The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

The Friday Center for Continuing Education offers a variety of credit and noncredit courses though Carolina Courses Online, Independent Studies, and Self-paced Study Online. These college-level print-based and online courses enable students to earn college credit without having to be admitted to UNC or travel to the campus. The Friday Center administers courses from eight institutions of the University of North Carolina: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, North Carolina State University, UNC–Chapel Hill, UNC– Greensboro, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University. More than 5,000 students enroll in distance education courses through the Friday Center each year.

DELIVERY MEDIA

The Independent Studies program offers traditional self-paced correspondence courses. Students enrolled in an Independent Studies course receive a printed course manual that contains all lessons, assignments, and instructions. They work through the course at their own pace. Each course has an instructor who grades assignments and answers questions. The minimum completion time for an Independent Studies course is twelve weeks, and students have nine months to complete the course. Students may take two courses at a time. More than 100 Independent Studies courses are available, and most courses are offered for credit at the undergraduate college level.

The Carolina Courses Online program follows the UNC calendar. Students enrolled in a Carolina Courses Online course receive information on how to access the Web pages that contain all lessons, assignments, and instructions. They communicate with classmates and their instructor via e-mail and discussion forums and are encouraged to use the vast resources available through the Internet as they complete their course work. Approximately sixty Carolina Courses Online courses are available, and most courses are offered for credit at the undergraduate college level.

The Self-paced Study Online program offers self-paced online courses. Students enrolled in a Self-paced Study Online course receive information on how to access the Web pages that contain all lessons, assignments, and instructions. Each course has an instructor who grades assignments and answers questions. The minimum completion time for a Self-paced Study Online course is twelve weeks, and students have nine months to complete the course. Students may take two courses at a time. More than twenty Self-paced Studies Online courses are available, and most are offered for credit at the undergraduate college level.

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

The Friday Center offers a variety of courses in more than thirty subjects, including accounting, African and Afro-American studies, art, biology, business, chemistry, classics, criminal justice, communication studies, drama, economics, education, English, environmental sciences, French, geography, geology, health administration, history, hospitality management, Italian, journalism, Latin, law, mathematics, music, nursing, nutrition, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, recreation administration, religious studies, Russian, sociology, Spanish, and statistics. Credit earned in courses offered through the Friday Center can be applied toward degree requirements at UNC– Chapel Hill and other institutions.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Credit courses offered by the Friday Center may be used for teacher license renewal at the discretion of the local district. Students should visit the Friday Center Web site listed in the Contact section for more information.

As the nation's first state university, the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill was chartered in 1789 and opened to students in 1795. UNC–Chapel Hill was the only public university to award degrees to students in the eighteenth century. Today, there are more than 2,600 faculty members and 25,000 students enrolled at UNC. Carolina's academic offerings span more than 100 fields, including eighty-four bachelor's, 165 master's, and 108 doctoral degrees as well as professional degrees in dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and law. Distance learning has been available since 1913. The University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

STUDENT SERVICES

Friday Center staff members are available to answer questions, provide academic advising, and process enrollments. Online library services are available through the UNC–Chapel Hill library system.

CREDIT OPTIONS

Most courses are offered for credit at the undergraduate college level. Credit earned in these courses may be applied toward a degree, if the course is applicable to the requirements of the particular degree program.

FACULTY

Faculty members are appointed by the department or school offering the course. Approximately 120 faculty members teach in the program at any given time.

ADMISSION

Carolina Courses Online, Independent Studies, and Self-paced Study Online courses are open to anyone who wishes to enroll; there are no admission requirements.

TUITION AND FEES

Tuition must be paid in full at the time of enrollment. Tuition is $100 per credit hour for North Carolina residents and $205 per credit hour for nonresidents. Most courses are 3 credit hours. Tuition and other charges are subject to change without notice. Textbooks must be purchased separately.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid may be available through VA benefits, vocational rehabilitation grants, local education agencies, and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES).

CONTACT

Student Services Manager
CB #1020
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-1020
Telephone: 919-962-1134 800-862-5669 (toll-free)
Fax: 919-962-5549
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://fridaycenter.unc.edu

APPLYING

Enrollments in Independent Studies or Self-paced Study Online courses are accepted at any time by mail, fax, or in person. Carolina Courses Online enrollments must be received by specified deadlines. Students should visit the Friday Center Web site for more information.