Overview
Internet Courses
Credits
Listing of Available Courses
Eligibility
Professors
Orientations
Textbooks
Review Sessions for Examinations
Testing
Counseling
Students With Disabilities
Tuition
Internet Courses
Students taking Internet courses complete weekly assignments at their own computers and communicate with their professor by electronic mail and other provided web-based technologies. Students complete assignments, take tests, and complete all other coursework just as they would in an on-campus class.
All courses require textbooks. Some online courses may require students to meet on campus for orientations, labs and/or exams.
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Credits
Distance Education credit courses are semester-long courses in the following lengths:
* 16 week regular term
* 12 week second-start during the fall and spring semesters
* 10 week summer
* 8 week fall, spring and summer
* 5 week Summer I & II
* Real Estate courses are offered in 5 or 6 week flex entry session
They are equivalent to on-campus courses and typically earn 3 semester hours of credit. No distinction between distance education and on-campus courses is made on the college transcript. Students should consult an HCC counselor for more details on transferability of courses.
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Listing of Available Courses
A full listing of available Distance Education courses can be searched and viewed by clicking on the "DE Course Offering" link on the Distance Education Homepage. Information on Continuing Education courses is also available. (click here)
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Eligibility
Any HCC student may enroll in distance courses provided they have met the prerequisites for that course. However, distance education courses may not be appropriate for everyone. These courses are independent study and require additional self-discipline and motivation. For a self-assessment of your aptitude to succeed in a distance education course, we recommend you complete the "READI assessment, an Important Self-Assessment Tool!"
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Professors
An HCC professor is assigned to each course and students contact this professor when they turn in assignments, need assistance, have questions, or for any other course-related information/interaction. Information on how to contact the professor is provided through your course/orientation at the beginning of the semester.
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Orientations
All distance education students, both new and returning, are required to attend an orientation session for each course taken. There will be no exceptions. Orientation schedules are published in each semester's Class Schedule or are available under the "DE Course Offerings" link on the Distance Education Homepage. During orientation, the student meets the professor, receives course information, and other information on procedures. All web-based courses have online orientations. However, some faculty may prefer to offer orientations on campus as well. The campus attended for orientation may be different from the campus attended for review sessions and testing.
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Textbooks
Textbook information will be available at your orientation.
Textbooks for DE courses can be purchased at the Central Campus bookstore. Call ahead to ensure that your text is in stock. Books can also be transferred from the Central Campus bookstore to any other HCC bookstore. Textbooks may also be purchased online or reserve your textbooks online for in-store pickup go to the HCC bookstore webpage for more information http://hccs.bncollege.com
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Review Sessions for Examinations
Review sessions are held before examinations for many Distance Education classes.
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Testing
Students enrolled in distance courses may take 2-4 exams during the semester. The testing schedule and locations is as follows:
Fridays: Central Campus - Fine Arts Bldg. - 3517 Austin - (3rd floor)
Begin your exam between 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Saturdays: Katy Center - 1550 Foxlake Dr.- (2nd floor)
Begin your exam between 10:00am - 1:00pm
Sundays: Eastside Campus - 6815 Rustic (3rd floor)
Begin your exam between 10:00am - 1:00pm
For map to testing locations, click on here.
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Counseling
Distance Education Counselors are located at the HCC Administration Building at 3100 Main Street and can be through the Ask DE Counseling form. Please contact them with questions regarding your educational program or degree objectives. For more information on DE student services click here
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Students With Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) office. Professors are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the DSS office. You are strongly encouraged to contact the DSS office before the start of each semester to request accommodations to allow sufficient time for accommodations to be arranged. Once your accommodations have been approved, the DSS office will email you a PDF copy of your accommodation letter for you to forward to your DE instructor(s) on the first day of class.
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Tuition
For current tuition costs, see the "Tuition & Fees" link under the "Future Students" section of the DE Homepage. In addition to tuition, beginning Fall 2010 a $32 Distance Education fee will be assessed for each course taken.
A student who has been a legal resident of the State of Texas for at least one (1) year immediately preceding registration and lives in the HCC District will be classified as an In-District Resident. A complete set of rules and regulations for determining residency is available at each HCC college.
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