Carolina Courses Online

Through Carolina Courses Online, distance education courses are offered on a semester schedule in the spring, fall, and over an extended summer session—see the calendar (right) for important dates. Class attendance is not required, but students communicate with classmates and their instructor via e-mail and discussion forums. Courses originate and credit is granted from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Who Can Enroll?

Carolina Courses Online (CCO) is open to anyone regardless of whether the individual is enrolled at UNC-Chapel Hill. Admission to UNC-Chapel Hill is not required, but you should be at least a high school senior.

Courses are taught in English, and students are expected to have competency in reading and writing English. University faculty members expect students to write and speak effectively, including the use of correct spelling, grammar, and style.

Students at UNC-Chapel Hill

If you are a UNC-Chapel Hill student in good academic standing, you should check with your academic advisor or dean to ensure that these online courses are appropriate and fit into your plan of study; however, no signature is required to register. (If you are academically ineligible or not currently attending, you will need the signature of your academic advisor or dean giving you approval to enroll—see Advisor/Dean Approval Form.) If you are a UNC-Chapel Hill student in the General College or the College of Arts and Sciences and you enroll for the first time after July 1, 2008, please read the Arts and Sciences policy on taking these courses (in the Academic Eligibility section, scroll down to find the subheading “Distance-Learning Courses via the Friday Center for Continuing Education”).

Students from Other Colleges or Universities

If you are enrolled at another college or university and hope to transfer the credit from one or more CCO courses back to your school, you should check with your advisor or dean before registering to make sure the course credits will be accepted. You do not need to apply for admission to UNC-Chapel Hill.

High School Students

High school seniors or rising seniors may enroll in a course as long as prerequisites are met and they have a written recommendation from their guidance counselor. Registration is not allowed unless the student is a rising senior or senior. Exceptions may be requested in writing to the Distance Learning Appeals Committee; requests for exceptions must be made in advance of enrollment. Home-schooled or charter school students should contact our office for more information on the documentation to provide.

Persons Not Affiliated with Any School or College

Anyone who has an interest in the course material and is prepared for college-level work is welcome to register for CCO courses. These are regular courses from UNC-Chapel Hill that are also taught in classrooms on campus; through CCO the same course material is made available in a Web-based format. No application for admission or transcript is required. You will earn academic credit and a final grade for each course.