What to Expect
About Webster
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for Online?
CheckList
Planning
for Success
Frequently
Asked Questions
| Programs / General Information About Online Learning How Online Courses Work Admissions |
Registration Tuition Getting Help |
Programs/General
Can I earn a degree entirely online?
Yes. Please refer to the Online Programs page on our web site for information on degree programs that you can complete online.
Are the online programs accredited?
Yes. You may view a complete list of all of Webster University’s accreditations and licensures. Regardless of the format in which a course is taught, the curriculum is the same.
Can I mix online and face-to-face classes?
Yes, you may take face-to-face classes and online classes at the same time and within any program that has online offerings.
I'm already a Webster University student; can I take an online course?
Yes, if it applies to your program and you have the proper prerequisites for the chosen course. Check with your advisor to be certain that the course will apply to your degree.
How many online courses per 8 or 9 week term can I take?
It is suggested that graduate students take only one course in their first attempt at graduate online education. After determining how online learning fits with your lifestyle, a second course may be added in your second term. You should not attempt two online courses per term unless you have extensive experience with online education and the appropriate amount of time in your personal schedule to dedicate to coursework.
How can I meet with an academic advisor?
Depending on the program and your location, you may consult an advisor in person, by email, or by telephone. New students are required to consult with an academic advisor before they register for classes. Please consult the online advising website for contact information.
Is an on-campus residency or campus visit required?
There is no on-campus residency requirement for taking online classes at Webster University, although you are welcome to visit any of our worldwide campuses at any time.
How long will it take to complete an online program?
Based on a 36 credit hour program, by taking one course per 8- or 9-week term, the program will take two and a half years to complete. If you take two courses per term, the 36 hour program would take approximately one year and nine weeks. This schedule assumes you have satisfied all of the prerequisite courses, and courses are completed in consecutive terms.
If I already have a Master’s Degree is my curriculum the same?
A student who holds an M.A., M.S. or an equivalent graduate degree from Webster University or from another regionally accredited college or university may qualify for a sequential graduate degree from Webster University. Please talk with an advisor for more information.
Do you offer any areas of emphasis with the MBA?
The MBA offers emphasis in several areas of study.
Who are the online faculty?
Webster University's online courses are taught by the same distinguished faculty who teach our face-to-face classes. They bring real-world experience and practical knowledge to the classroom.
Will my diploma indicate that I have taken an online degree?
No; your diploma will be identical to those received by students in on-site programs.
Admissions
What are your admissions requirements?
The admissions requirements depend on the degree you are seeking. Please see the Admissions web page.
Have your transcript sent from your university or college directly to:
Office of Admission
Webster University
470 E Lockwood
St. Louis, MO 63119-3194
What is provisional acceptance status for a graduate student?
If you have applied and your official undergraduate transcripts have not been yet received by the Office of Admission, you may be provisionally accepted to the graduate program. An official transcript from the institution awarding the baccalaureate degree must be received by the conclusion of your first term in order for you to continue in the graduate program and for a full admission decision to be made.
What is advancement to candidacy?
See the Graduate Catalog for details on Academic Policies and Procedures.
What type of undergraduate degree do I need to be admitted to a graduate program?
All applicants considered for admission to Webster University's graduate programs must have earned a recognized baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited educational institution. If you completed your university education abroad, you must have earned an equivalent recognized baccalaureate degree as determined by Webster University.
How do I apply to Webster University?
You can apply online or by requesting a paper application. There is a nonrefundable application fee of $50.
Can I transfer credits from another school? How many credits can I transfer?
Yes, Webster University will accept transfer credit depending on your specific program; see the graduate catalog for details. Official transcripts and course descriptions are required. No credit hours can be transferred to a sequential master’s.
Are MBA prerequisite courses ever waived?
In general, prerequisite waivers are determined by coursework taken in your undergraduate or other graduate coursework. An advisor will evaluate your background and submit waivers for approval based on previous coursework.
Online Learning
What is online learning?
Online learning uses a Learning Management System to deliver course content and enable asynchronous communication between teacher and student. Online courses can be accessed from anywhere, provided you have a computer or other device with internet access.
What format does Webster University use for online courses?
Webster University utilizes an asynchronous format, meaning there is typically no set day or time you will need to sign into your course. This allows you to log in at a time that is convenient to you to complete to participate in class activities. However, this is not to say the courses are entirely self-paced. Our online courses follow a week-by-week structure – within each week you will have readings to complete, content to view, activities and discussions to participate in, and assignments to complete. This structure helps you stay on track to complete the course.
Is online learning effective?
Research over the last 70+ years shows that there is no difference in the academic success of students in distance learning programs vs. students in face-to-face programs. In fact, a recent study presented by The US Department of Education states "The meta-analysis found that, on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction." As an online student at Webster University you will be taught under the same rigorous academic standards as our face-to-face classroom programs.
What type of student would benefit from an online program?
The online program is recommended for students who are self-motivated, self-disciplined, open-minded, able to communicate through writing, and are both willing and able to commit the time needed to participate. In addition, online students must have access to a computer and the internet, as well as have appropriate computer skills.
What is WorldClassRoom?
The WorldClassRoom is Webster University's portal to online learning.
What is Canvas by Instructure?
Webster uses the learning management system Canvas by a company called Instructure to power the WorldClassRoom (WCR). Webster's WorldClassRoom provides a robust, yet flexible, set of tools that create a comprehensive and secure virtual teaching and learning environment. WCR offers a complete set of tools to facilitate asynchronous interaction between students and instructors; including content, communication and assessment tools.
How much computer expertise do I need to take an online class?
You should know how to use your computer, how to save, attach and retrieve files, how to use basic office software (spreadsheets, word processors, etc.), and send and receive email. You should also be comfortable browsing and navigating the Internet.
What type of equipment is needed to take an online course?
Please review the technical requirements for Canvas.
How Do the Online Courses Work?
How are the online programs delivered?
Each student receives a unique user ID upon acceptance to the University, which gives them secure access to their WorldClassRoom courses. The courses are designed to be asynchronous, which means you may access the class and assignments at your convenience to complete weekly assignments. No live or face-to-face meetings are required.
How are the exam/test/assignments given?
All assessments are taken online. Each instructor approaches testing differently. Some courses do not give tests but require final papers, others give open book tests with time limits, and others may be more open ended.
What is the length of each course?
The length of courses varies by program. Courses are offered in 8, 9, and 16 week formats. Please refer to the academic calendar for specific dates.
How many hours per week do I need to devote to the online degree program?
It depends on the length, requirements, and workload of each course, as well as your own learning style. For each credit hour of the course, you should generally allot 3-4 hours for readings, participating in course activities, contributing to class discussions, completing assignments and/or working on group projects. For a typical 8 or 9-week course, be prepared to invest 15-20 hours per course each week. Keep these figures in mind when planning your online program and considering other responsibilities to which you may need to devote time.
Do I need an email account for my online course?
All students receive a free Webster email account that is required for receiving all official school communication. Course related conversations between students and instructors are generally handled by the messaging tool within WorldClassRoom, which is different than Webster email.
Do the online courses have real time deadlines?
Yes. Each term has beginning and ending dates. In addition, assignments, readings, and online discussions have weekly deadlines that must be met. Online course are not self-paced or designed to be taken as independent study.
How do I log in to my courses?
You may log into your online courses through the Connections Portal.
Do I have to log in at a certain time?
No, but students are encouraged to log in several times a week to get their assignments and participate in discussions. If you do not log in to your course within the first 2 weeks of the academic term you will be dropped from the course. The requirements for your weekly participation in each course are outlined in the course syllabus.
The online program offers the flexible schedule I need, but I am concerned that it may lack the "human" one-on-one contact you get with a traditional campus.
Though you will not meet with your class face-to-face, the online courses at Webster University and the tools within WorldClassRoom incorporate many opportunities for interaction. You may find that you communicate with your instructor and classmates more effectively than in a face-to-face classroom environment.
Do online courses require textbooks and where can I purchase them?
Most online courses require at least one textbook. Textbooks for online courses can be purchased online through MBS Direct.
How do I know what book to order?
When you log into the MBS Direct bookstore, you will be directed to the correct textbook when you select the appropriate course and section number. Or, watch this short video to learn how to locate textbook information.
Advising and Registration
How do I register for an online course?
Approximately 72 hours (3 business days) after you submit your application for admission to Webster University, you will receive an email from the university letting you know about your admission. You will be connected to Academic Advising via this email who will then provide some information to schedule your initial advising session. Formal letters are issued approximately 10 days after acceptance. New students (and students who have not been enrolled for 1 academic calendar year or longer) are required to consult with an academic advisor before registering for classes the first time.
Academic Advising will register you for your first online class or direct you to a person who will register you. Current students may register for classes using the online registration site.
What should I do after I register?
Steps 4-10 on the Checklist portion of this site provides further information regarding the steps to take to prepare yourself for your first course.
What should I do on the first day of class?
Courses will be available at 12:00 pm (Noon, Central Time) on the Friday before courses start. Students should log in to their courses as soon as they are available to review the syllabus and first assignments.
Is there a cut off for Registration?
Yes. The deadline for registration for online courses is the Wednesday prior to the start of each term. Late registrations are not allowed, due to the demanding nature of online coursework.
Do you limit the number of student who can enroll?
Online courses are limited to 16 students per course. This allows for more personal interaction between instructors and students.
How do I get my grades?
Official, final grades for each course are released through the Student Academic Services channel of the Connections portal.
Tuition
How much is the tuition?
Please review the tuition rates available below. Please note that tuition rates may change at the beginning of each academic year, which begins with the Summer term. All financial arrangements must be completed two weeks before classes begin.
How can I pay my tuition?
Webster University offers a variety of payment options. Please click here for additional information.
Is financial aid available for students taking online courses?
Yes, for more information see Financial Aid.
Can I receive VA benefits?
Yes. Basic information is available here.
Getting Help
What if my login does not work?
Contact the Webster University Help Desk for login or technical problems, including resetting passwords, at http://www.webster.edu/technology/service-desk/, 1-866-435-7270, or 314-968-5995.
What if I need additional academic help with a course?
Contact the Academic Resource Center.
If I have a disability, can I receive academic accommodations for online courses?
Students with documented disabilities who have registered through the Academic Resource Center (ARC) may be entitled to classroom or testing accommodations. If you have a disability and need academic accommodations, please contact the ARC at (314) 246-7620 or disability@webster.edu Contacting the ARC to complete ADA documentation is the only way to ensure you may receive reasonable accommodations. Once documented, you will need to verify with your instructor at the beginning of each class that the instructor has received your accommodations letter from the ARC.
Is there anyone available to assist me if I have questions?
Absolutely! The Online Learning Center has a dedicated student services team to assist you with any issues or questions you may have. They also provide information and assistance to help students get started in online courses and orientated to the online learning environment. Should you have questions at any time, feel free to contact the Online Learning Center at studyonline@webster.edu , (314) 246-8746 or (866) 622-0888. Additionally, online students have access to and are supported by the same dedicated teams of professionals in other university offices, such as Advising and Financial Aid.