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Frequently Asked
Questions
Am I ready to take an online
course?
If you would like to determine if you are
ready for a DSU Online course our
orientation provides a guide for you in distance learning. Read through the
self-assessments to determine how self-directed you are and if you
have the computer skills needed to take an online course.
What kind of computer do I need?
The Office of Extended Programs recommends you have a personal computer
(PC) with a Pentium II-class processor, 450 megahertz (MHz), or higher;
Computer Memory:256 MB or higher; Hard Disk Space:1 gigabytes (GB) free space; Internet
Connection: 56kbps dial-up minimum - Broadband connection recommended;
Microsoft Internet Explorer 6; Mozilla Firefox 1.5; Netscape Navigator
7. Learn more the technical requirements.
How do I look up an online course?
You can view the available online undergraduate and graduate courses
listed at the home page or you can search for more courses
offered by DSU and the other universities of South Dakota, please go to
WebAdvisor.
- Select Prospective Students and then click Search for
Sections.
- Choose term from the dropdown box.
- Choose a university from the dropdown box.
- Choose a location from the dropdown box, select INT - INT
Internet.
- Click the Submit button.
- You will find the course listing of the Section Selection
Results in the semester. Click the course link for Section
Name and Title in which you are interested.
How do I register for a course?
Registering for a course is easy. There
is an
online registration request form on the DSU Extended Programs web
site Once the form is completed and submitted the staff will
process the registration request and billing dependent on admission
status, course space availability and completion of prerequisites.
Registration requests may also be faxed to 605-256-5095. You will
find more on registration in our
student guide.
How do I get my books?
Books can be ordered online from the
DSU Bookstore. Their staff
will process your order and ship the books directly to you.
How does an online course work?
Once your registration has been processed,
payment received and course materials have been obtained, you will
receive an e-mail from your instructor. Please our
Distance Education Checklist for more detailed information.
Your main communication with the instructor will be by e-mail. Your
online course(s) will be delivered via
Desire2Learn (D2L),
which is an online course management system.
What if I need to talk to my
instructor?
Instructor contact information should
be supplied on the course syllabus.
Instructor homepages also
have contact information. If you have problems reaching your
instructor, please contact Extended Programs.
What if I need to drop my course?
Official drop and withdrawal
procedures, along with all other
policies and procedures
can be found in our
student guides. An e-mail sent to Extended Programs will also be accepted as
notification. Once your request is processed, you will be sent a
reply to confirm. Please contact us with any questions at
800-641-4309 or email at
dsuinfo@dsu.edu.
How do I find out my final grade?
Grades are posted via D2L under your
corresponding course. Grades are also posted on
WebAdvisor.
An official grade report by letter is no longer sent from the
university. Your instructor can also provide this information.
Do online courses correspond to semester
schedules?
All online courses correspond with
on-campus semester schedules. All exams and due dates are the same
as if you were taking the course in a classroom. It is your
responsibility to contact the instructor if you have any questions
regarding assignments or due dates.
ADA Statement
If you have a documented disability and/or anticipate needing accommodations (e.g., non-standard note taking, test modifications) in this course, please arrange to meet with the instructor. Also, please contact Dakota State University’s ADA coordinator, Keith Bundy in the Student Development Office located in the Trojan Center Underground or at 256-5121, as soon as possible. The DSU website containing additional information, along with the form to request accommodations is
http://www.departments.dsu.edu/disability_services/. You will need to provide documentation of your disability. The ADA coordinator must confirm the need for accommodations before officially authorizing them.
