Canyon College facts about distance learning degrees and online courses

Purchase CC Memorabilia

Rings & Graduation Gowns
Ring Company - Brown's Graduation Supplies - Graduate Affairs

Affiliate Organizations

The top three (3) reasons for earning college degrees online!

Flexibility - Oftentimes individuals cannot take the time out of their busy schedules to meet the daily classroom requirements and meet their other obligations such as family and work. Many individuals prefer to work in the comfort of their home or office, and many corporations are investigating methods such as distance learning to assist their employees in earning an advanced degree. Learning at your own pace and in the convenience of your home, office or else where can often times be more rewarding.

Cost - Traditional campus facility maintenance cost (over-head) is at an all time high. The cost of maintenance is passed on to you, the student, in the form of higher tuition. The use of online instruction does not diminish the education you obtain, but does enable an institution to cut cost considerably thus allowing you the opportunity to receive your degree at a fraction of the cost.

Growth - Individuals look to distance education for a number of reasons. Whether those reasons are flexibility, convenience, cost, or personal growth, most individuals find distance education to be a rewarding experience. At Canyon College we strive to maintain continuity in programs and still allow for the flexibility required by our students. Whatever the reason, a student should always make sure that the end result justifies the means by which they obtained the degree.

FAQs

What is distance education?
When can I start?
What credits and courses will transfer to Canyon College?
What are the steps required to start?
Is Canyon College accredited?
Will my degree or certificate reflect it was obtained by distance learning?
What type of grading system will be used?
What are the time limits?
What if I need more time to complete my program?
How will I communicate with the instructor?
How will I test?
May I take individual courses only?
Can I be awarded credit for my life experience?
Will my employer reimburse my tuition cost?
What is the difference in cost between distance education and a traditional campus setting?
Will this program fulfill licensure requirements?
Will credits and courses transfer to another institution?
Does Canyon College offer a payment plan or financial aid?
Who do I contact if I have questions?

Question: What is distance learning or distance education?
Answer: Distance learning or education is completing a curriculum of studies without being present in a class room. The quality of education is usually better than that of a class room since most individuals who choose distance learning to obtain their education are more self motivated and every bit as conscientious about their education as their counterpart in the class room. Due to today's technology, made in part by the internet, more people than ever before are choosing distance learning over traditional class room settings as the vehicle of choice to obtain their education. Convenience, cost of travel and other costs associated with a more traditional setting and busy schedules are just some of the reasons more students are taking course work through distance education institutions. After all, consider the commute time to and from a campus and the delays between classes. Wouldn't your time be better spent on studies, leisure time or even time with your family or friends?

Back to Index

Question: When can I start on my degree?
Answer: Since Canyon College maintains open enrollment and your courses are guided independent study and do not involve class room attendance, you may enroll at any time throughout the year and may start on your courses immediately after acceptance by Canyon College. Individuals wishing to enroll may apply online. Our distance learning program is designed to accommodate only those students wishing to take their courses entirely online. There are no campus requirements. Please refer to the admissions page for tuitions and other policies.

Back to Index

Question: What is the comparable cost of distance education v. traditional education on campus?
Answer: Statistics suggest that the average cost for a bachelor degree obtained on a traditional college or university campus is approximately $25,000 to $30,000. A graduate (masters) degree may be considerably higher. Canyon College continues to maintain an affordable tuition and quality education for our students through the use of online courses and programs.

Back to Index

Question: Will my degree or certificate indicate it was obtained by distance learning?
Answer: No, your degree or certificate will not look any different than someone who took a more conventional course of study on campus nor will it indicate it was earned by distance learning. You may view a sample copy of a diploma by clicking here.

Back to Index

Question: Since many online universities use a pass or fail system of grading will my transcripts reflect this?
Answer: No, Canyon College has determined that to accurately reflect a student's progress and knowledge it is best to assign a grade to a student's work. Any tests or course work you do will reflect a grade (A, B, C, D, F), and, accordingly, your transcripts will reflect the overall grade for each course, as well as, the overall grade point average (GPA). Students enrolled in a Bachelor program must maintain and achieve a 2.0 GPA to graduate. Students enrolled in a graduate degree program (Master level) must maintain a 2.5 GPA to graduate.

Back to Index

Question: Is there a time limit to complete a course or degree program?
Answer: Please view the admissions policies for details on course time requirements. Each course is approximately eight (8) to nine (9) weeks in length. A course may last up to 10 or 12 weeks, however. Courses and programs are designed to allow for flexibility however, and allowances are made for those students requiring additional time or those who wish to complete the course(s) earlier than scheduled.

With life experience credits awarded, students may have a substantial number of credits combined with transferable credits from other acceptable institutions of higher learning to apply towards their degree before they begin their studies. Degree seeking students must take a minimum of twenty five (25%) percent of the necessary program credits through Canyon College.

This requirement may be fulfilled either through course work as outlined within the course outline or through other acceptable tests/examinations i.e., CLEP, etc.

Back to Index

Question: May I take individual courses?
Answer: Yes of course!! Individuals who are required to have annual continuing education credits (CEU) for licensure or certification may also find this an excellent means by which to achieve their continuing education credits. You may view the entire list of courses and select individual courses from the list. To view the course syllabus/outline, please click on the course number to the left of the course title.

Back to Index

Question: How will I communicate with my instructor since I won't have face-to-face contact?
Answer: Canyon College offers a communication center which meets the needs of any student. Available within each virtual class room is a message board, text chat room, whiteboard with text chat, a voice chat which allows students to talk directly to the instructor via the internet. Each student will also be assigned a Canyon e-mail pop-account. The student must maintain his/her own internet connection, but will use the Canyon e-mail to correspond with professors and administrative support staff. Students may access their e-mail through the Webmail link located within each classroom. Students may use the online e-Address book located within the classroom to find the e-mail of others. Some faculty have listed their fax and phone numbers on their syllabi so students may phone or fax them as well.

All instructors are also accessible by e-mail. It is recommended that students view each instructor's preference and suggested method of communication and the dates and times of contact stipulated by the instructors. This can be accomplished by clicking on the course number and viewing the course outline including how and when to contact the instructor. Each instructor will be available at least on a weekly basis. The courses are designed for guided- independent-study which allows the student the flexibility to accomplish the necessary course work as time allows and then submit the assignments as required within the course outline.

Back to Index

Question: How will I test? Am I required to find a proctor? What about text books?
Answer: You are NOT required to obtain a proctor for testing. Unless otherwise indicated in the course outline, all testing is accomplished through an online exam. In a few cases, the student will receive a copy of the results of the exam by e-mail immediately after submitting the exam. Occasionally a course requires one or more projects in lieu of examinations. Please check each course outline/syllabus for specifics.

Exams and quizzes requiring essay questions or other such items such as spread sheet applications are not self-grading and may require the student to attach and forward the spread sheet or other document as an e-mail attachment or forward the document to the instructor by mail. Any questions regarding this should be directed to the instructor. Unless otherwise stipulated, the student is required to purchase the required text books and other necessary materials as outlined in the syllabus for each course.

User Name and Password:

The student is issued a user name and password after acceptance and payment for tuition is received in full for the course. This user name and password will access all required materials and testing throughout the entire selected course and/or program.

You may access the lectures, reading assignments, online exams and other required course materials in your virtual class room. Once a student has completed the lessons and assignments as outlined in the course syllabus and as approved by the instructor, the students will be granted access to the corresponding quiz or exam, if applicable. Occasionally, some professors will require projects in lieu of an exam.

Back to Index

Question: Is Canyon College accredited?
Answer: Canyon College is accredited by the following private accrediting agencies:

American Council on Private School Accreditation (ACPSA)
The American Naturopathic Medical Accreditation Board (ANMAB)**

For more specific information on the accreditations listed, please direct your browser here.

** For the purpose of the Doctor of Naturopathy, N.D. program only.
* It is recommended that all prospective students, prior to enrolling, read the U.S. Department of Education materials regarding accreditation.

Back to Index

Question: Will this program fulfill licensure requirements?
Answer: Should licensure or certification be the goal of the student upon completion, all prospective students should first check with those governmental or private agencies, associations, or boards that provide the licensure or certification. Licensure and certification requirements vary from state to state, and from country to country. Foreign students who intend to complete a program of study at Canyon and later obtain licensing in their home country should also check with the appropriate governmental or private agency, association, or board that over-sees the licensure or certification requirements in their home country. It is the responsibility of the individual enrolling into a program of study at Canyon to check with the appropriate occupational licensing entity regarding their specific requirements.

Back to Index

Question: What credits and courses will Canyon College accept for transfer?
Answer: * All credits and courses taken through accredited colleges and universities will transfer to Canyon College up to a maximum of seventy five (75%) percent of the necessary credits needed to graduate from a degree program. Core courses already taken at another college or university will reduce the number of core courses required at Canyon College.

Credits awarded from other institutions other than those indicated above will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis for course content.

*Note: Students may forward a photo copy of transcripts by fax or mail to Canyon College. Courses considered for transfer must reflect a minimum grade of 'C' (2.0) for the course(s) to be transferable.

Back to Index

Question: Can I obtain credits from life experience, job training, seminars, military training or other such life experience?
Answer: Yes, this is accomplished through a comprehensive assessment portfolio which is referred to as the "Assessment Portfolio of Previous Learning Experience" or APPLE Form. This assessment should be submitted by the student at the time of application, but not later than 60 days from the date of enrollment, and will be reviewed by a committee to determine the amount of credit which will be awarded and what academic areas it will be applied to for purposes of transcript. After submission of the APPLE form, enrollment application and other necessary documents, along with the processing fee, the student will receive notice by e-mail and by postal mail if credits were awarded and the remaining required courses needed to complete the degree program. The maximum allowable credits awarded for life experience will be fifty percent (50%) of a degree program.

Back to Index

Question: What if I need more time to complete my program?
Answer: Please view the time limits. Should unforeseen circumstances arise which unavoidably delay your studies please contact your professor so they may assist you in adjusting your completion date to better fit your schedule. Should your circumstances require you to delay your educational endeavors indefinitely, please advise your professor immediately so appropriate closure or pended action can be taken with regards to your records and refer to Canyon College refund policy.

Back to Index

Question: Will my employer reimburse me for my cost of tuition?
Answer: Many employers encourage their employees to further their education and often offer reimbursement for studies relating to the business or the employee's job. This also affords you the opportunity to advance both with your personal growth and prestige among fellow employees and business associates. It is always advisable though to check first with your employer regarding policies for tuition reimbursement. You should print the online course(s) outline/syllabus and present it to your employer for their review and approval. The staff and faculty at Canyon College will be happy to discuss the curriculum offered at Canyon College with your employer after receiving a completed Release of Information Form from you authorizing our staff to talk with your employer regarding a specific matter.

Back to Index

Question: Does Canyon College offer a payment plan or financial aid?
Answer: Students wishing to enroll in the certificate courses/programs may pay for each module individually. All other courses are paid on a per course basis prior to starting the course(s). Please view the cost per course/module, and the cost of certificate programs.

Back to Index

Question: What are the steps required to start?
Answer: For your convenience we have summarized the steps as follows:

Complete and submit the enrollment application.
Submit the $50.00 processing fee, a photocopy of transcripts if applicable, and other documentation as may pertain to the APPLE FORM (optional) if you desire and qualify for life experience credits (Please see #4 below for methods of remitting payment).
Canyon College will notify the student by e-mail and also by U.S. mail of their acceptance status within 10 to 14 business days of receipt of the aforementioned items for degree program enrollees.
After receiving notification of acceptance, the student then submits the tuition to Canyon College. Once tuition is received by Canyon College, the student is e-mailed the user name and password to the corresponding virtual class-room(s) for which they are enrolled. The student will receive the e-mail with the user name and password within 24 hours of receipt of tuition. Students paying for tuition or the processing fee may pay through the following methods: -

online - Visa, Master Card, Discover Card, American Express or E-Check - (SECURE SERVER)

postal mail - Canyon College, Attn: Registrar, 4017 Garfield Ave, Carmichael, CA 95608-6616

Note: students may purchase their required text book(s) (if applicable), through the online book store.
The instructor(s) for the course(s) will notify the student by e-mail with a 'welcome' letter. Students who elect to take more than one course will be notified by each instructor.
The student begins their course work! Since the courses are available online, the student may access the class room 24 hours a day x 7 days a week!

Back to Index

Question: Will credits and courses transfer to another institution?
Answer: Institutions of higher education are permitted to operate with considerable independence and autonomy. As such, there are no guarantees of automatic acceptance of transfer by an institution of credit earned at another institution. Acceptance of credits and students at other institutions is always the prerogative of the receiving institution that the credits will be transferred into. Institutions may recommend that students enroll in a specific institution for courses that are required for a specific program, but that may not be available at that institution, or may not be available during that semester. It is advisable that student always check with the institution they are currently attending or desire to attend prior to taking any courses at a different college. As a general rule, Regionally accredited institutions will only accept credits from other regionally accredited institutions, however, a considerable number of the institutions will evaluate each class on a case-by-case basis for transfer in. Please check with the appropriate department or your career counselor within the institution that you intend to transfer the credits into before you enroll in a class. It is the individual's responsibility who will be enrolling for a class to check with the receiving institution on the transferability of credits earned at Canyon.

Back to Index

Contact our Admissions office at: e-mail. or by PHONE: from 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. (MST).

Students may contact the instructor through the instructor's e-mail located on the syllabus, or on the faculty web pages, if the question(s) deal with a specific course.

Return to Menu Selection

© 2010

Rev. 1 Feb 2010