How Online University Works

People continue to be amazed with the concept of online university which I have wholeheartedly dedicated myself to. “That must require so much discipline!” “How does that work?” “Do you have exams and stuff? ” “Do you like it?” Considering the wide range of people from all walks of life who are mystified, I'll enlighten on this concept.

Liberty University’s Distance Learning Program now exceed 25,000 students. My classmates are all ages in all sort of jobs, all over the United States. Students normally take 2 classes at a time, I typically do 3 because I’m doing it full time and I like being so busy I stress myself out. The classes are designed for people already working full time (many of my classmates are military) so while I find it intensive, I have time so it's not overwhelming.

Classes vary in content and organization. Most have discussion boards where we are required to write a set number of postings or essays for open debate with the rest of the class. This is an enjoyable part of DL as otherwise you start to feel isolated. Other classes I’ve taken have video lectures which I watch online. Some classes have lectures I download. There are typically a lot of PowerPoint presentations which I watch online giving outlines, directions or clarification for lessons. Some classes such as math or computers have assignments on the internet we have to take. Papers and homework are submitted via links in Liberty Blackboard and within a few weeks will be returned with the professors comments. Some classes have perpetual exams and quizzes, others you might simply have a mid-term and a final. Exams are timed and multiple choice located online which you take when you’re ready before the deadline. Others require you to write an essay in a set time to be manually graded, comments appearing in the comment box. There are few holiday as the classes correspond to 8 weeks term. I work through all public holidays with a week off in between terms which even run though the summer.

It’s not easy, that I have learned. There are deadlines and while you can work ahead, you can't afford to fall behind. DL allows me the opportunity to be cranky and irritable 24/7 because I don’t have to interact with people (excluding my family, I promise I’m nice to them). I don’t have to worry about what to wear, good hair, a date for parties and football games, being late for classes, loud roommates (my sister’s cool) and last but not least, graduation. When I’m finished LU will mail me my transcript, I might consider a non-alcoholic Pakistani beer and will move on to resident college life in the States. Life is sweet… (seriously, it is…)