Admissions FAQs | Online Courses FAQs

Admissions FAQs

Many admissions questions can be answered on the following pages, or below:

Overview
Our Advantages  
Is Charter Oak Right For Me?
How to Apply?

General

1. Is Charter Oak State College a regionally accredited institution?
2. What is matriculation?
3. Who do I contact if I need more information on admissions?

   Applying

4. What are the admissions requirements?
5. How do I apply for admission to Charter Oak?
6. Is there an application fee?
7. Is there a deadline for applications?
8. I have already applied. How do I check on the status of my application?

   Degree Completion

9. What degrees are awarded?
10. What majors do you offer?
11. How long will it take me to earn my degree at Charter Oak?
12. Can I complete a second bachelor's degree?

    Earning & Transferring Credits

13. How many Charter Oak credits do I need to take?
14. Can I earn all of my credits at Charter Oak?
15. Do I get credit for life/work experience?
16. Do I get credit for my CEUs?
17. Does Charter Oak accept international credits?
18. How many of my credits will transfer?

    Costs

19. How much will it cost to earn my degree?
20. Is financial aid available?

1. Is Charter Oak State College a regionally accredited institution?
Absolutely! Charter Oak State College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It is also accredited by the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education. The College was established in 1973 by the Connecticut Legislature to provide an alternate way for adults to earn a college degree. Want to know more? - please visit Our Advantages.

2. What is matriculation?
Matriculation occurs when you officially become a degree-seeking student at Charter Oak State College.

3. Who do I contact if I need more information on admissions?
The Admissions Team can be reached by submitting the form on the Contact Us page, by sending an email to: , or by calling (860) 832-3855 (Mon - Fri from 8:30AM to 7:00PM EST) You may also submit paper requests by faxing to (860) 760-6047 or by mailing to:

Admissions Office / Charter Oak State College
55 Paul J. Manafort Drive
New Britain, CT 06053-2150

Please also visit the Admissions page for more information.

4. What are the admission requirements?
Admission is open to any person 16 years or older, regardless of level of formal education, who has earned nine acceptable college-level credits. International students should review the International Admissions Policy . Please visit Is Charter Oak Right for Me? for more information.

5. How do I apply for admission at Charter Oak?
Applying online is the easiest and quickest way to begin the admissions process. To access the online application, visit Apply Online Now. For more information, please visit How to Apply.

6. Is there an application fee?
Yes. Due to the time commitment that is necessary in processing each application, there is a nominal application fee of $75 . Students receive an evaluation of their current credits and how they may fit into a degree plan. For more information, please visit How to Apply.

7. Is there a deadline for applications?
No. Applications can be submitted at any time of year.

8. I have already applied. How do I check on the status of my application?
Please log in to your account in ACORN for more information.

9. What degrees are awarded?
Charter Oak is authorized to award four General Studies degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Associate in Arts and Associate in Science. Please see Degree Completion for more information.

10. What majors do you offer?
The College has no “majors”. Instead, we enable students completing a bachelor's degree to concentrate in a specific discipline or combination of subjects. By far, the most popular choice of “Concentration” is Individualized Studies which follows an interdisciplinary approach allowing students to customize their plan of study to better fit their background and goals. We also offer traditional fields of study such as Business Administration, Child Studies, Healthcare Administration, Public Safety Administration and many others.

Regardless of your area of concentration, your diploma will simply state that you have earned either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Information about your concentration is provided only on your official transcript. Please see Concentrations/ Fields of Study or Concentration Basics for more information.

11. How long will it take me to earn my degree at Charter Oak?
It depends on you and how much time you have available to commit to your education each week. Our experience indicates that if you matriculate (enroll) with about 45 credits, you can finish your associate degree (60 semester credits) in less than a year. If you matriculate with about 90 credits, you can finish your bachelor's degree (120 semester credits) in 1-2 years. Graduations occur every two months. Please see Degree Completion Steps for an overview of the process.

12. Can I complete a second bachelor's (baccalaureate) degree?
Yes, you may pursue a second bachelor's degree, provided that degree is in a different field of study from your current degree, and you have received permission from the Vice President of Academic Affairs. For more on this policy, please visit the Second Baccalaureate Candidates page.

13. How many Charter Oak credits do I need to earn?
Charter Oak has two academic residency requirements. The first is a 3-credit cornerstone course required for students enrolled in either an associate or bachelor's degree program at the college. The cornerstone course is taken in the student's first term as an enrolled Charter Oak student. The second is a 3-credit capstone course required of all students completing a bachelor's degree.

14. Can I earn all of my credits at Charter Oak?
It depends upon your choice of concentration. Charter Oak offers many online courses, but it may not be possible to earn all the credits you need for your degree through our courses. You can take courses at colleges and universities close to your home; take tests to earn credits; and/or prepare a portfolio for assessment. You can also utilize Charter Oak's contract learning option. For more information about earning credits, visit Acquiring Credit.

15. Can I get credit for life/work experience?
Yes! Most people use the testing option to demonstrate what they have learned through their life/work experience. However, if there is no standardized exam available in your area of expertise, and if this expertise is equivalent to college-level work, you may want to investigate completing a portfolio assessment of your prior learning. In our portfolio format you will be required to find college courses equivalent to the knowledge you have acquired. You then provide relevant evidence and comprehensive narratives which are used to validate your college-level expertise. A portfolio handbook is available for a nominal fee. Please visit Portfolio Overview for more information.

16. Do I get credit for my CEUs?
You do not receive direct credit for the CEUs you have earned. However, they can serve as valuable background information when you are studying for an exam to earn credit or when documenting knowledge in the portfolio process.

17. Does Charter Oak accept international credits?
Yes. In fact we have a very liberal policy when it comes to accepting International credits. We simply require an official transcript from each international institution attended, an official translation of each transcript in English, and the evaluation of international credits from an approved outside source such as ECE or WES. Applicants with international credits must also complete the Written Communication requirement prior to being accepted to Charter Oak. Please see our International Admissions Policy for more information.

18. How many of my credits will transfer?
Charter Oak has a liberal credit transfer policy. We will accept most credits that have been successfully completed at other regionally accredited institutions. This includes up to 90 semester credits from regionally accredited, two-year colleges. Exceptions include courses in physical education, freshman orientation, and developmental courses. Please visit How to Apply to apply online and begin your credit evaluation.

19. How much will it cost to earn my degree? All students pay the application, matriculation, and graduation fees. How you earn your remaining credits will determine your final cost. For example, if you take courses, you will pay the per credit cost to the institution where the courses are offered. If you choose to take a college level examination, you will pay the examination fee. Your advisor will assist you in planning your program keeping in mind your learning style, life circumstances and financial situation. If you have not completed your degree by the end of your first year's matriculation, you will need to pay the matriculation renewal fee to remain an active student. The cost to complete a degree with Charter Oak is significantly less than most other colleges. In addition, the College offers interest-free Payment Plans to help you manage costs. Please see our College Cost Comparison Chart:

Visit Tuition and Fees for more details on college costs.

20. Is financial aid available?
Yes. Financial aid is available to degree-seeking students in the form of scholarships, grants and/or loans. Certain types of aid, such as loans, must be paid back, generally with interest. You may prefer to manage college costs through Charter Oak's convenient, interest-free Payment Plans. Complete financial aid information is available in the Financial Aid section of this site, or by calling (860) 832-3872.

Online Courses / Distance Learning FAQs

Return to Current Students / Courses section.

General

1. Do I need to be matriculated at Charter Oak State College to take a distance learning course?
2. Do I need to own a computer to take a distance learning course?
3. Do I need to come to campus if I take a course?
4. How long is each semester?
5. Am I going to have an instructor and how can I get in touch with him/her?
6. How is testing done?
7. How many students are in a class?
8. How are courses graded?
9. How do I get my course materials and how much do they cost?
10. Who do I contact if I have questions?

    Registration

11. How do I register for a course?
12. When are the deadlines for course registration?
13. How will I know that my Course Registration form has been received?

    Payment

14. What is the cost to take a distance learning course?
15. Can I pay for my course with a payment plan?
16. What if I'm applying for Financial Aid?

    Technical Issues

17. What if I have never taken an online course and do not know how to do it?
18. What are the computer requirements?
19. What if I need technical support?
20. If I am taking an online course is there a specific day or time that I have to go online?
21. Where do I get my password for my online course?
22. How do I log in to my BlackBoard (online) course?

    Policies

23. How do I withdraw from a course?
24. How can I drop one course and pick up another?
25. What if I need extra time to complete a course and need to request an extension?
26. If I start a course but cannot complete it, do I get a refund?

    Cornerstone Course

27. What is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course?
28. Why is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course required?
29. If I already transferred in credit from another institution for ENG 101 and 102, is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course required?
30. How will I benefit from taking this course?
31. How will Charter Oak State College benefit?
32. How can I learn more about the content of the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course?

1. Do I need to be matriculated (enrolled) at Charter Oak State College to take a distance learning course?
No, anyone can take a course at Charter Oak State College. If you are taking a course to transfer to another institution, you should check with that institution to make sure that the course fits into your program of study. For information about matriculating (enrolling) at Charter Oak, please visit How to Apply.

2. Do I need to own a computer to take a distance learning course?
You need reliable access to a computer if you want to take an online course and some video-based courses. Many video-based and correspondence course instructors prefer to use e-mail for corresponding with students.

3. Do I need to come to campus if I take a course?
For online courses, you do not have to ever physically visit Charter Oak State College. Courses can be conveniently completed via computer with Internet access. If you are taking a video-based course, we require that the midterm and final exam be proctored. If you are a Connecticut resident the tests are proctored at Charter Oak State College [directions].

4. How long is each semester?
The semester runs for 15 weeks. However, the College also offers 5-week and 8-week accelerated online courses. Summer semester is 8 weeks.

5. Am I going to have an instructor and how can I get in touch with him/her?
Yes, all courses have instructors who are available by telephone or e-mail to answer questions about the course. Their e-mail addresses can be found in the course descriptions, which can be accessed by visiting the Course Search & Registration page, searching for the course, and then clicking on the resulting link.

6. How is testing done?
Accelerated courses and some online full-term courses have examinations built into their courses or have a final paper or project instead of a final examination. All video-based courses, correspondence courses, and a few online courses require proctored examinations. In-state students must take their exams at Charter Oak State College's testing center in New Britain, CT [directions] on specified dates. Out-of-state students must make their own arrangements for taking a proctored examination near their home. Contact the Distance Learning Office at (860) 832-3812 for more information.

7. How many students are in a class?
Class size varies from 6 - 40 students. Charter Oak's faculty to student ratio is 8:1.

8. How are courses graded?
Charter Oak State College has an Institutional Grading Policy for all courses.

9. How do I get my course materials and how much do they cost?
The College has arranged with MBS Direct to inventory the required materials for most courses. Visit the Bookstore. All video-based courses require videotapes or DVDs. Because the material on tape is copyrighted, under federal law it cannot be duplicated, transmitted or otherwise used without permission from the producer. Information about ordering video-based course materials appears on the course syllabus.

10. Whom do I contact if I have questions?
Contact the Distance Learning staff at (860) 832-3837 or

11. How do I register for a course?
Registration is easy, and can be completed through the Course Search & Registration page. For detailed information on registering, please see How to Register.

12. When are the deadlines for course registration?
Registration deadlines vary depending on the semester for which you are registering. In general it is best to register early to ensure your place in the course. Students registering after the deadline must pay the registration late fee. Please refer to the current Course Schedule ( Fall 2010 Course Schedule ) for registration deadlines.

13. How will I know that my Course Registration form has been received?
When you register online using the ACORN student portal, your registration/schedule information will be displayed while you are logged in. Your courses will have a status of 'Preregistered' on your schedule until payment information has been confirmed. Once payment has been confirmed, your course status will change to 'Current'. Charter Oak no longer sends out confirmation emails to students after they register for courses; students will be able to view their schedule information in the student portal.

14. What is the cost to take a distance learning course?
Distance learning courses, both video and online, are charged based on a per credit rate. Please see the Course Costs page for more information. Non-credit courses have their own special rates which can be found on that course's "Course Information" page, which can be accessed by visiting Course Search & Registration, searching for the course in question, and clicking on the Course Number & Title.

15. Can I pay for my course with a payment plan?
Yes. Distance learning courses can be paid through an interest-free Payment Plan for a small fee. Please visit the Payment Plan page for more information.

16. What if I'm applying for Financial Aid?
Information about Charter Oak's financial aid program is available at Financial Aid. Financial Aid students will register online in the ACORN student portal once their Financial Aid award has been confirmed.

IMPORTANT: You must pay all course registration and late fees (if required) at the time of registration. These are NOT covered by financial aid. Until these fees are paid, you are not officially registered in your courses.

17. What if I have never taken an online course and do not know how to do it?
All online students are required to view the online demonstration course prior to beginning their "real" course. The demonstration course will show students how to navigate the course software. Students should have some general computer knowledge before starting a course. View the online demonstration course. Our learning partner, the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) provides additional information for new students, including a Self-Assessment Tool.

18. What are the computer requirements?
The Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) hosts Charter Oak's distance learning courses. The computer requirements can be found on the CTDLC website under "Blackboard".

19. What if I need technical support?
Technical Support is provided by the CTDLC and is available seven days a week at http://esupport.ctdlc.org. For critical issues requiring immediate assistance please call: (860) 832-3887, toll-free outside of the Hartford, CT area at (866) 462-8352 (1-866-GO CTDLC).

20. If I am taking an online course is there a specific day or time that I have to go online?
The online courses are "asynchronous", which means students can log in to their course any time during the week to do course work. Students will have weekly assignments that must be completed on time. All online courses include a "threaded discussion", where students "post" comments during the week. Some courses include weekly team assignments that may require students to "meet" online at a specific time agreed to by the team members (synchronously).

21. Where do I get my password for my online course?
Your BlackBoard user name and password are the same as your ACORN and Charter Oak email logins.

22. How do I log in to my BlackBoard (online) course?
Go to http://bb.charteroak.edu and click Login. Then type in the username and password assigned to you (your Charter Oak Email address). Click on the course title at the right side of the screen, and away you go!This is not the same as the password to view your Status Report and other information. Click on the course title at the right side of the screen, and away you go!

23. How do I withdraw from a course?
Fill out the online Course Withdrawal Form

24. How can I drop one course and pick up another?
You can Add/Drop courses online in the ACORN student portal until the end of the first day of a course (11:59 pm) without penalty. To add courses after the first day of a course, you will need permission from the Distance Learning Office (860) 8332-3837. After the first day of a course, the withdrawal policy will go into effect.

25. What if I need extra time to complete a course and need to request an extension?
Extensions may be granted for video-based courses only, under special circumstances. The mentor's responsibility during a student's extension is limited to correcting assignments and exams. To request an 8-week extension, the student should:

1. Contact the mentor and receive permission to apply for an 8-week extension.
2. Fill out an Extension Form (also available from the Distance Learning Office upon request).
3. Submit the completed Extension Form along with the Extension Fee to the Distance Learning Office.
4. The Distance Learning Office will send the student a letter confirming the extension and specifying the date to which the extension will extend. An optional additional 8-week extension may be granted with the mentor's permission. All of the same steps must be followed, including payment of a second extension fee.

26. If I start a course but cannot complete it, do I get a refund?
You may receive a tuition refund depending on when you withdraw from the course. All registration, late, payment plan and matriculation fees are non-refundable. For complete information, see the current Course Schedule: Fall 2010 Course Schedule.

Cornerstone Course

27. What is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course?
The Cornerstone course is a requirement and one of the "first" courses newly matriculated COSC students will pursue. This course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the nature of the COSC degree and keys to success in an online program.

28. Why is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course required?
The Cornerstone course will help all COSC students understand expectations around written communication and critical thinking in college-level online courses. As such, IDS 101 will help prepare you for success in ENG 101 and 102.

29. If I already transferred in credit from another institution for ENG 101 and 102, is the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course required?
Yes. The IDS 101, Cornerstone course will refresh students who have been away from the college classroom for some time with written communications and critical thinking skills.

30. How will I benefit from taking this course?
You will experience the benefits from the cornerstone course by:

• Understanding of the in-depth nature of a COSC degree and the keys to success in an online course at COSC
• Completing one key degree requirement, the Concentration Plan of Study (CPS), in a timely manner
• Meeting the general education requirement for Information Literacy;
• Developing a sense of ownership and direction in their coursework and concentration, which will position them to succeed in the capstone experience (bachelor's students)
• Understanding what college-level writing is, why it's important, and why skills in critical thinking and problem solving are so important in the online learning setting
• Strengthening their skills in searching, researching, and evaluating sources, and incorporating these sources into their contributions to the classroom; and
• Enhancing their ability to be engaged, self-sufficient, and self-motivated learners.

31. How will Charter Oak State College benefit?
As an institution of higher learning, COSC will benefit in the following ways from requiring newly matriculated students take this course by:

• Ensuring that students are benefitting from the instructional experience we give
• Assessing students' writing skills and provide support and intervention as needed
• Orienting students to the online learning environment
• Encouraging students to be more engaged, self-sufficient, self-motivating learners.

32. How can I learn more about the content of the IDS 101, Cornerstone Course?
To learn more about the Cornerstone course requirement, view the IDS 101 Cornerstone Course syllabus.