning objectives, and feature the same faculty. All required courses will be available for online programs, however there may be more limited availability of elective courses, as these are being developed over time.
The Online Classroom Experience
We use the Canvas online learning platform to help instructors make online learning more interactive, authentic, and effective. We also supplement many of our online courses with tools such as VoiceThread, PollEverywhere, and TurnItIn. These methods of enhanced learning provide a robust academic experience that enables global networking among students, faculty, and industry partners.
The Online Course Schedule
In the fall and spring, online courses for degree programs are either offered in a traditional 15-week format or in shorter, 7.5-week modules. In the summer, degree program online courses are offered in a 13-week or 7.5-week format. Noncredit online courses are typically offered in a 1- or 2- week format each semester.
Most online courses are asynchronous –allowing for a more flexible time frame for you to listen to lectures, complete readings, and turn in assignments. Often online courses include synchronous videoconference sessions, where all students log in at the same time to engage in class discussions, deliver a presentation, or engage with the faculty member or guest lecturer.
Residency Requirements
Due to restrictive state and international regulations, SCS is not permitted to provide online courses or instruction to students in some states or countries. Please check your state or country’s eligibility on the Important Policies for Online Students page.
Systems Requirements
To fully participate in online learning, we recommend you have the following:
- Hard drive 80GB or higher
- Computer with 4GB of memory or more
- 2Ghz processor
- Soundcard
- Windows 8.0 or later/Mac OS X 10.9 (Mavericks)
- Linux-Chrome OS
- MS Office 2007 or later, Office 2008 (for MAC) or later
- Broadband (high-speed) internet access or direct connection or Wi-Fi
- Computer webcam, microphone, and speakers
- Adobe Acrobat Reader 9.0 or later
- Anti-virus program
- The most up-to-date Flash plugin
- QuickTime Player, RealPlayer, or Windows Media Player
- Internet Explorer 8.0 or later, Firefox 3.6 or later, Google Chrome 7.0 or later, Safari 5.0 or later
Mobile Operating System Native App Support:
- iOS 7 and newer
- Android 2.3 and newer
Technical Support
Online students have 24/7 access to Canvas technical support, including live chat and a support hotline at (855) 338-2770.
Online Library
As a degree-seeking student enrolled in online courses, you’ll have access to the University Library System’s eResources, including 500+ research databases, 1.5+ million eBooks, and thousands of periodicals and other multimedia files (films, webinars, music, and images). You can access these resources through the Library’s Homepage Links.
You’ll also have the opportunity to make an appointment with a librarian to discuss a research topic, develop a search strategy, or examine resources for projects and papers. Appointments are conducted using Google Hangout (video-conferencing function) through the Georgetown Google Apps or by telephone.
Student Activities
As an online student, you are welcome to visit Georgetown SCS’s downtown D.C. campus and partake in on-campus events, such as speaker panels, networking opportunities, professional development workshops, and social activities. Oftentimes, these events will also be available to online students via livestream.
Graduation
Once you complete your degree, you’ll be invited to participate in Georgetown’s commencement activities, which take place every May in Washington, D.C. If you are unable to attend, your diploma will be mailed to you.
After you complete an online degree program, your diploma will be identical to the on-campus format’s (it will not say “Online Degree Program”).
Alumni
Once you’ve completed your online degree, you’ll have access to all Georgetown University alumni resources and benefits. Visit our Alumni section to learn more.