How much time does an online course require?
Online courses require as much or more time as “traditional” courses. Even though you won’t have to attend class sessions (typically three hours a week), plan on spending about as much time reading, viewing course materials, and participating in online discussions. Additionally, you will have assignments to complete as you would in a “traditional” course. This requires that you pace yourself, as these courses still have deadlines for completing assignments, participating in discussions, and taking tests.
Although in most cases an online course mirrors its on – campus counterpart in terms of subject matter covered, homework, and research, studies have indicated that online students do spend more time on their courseware. This is due in part to students’ enthusiasm for participating in class discussions. Generally, an online student should plan on at least 6-8 hours a week of work to be successful.
