Online Programs
At Mountain State University education is not limited by boundaries. Today's learners need education delivered to locations outside the traditional classroom. Therefore, MSU has developed a method of distance education that meets the unique needs of today's learners pace, time, and place.
Whether you want to complete a degree, pick up an additional course toward a degree that you're completing through a different learning method, or do some nondegree studies in an area of professional or personal interest, the convenience of online study may be the perfect fit for your needs. MSU offers selected academic programs and individual courses online:
Before registering for online courses, it is recommended that you speak with an enrollment representative to gather further information. Please call 866.367.6781 and ask for the Enrollment Center.
About online learning
Before enrolling in an online course or program, you should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; sending and receiving e-mail; posting messages to an online discussion group; downloading and uploading files; and the basic conventions of online communication. Online courses at MSU are offered in eight-week sessions and provided through the University's Blackboard CE learning management system. Faculty members from around the U.S. use Blackboard to post class announcements, guide online discussions, communicate with students, and assess and grade student coursework.
The majority of MSU's online programs do not require an on-campus residency, except for the Doctorate of Executive Leadership. The executive leadership program requires all students to attend a five-day residency at the University's main campus in Beckley, W.Va., each year.
Financial aid tips
To receive financial aid as an online undergraduate student, you must maintain a full-time status. It is required that you complete a sequence of four classes a semester, two in the first eight week session and two in the second. This approach allows you to better focus on your studies, manage your time, and complete your degree in a relatively short time frame. To ensure that your studies are structured in a way that qualifies you as a full-time student and meets all federal requirements, be sure to talk with a representative of MSU's Financial Aid office.