• Online Courses

A select offering of online undergraduate courses are offered at Suffolk University.  Many of our students find these online courses to be a great way to earn credits during the winter and summer sessions. While students may select from both business and liberal arts online courses during the summer sessions, only liberal arts courses are available during the winter session.

What courses are offered online?

To see what online courses are being offered please complete a search.

Choose only the following fields to get a complete list of undergraduate online courses:

Term = Summer I, Summer II or Winter 

Location = WEB

Academic Level = UG-Undergrad

 

 

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Who can register?

Our online undergraduate courses are open to all Suffolk students, as well as non-Suffolk students who meet the prerequisite requirements.
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How do I register for a course?

Suffolk students in SBS and CAS should register online through MySuffolk as they would for any other course. If you are not currently a Suffolk student, please follow the instructions for enrolling in the CAPS program. 
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What are "chat times"?

The online courses have mandatory weekly live chats. In this context, ‘chat’ doesn’t mean instant messaging, but a group conversation that happens synchronously (live) either by text or audio (or a mix). Faculty use chat times to help students better understand the course material, whether it is by ‘lecturing’, by facilitating discussions of the material, or by posing questions for small groups to discuss in separate chat rooms and then report back to the full group – all online, all live. Most classes will also require threaded discussions as another means of having students discuss and explore the course content. Whatever the expectations, they will be outlined in the syllabus and participation is required whether the discussions are live or threaded.

The chat times are currently set for each course and mandatory, so before you register make sure that you will be free at those times for the duration of the course. The orientation required before you start the class will ensure you are prepared for both types of discussions.

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What is the schedule?

The online courses offered by the Business School follow a 10-week schedule, that begins at the start of the Summer I session. All grades will be submitted by the end of Summer Session II.
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How do I complete the required online orientation?

Students registered for a particular SBS online course will receive information in late April about the mandatory orientation for that class. This information will also be posted in BlackBoard as an announcement. At that time you will be asked to confirm that you have the appropriate hardware and software, which you can see listed in the technical guidelines section below. If you are unable to meet the minimum standards, you will have to drop the class. Students who do not complete the orientation may also be asked to drop the class. The orientation ensures that everyone is ready to contribute in the first class meeting. back to top^

What are the technology requirements?

Connection:

  • DSL or cable broadband internet access is necessary for the best online learning experience. We do NOT recommend WiFi as small drops in the service can disconnect the student from the live class.
  • Students planning to take an online class from a remote area must be assured of uninterrupted electrical supply.

Hardware/System/Equipment:

  • A personal computer with the Windows operating system (the program does not provide support for Apple Macintosh computers)
  • Windows 2000, or XP operating system. While you may be able to run the software on older operating systems, please note that support will either be limited or non-existent. We recommend upgrading your operating system in such cases if you plan on taking classes online.
  • 256 MB Ram MINIMUM. We recommend 512 MB Ram or higher
  • Your personal computer should be equipped with a soundcard and speakers
  • A good quality microphone for web conferencing is needed in many courses

Software:

  • Microsoft Office Suite 2000, XP or 2003
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer browser version 6.0 or latest is require
  • The free software plug-ins listed below, available for download from our support site:
  • Real 10 Media Player or latest
  • Macromedia Flash Player
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Java 1.4.1 software
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What if I have technical questions?

  • For problems with BlackBoard usage, please call 1-866-886-4861
  • Or, click on the help link within BlackBoard where you can access various forms of assistance there, including live chat.
  • If you are looking for 24/7 Email, Campus Cruiser and/or BlackBoard support,  please call the ITS Help Desk at (617) 557-2000.  On campus, just dial 2000.
  • The Help Desk Walk-in Center located in Sawyer 208 provides in-person support to students, faculty and staff of Suffolk University. Hours are 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday
  • Website for student technical support: http://www.suffolk.edu/offices/24179.html

Accessing online classes from the workplace: If you want to access course content from a computer system at your workplace, be aware that many corporations have strict firewall and internet security protocols and policies in place. Corporate users may be prevented from installing non-approved software that may be needed to access course content. This issue is ultimately a student responsibility and should be resolved directly between the student and his/her corporate IT support staff.

 

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