Prospective Student FAQ

How is an online course different than a face-to-face course?

In many ways taking an online course is similar to taking a face-to-face course. Your course will have a specific starting and ending date and a professor who will provide you with a syllabus, assignments, and other information about the course. Whether you take a face-to-face or an online course at NJCU, the content and the quality of the instruction remain the same. Since online courses require no face-to-face meetings, this gives you an opportunity to participate in an outstanding learning experience that is flexible and convenient.

What most students find different about online learning is the way in which they will be communicating with their professor and other online learners and how course content is delivered. Most courses at NJCU utilize Blackboard, a learning management system with built in tools for communication, collaboration, content delivery, and assessment. You don't need any special software installed on your computer to use Blackboard and you can access your course anywhere you have access to the Internet and a supported web browser (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Safari).

What's inside of an online course?

When you log into your course in to Blackboard, your professor will provide materials (e.g., syllabus, lessons, assignments, etc.) to guide you through whatever is required to begin and keep pace with the course. You should plan on logging into your course on a regular basis and expect to devote at least the same amount of time to it as you would to a face-to-face course. You will most likely be communicating with your professor and classmates through messages and discussion, both of which are built into Blackboard Learn.There may also be synchronous online chats that the professor may schedule which will allow you to communicate in real-time with your professor and classmates.Your instructor may also ask you to post your assignments or take a quiz both of which can be completed within Blackboard.

Are NJCU Online degree programs accredited?

All NJCU degree programs are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education 

Will my degree or transcripts contain the word "online" on it?

No. All degrees and transcripts are exactly the same regardless if the degree was earned on-campus or online.

Are admissions requirements different for online students than for on-campus students?

All admission requirements are exactly the same for online and on-campus students.

How do I access my online courses?

All NJU online courses are facilitated through Blackboard. Students can login to Blackboard at https://blackboard.njcu.edu/.

How can I find which courses are available online?

To see a list of available online courses, use the University's Online Search Feature to search the GothicNet Portal for the most up-to-date listing of online course offerings in a specific semester. (The search tool will open in a new window.)

Follow the steps below to search for online courses:

• Use the drop down menu to select the term in which you are interested
• Leave the Course Subject field blank if you wish to search for all online courses
• Leave the Course Number field blank
• Use the drop down menu to select your desired Course Career
• You may check or uncheck the box to view all courses or only those that remain open for enrollment
• Click on the Green Arrow at the bottom of the page that appears to the left of Additional Search Criteria
• Select Online Course as Location
• Click on Search