BJUOnline FAQ
- Courses
- Cost
- Time Considerations
- Textbooks
- Computer Requirements
- Enrollment Procedures
- Transfer of Credits
- College Credit/Course Limits
- Auditing
- Degrees
- Grievance Policy and Procedures
Courses
What are BJUOnline’s courses like?
Each semester and summer we offer several undergraduate and graduate online classes. Online classes are designed to be flexible and yet structured. A qualified faculty member will set assignment deadlines and monitor student progress throughout the course, but you’ll be able to listen to the lectures according to your own schedule. For example, you may be assigned to complete 7 lessons during the first week, but you can choose when to listen to the lectures and complete the work. Throughout the course you’ll be expected to interact with both the faculty member and other students. Each course lasts 6–8 weeks, so you should be able to work a full-time job and still complete an online course. You will need to purchase your own textbooks.
Will I need to be online at a specific time to take an online course?
Our online classes are asynchronous. You will be expected to meet assignment deadlines, but you will be able to fit the lectures around your own schedule. However, you will need to plan to be online at a specific time to take your tests through ProctorU. Go to ProctorU for information about scheduling test times and taking tests online.
Cost
How much do your courses cost?
- Online classes: $425/credit hour
Prices are subject to change and apply to undergraduate and graduate courses. Visit our costs section for more information. You will also need to pay up to $15 per test for ProctorU.
Is financial aid available for BJUOnline courses?
If you register for at least 6 hours of online courses during a semester or summer, you may be eligible for federal financial aid.
If you are working on a degree from BJU, email the Financial Aid office for more information.
Do I need to pay for the course up front, or may I pay in an installment plan?
Full payment for your course must accompany the registration.
Do I get a refund if I drop the course?
Students who cancel their registrations before their start date will receive a 100% refund on tuition. Consult the table below for dropping/withdrawing from a course after the start date.
Time Considerations
May I miss a week of my online course due to a vacation or other obligations?
No. If you are going to be away from the internet for a week or more during an online course, you should not register for it. Our online courses are designed to promote high interaction between students and instructors.
How much time should I expect to invest per week in an online course?
Most online courses require that you spend 10-15 hours per week working on the course.
Will I be able to work ahead in my online course?
No. Online courses are designed to promote high interaction between students and instructors. Having students at significantly different places in the course undermines the effectiveness of the interaction.
Textbooks
How do I obtain textbooks for a course?
Unless otherwise noted in the course description, you are expected to purchase your own copy of the textbook(s) for your course. Two websites that may help you find your textbook(s) are Amazon.com and Addall.com. Courses that require you to purchase your textbook through bju.textbooktech.com will be specifically noted.
Computer Requirements
What kind of computer access do I need for taking an online course?
Operating Systems:
Windows XP (SP2), Windows Vista (32 bit), Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit), Mac OS 10.4.8+ (Intel-based) (PPC-based NOT supported)
Processor:
Pentium 1.8 GHz or higher (Note for Macs: Intel-based processor; PPC-based not supported)
Memory:
1 GB
Internet Bandwith:
Minimum 768 Kbps download/384 Kbps upload
Applications: (Latest Version)
Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Silverlight
Compatible Browsers: (Latest Version)
Internet Explorer*, Firefox, Chrome, Safari
*BJUOnline does not support Internet Explorer 10 Metro.
Webcam:
You will need a webcam to take your tests. See ProctorU for more information.
Note: These are minimum requirements. Individual systems may vary.
Enrollment Procedures
No. Formal admission to Bob Jones University is not required in order to enroll in and earn credit for BJUOnline courses. Acceptance into a course does not imply admission to BJU or to a particular degree program. If you are interested in enrolling in a degree program through BJU, email Admission for further information.
Is there a deadline for signing up for a course?
If you plan to use financial aid to help pay for your course, you should register at least 2 weeks before the start date. Otherwise, you should sign up for an online undergraduate online course at least 1 week before it is scheduled to start, and for an online graduate course at least 2 weeks before it is scheduled to start. Individual registration deadlines are listed with course descriptions.
How soon will I be able to access my course?
You will receive access to your course syllabus in the BJUOnline learning management system 7 days before the course is scheduled to start. Online students will receive full access to the first week’s course content 3 days before the course is scheduled to start.
How will I take tests? Do I need to come to BJU to take them?
Nearly all of our courses require that students take their tests using a webcam-based proctoring service, ProctorU. See ProctorU for more information about how this works.
A few of our courses use paper tests because of the nature of the subject matter being covered. If you are taking a course that requires paper testing, you must use a college or university testing service or a commercial testing service to take your tests. You will receive your tests in sealed envelopes that may be opened only in the presence of your proctor. Once you have completed each test, your proctor will mail it back to the University for grading.
Whom can I contact for help once I’m in a course?
Students who need technical assistance while taking a course may contact our technical support line in one of the following ways:
- Call: (864) 335-0673
- Email: HelpDesk
Students having difficulty with course content may contact our office directly from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Transfer of Credits
How do I obtain transcripts for my distance learning work?
College Credit/Course Limits
Check with your high school administrator to see if your school accepts them.
Credits at Bob Jones University are assigned on a credit-hour basis. Indicated after the description of each course is the amount of credit that the course carries. Credit is given in semester hours, each semester hour representing 16 hours of course work.
How many courses may I take at a time?
Students may register to take up to 9 credits of online classes simultaneously. Course load limits for each semester apply (see the appropriate catalog for more information about load limits.)
Is there a limit to how many distance learning courses I can take?
No, there is no limit to how many distance learning courses you can take.
Auditing
May I audit distance learning courses?
Yes. However, you may not take a course later for credit once you have audited it. If you audit a course, you are not required to take tests or submit projects. There is no price difference between a course taken for credit and a course that is audited.
Degrees
Can I get an undergraduate degree from Bob Jones University through distance learning?
The only undergraduate degree currently available is a bachelor of science in nursing as part of the RN to BSN program.
How do I know whether a particular course fits into my degree program?
If you are a BJU student, check the requirements for your degree program in your undergraduate or graduate catalog. If you have further questions, contact your advisor. Non-BJU students should check with their registrar or academic dean to determine whether a course will meet their degree requirements.
Grievance Policy and Procedures
What is BJU’s distance learning grievance policy?
Bob Jones University seeks to resolve all student complaints in a fair and expedient manner. Students wishing to file a formal complaint must first seek resolution through BJU’s institutional grievance procedures.
If the complaint cannot be resolved internally, students may also file a complaint with the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC), our accrediting bodies.
In addition, each state has a mechanism in place for state residents to lodge complaints against postsecondary educational institutions. A list of the contact information for each state’s authorizing agency is available in the State Complaint Information.
Please be aware that TRACS, SACSCOC, and state agencies will expect the student to have exhausted Bob Jones University’s internal grievance policy before filing a complaint.