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The following FAQ is provided to answer many questions you may have about eCampusAlberta, online education and the online courses, online certificates and online diplomas offered by member institutions.
The lead and partner model enables students to take online courses from any member college or technical institute while accessing the educational services, such as the library, academic counselling and exam supervision at the institution that is located closest to them.
The lead institution offers the course. For example, if an online course created by Medicine Hat College was offered through eCampusAlberta and a student in Fort McMurray wanted to take that course, Medicine Hat would provide the instruction and course materials while Keyano College (located in Fort McMurray) would be a student’s partner institution.
The partner institution provides educational support services to students. These may include assistance with library services, exam supervision and academic services, such as study skills enhancement instruction to name a few.
Learners register with the lead institution and may select a partner institution (optional) that is located close to where they live. This can be done online, in-person, by phone, fax or e-mail. Students should check with the institution offering the course or program.
Online learning through eCampusAlberta offers several advantages to students, including:
The skills required for individual online courses varies and students should check with the institution offering a course before registering. However, most courses require a basic level of computer skills, including the ability to: send and receive e-mail; research on the Internet and use online library resources, such as academic journals; write using word processing programs (such as Microsoft Word); and participate in online discussions, such as chat rooms and/or blogs. If more advanced skills are required, they will be listed in the course description. If you are uncertain, we recommended that you discuss the skills required for a course with the institution offering it.
International students are welcome to register in eCampusAlberta courses.
All courses and programs are offered by member colleges and technical institutes. eCampusAlberta provides the information students need to find courses and credentials offered by 15 Alberta colleges and technical institutes.
View programs offered by member institutions.
Courses offered online through eCampusAlberta are typically credit-based courses unless otherwise specified. Students must check with the institution offering the credential they are pursuing to ensure any online courses they take are transferable prior to their program of study. For more information, please consult the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer guide.
eCampusAlberta online courses, online certificates and online diplomas are typically offered entirely online. Some credentials are offered partly online and partly through campus-based courses. Online students are also occasionally required to visit a member college or technical institute to write exams etc.
Students and faculty have access to live technical support, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Once you are registered in an eCampusAlberta course, you can get technical assistance by calling 1-866-548-8544. Follow this link to visit the Online Technical Support Center or access Live Chat.
All classes are taught by instructors who run the course. The instructor is responsible for facilitating student-teacher and student-student discussion, as well as answering students’ questions and reviewing and grading assignments and exams.
Canadian Virtual University (CVU) is an association of public Canadian universities specializing in online and distance education as well as collaboration to increase access to quality university programs. Follow this link to access CVUs program listings.
You will need to be familiar with using a computer and the Internet. The skills most often required include using e-mail, downloading and attaching files and working with word processing software (i.e. Microsoft Word). If more advanced skills are required, they will be listed in the course description. We recommend you discuss this with the institution offering the course who can advise you about the specifics related to your course or program.
Yes, all students taking online courses must have an e-mail account. E-mail accounts may be obtained either through the institution offering the course or students may opt to sign up for a free account through Yahoo! or Hotmail. It is strongly advised that students do not use AOL for their e-mail account.
You will need access to a computer and the Internet to take your online course. Some courses may require special software or hardware; this information is provided in the eCampusAlberta course catalogue.
An internet connection is necessary to access the online content. A DSL or cable modem is highly recommended. A dial-up connection may work, but will likely cause you some frustration.
Each member institution may specify its own minimum system requirements to enable students to successfully access their online courses. Please contact the institution offering your course for specific information about each course offered.
All browsers need to be set to allow cookies, run javascript and accept pop-ups. You should have either Internet Explorer 6.0 (+) or Firefox 2.0+. Many other browsers have not been tested for use with online learning systems.
Here are some examples of minimum requirements member institutions have set.
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