The Certificate Program | Course Structure and Management |
Registering for Classes | Financial Concerns | Helpful Links
The Certificate Handbook (PDF) contains a step-by-step guide through the course registration process and may have the answers to many of your questions.
What is a Certificate?
An academic certificate is comprised of a series of post-baccalaureate courses that enables a student to explore a specific area of study. Like a master's or doctoral degree, a certificate is offered by a host academic department, is approved by UNC's Graduate School, and is related to an academic area of study. Some credits earned in a certificate program are eligible to be applied to graduate-degree programs. Certificates are noted on University transcripts, and no distinction is made between certificates earned online and those earned on campus.
Are the programs and courses offered through distance learning technologies the same quality as those offered on campus?
Yes. Courses in this certificate program were designed under the supervision of full-time faculty members in the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Additionally, students are asked to complete evaluations to assess the quality of their instructors and course material. These evaluations are reviewed by school administrators, who make adjustments to course and program requirements as needed.
How much time will I need to spend on this program?
Students should expect to spend an average of six to nine hours per week on readings, class discussions and other assignments for each class in which they are enrolled. Students with full-time jobs and other commitments could have a difficult time taking two distance courses in the same semester.
How long do I have to complete the certificate program? May I take a semester off once I enroll?
Most students complete the program within three years of enrolling in their first course. Some students take one course after another; others take a semester or two off depending on their home or work circumstances. Both approaches are acceptable. However, the work required to earn the certificate must be completed within five consecutive calendar years from enrollment in a student's first course.
Does course credit transfer?
Credit hours earned in this program may be transferred to a graduate-degree program. The amount and type of credit granted is at the sole discretion of that program. Students accepted into the graduate program in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication may apply up to six credit hours toward M.A. requirements and three credit hours toward doctoral requirements if the credit is deemed relevant to the student's course of study.
Will admission into this certificate program help me get into the school's graduate program?
Admission into the certificate program has no bearing on admission to the school's graduate program. However, outstanding performance in certificate courses might be viewed favorably by the admissions committee. Recent certificate graduates have been admitted to the school's master's and doctoral programs.
Will the certificate be listed on my transcript?
After completing the program, a student's transcript will indicate having earned a Certificate in Technology and Communication from UNC. Transcripts can be obtained from the registrar.
Does the School of Journalism and Mass Communication offer an online master's degree?
Not at this time.
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Course Structure and Management
I have never taken an online course. What is it like? Do I have to be online at a certain time?
Courses in the certificate program are taught on a semester schedule, meaning that courses are taught within the time frame of the UNC fall and spring semesters. Students enrolled in a course must complete the course within the given semester. However, students generally do not need to be online at a certain time of day. Each course consists of a mix of readings, discussion forum postings, individual assignments and audio/visual tutorials. Several courses also teach students how to create and use a blog.
Is online education right for me?
The Certificate program is a distance-education program that allows students to take advantage of a Carolina education from anywhere in the world. However, distance learning is not for everyone. It requires self-motivation and discipline. Students will have greater interaction with fellow students and less interaction with instructors than is typical in on-campus classes. Written communication — whether in e-mail, fourm postings or assignments — is the primary avenue for learning.
Are any courses taught during the summer?
No.
Will I ever have to physically visit the UNC campus?
No. The certificate program is completed entirely online.
How do I communicate with my instructor and classmates?
Communication methods vary from course to course, but most instructors use e-mail and discussion forums on Blackboard. Please note that courses are taught in English and students need to be proficient in reading and writing English. The best way to request specific help from an instructor is via e-mail. Instructors try to respond to e-mail within 24 hours when possible. During weekends and holidays, response times may be longer. Instructors communicate via a student's UNC e-mail account. (See below: How do I get a UNC e-mail account?)
The school's Office of Professional Education strongly suggest a home broadband connection to the Internet and a computer running the latest Windows or Mac operating system. The Blackboard course management system delivers the content for this program.
Do I need to know a lot about computers?
Courses are designed to be accessible to people with a wide range of experience using computers. Students will need to be comfortable sending e-mail and using the Internet. Students will become familiar with posting messages to a discussion forum on Blackboard, and likely will create documents and attach them to e-mail messages. Several courses also teach students how to create a blog.
While prior knowledge of HTML is not a requirement — nor is in necessary to succeed in the certificate program — some courses do discuss HTML as part of the course curriculum. Some students prefer to familiarize themselves with HTML before starting classes. Many find the following sites useful: HTML Tutorial and Webmonkey
Can I utilize UNC library resources?
Yes. The Library provides a proxy service that authorizes students to connect to electronic resources (databases, indexes, electronic journals, etc.) from off-campus. An Onyen and password is necessary when connecting to these resources. The library Web site provides detailed instructions.
Student work is graded on the scale used by on-campus graduate courses at UNC: H = High Pass, P = Pass, L = Low Pass, F = Fail and I = Incomplete. A grade of P does not equal a conventional C grade. The majority of students receive a P for work equivalent to an A- to a flat C. If a certificate student earns two grades of L or one F, he or she cannot continue in the program and will not be eligible to receive the certificate. Students earning an incomplete (I) have one year to complete the coursework.
When will I receive my grades?
Grades should be available about one week after the end of the semester, if not sooner. Grades are available from Student Central with an Onyen and password.
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How will I know I'm registered for a course?The school will send a student's Personal ID Number (PID) acknowledging his or her enrollment in the program within a week of completing the registration form.
What is a PID?
The Personal ID Number (PID) is an identification number assigned to all persons affiliated with the University. This number is a universal number unique to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The number is nine digits long and replaces all existing card numbers previously used on campus. The PID is the primary record-keeping key for all departments within the University and must be used for all communication.
How can I look up my PID if I already have one?
Once enrolled, students can obtain their PID using their social security number and date of birth. Students who have been enrolled at any time at UNC have a PID.
How do I know which books to purchase?
Reading assignments vary by course and instructor. Many of the resources will be articles and research available on the Internet. Instructors also may assemble course packs, a collection of book chapters and other materials, that must be purchased from the Office of Professional Education. Instructors also may assign texts, which can be purchased online at various retail sites.
How do I get to my course(s)?
Course content is managed by Blackboard. Students will need an Onyen and password to access Blackboard. Courses are not available until the first day of classes.
Blackboard is asking for a onyen and password.
Create an Onyen (Only Name You’ll Ever Need) and password with a PID and last name. (See How can I look up my PID if I already have one?)
How do I get a UNC e-mail account?
When creating an onyen, a UNC e-mail account is created automatically. To send and read mail, visit webmail.unc.edu and login using an Onyen and password. Instructors and program administrators will communicate through this account. Students can change this default setting after signing into Blackboard, but many students prefer to have an e-mail account that is different from their work or personal account. Even if a student changes this preference within Blackboard or has e-mail forwarded, it is strongly suggested to check the UNC e-mail account periodically.
Can I forward my UNC e-mail address to another address?
The use of a UNC e-mail address for all class-related e-mail is preferred, but students can forward a UNC e-mail address to a preferred e-mail address.
I have taken classes at UNC before, but this is my first online course. Will my old onyen and password still work?
It will if the password hasn't expired. Onyen passwords expire every 90 days.
I don't remember my onyen or password.
See instructions to obtain a new password by faxing the ONYEN password reset request form. It is strongly advised to use the challenge-response system when creating an Onyen and password. This system makes it easy to reset a forgotten password by answering a set of questions the user has defined in the system.
How do I drop a course?
Withdrawal is dropping all courses on a student's schedule for the semester after classes have begun. If for any reason a student must withdraw from course(s) prior to completion, the Office of Professional Education must be notified by e-mail to avoid academic penalty. Please also refer to the Academic Calendar. Students may be eligible for a prorated refund, depending on the date of withdrawal.
Cancellation is dropping all courses on a student's schedule for the semester before classes begin. It is, in effect, the same as not having registered at all. No entry is made on the student's permanent record and 100 percent of prepaid tuition and fees is refunded. Please contact the Office of Professional Education to cancel courses.
Dropping a course assumes that a student has more than one course on his or her schedule for the current semester. Students may drop a course with credit to their financial account up to the census date (about three weeks into the semester). Students dropping a course will receive a full refund if the published deadlines are met (see the Academic Calendar for exact deadlines). No refund will be given after the published deadlines. To drop a course, contact the Office of Professional Education.
How can I obtain a transcript?
Transcripts can be obtained from the registrar.
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Do you offer tuition assistance or scholarships?
Unfortunately, there are no grants or loans at this time available through UNC for students in the certificate program. Students in the certificate program are not eligible to receive Federal Student Aid. In general, students must be pursuing a degree in order to be eligible for Federal Student Aid. However, students can apply for private educational loans. The following are programs suggested by the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. Eligibility requirements can change so students should research these programs before applying.
Continuing Education Loan from Sallie Mae.
Education Connection Loan from Wells Fargo.
Education Maximizer Loan from Bank of America.
Does the UNC Cashier’s Office offer an installment payment plan?
Yes. Contact the Cashier’s Office for details. Deadlines for enrolling in the payment plan are July 31 for the fall semester and December 1 for the spring.
Does UNC accept military tuition assistance?
Yes. Please contact the Cashier’s Office.
Do students living outside of North Carolina pay a different tuition rate?
Yes. Students living outside of North Carolina must pay out-of-state tuition rates. Since UNC is a state-supported institution, tuition rates are set by the N.C. General Assembly. Resident tuition essentially is subsidized by N.C. taxpayers, and the different rate scale affects distance as well as residential students.
Is tuition tax deductible?
In many cases, students can claim a tax credit or deduction for some or all of their higher education expenses. Consult a tax adviser or preparer for more details, or visit the IRS Web site.
Will the Certificate program accept third party payments?
For those students whose tuition will be paid by a third party, the student will need to provide, at the time of registration, written documentation from the third party agreeing to pay the charges and provide the Office of Professional Education with an address to send the invoice. If students are unable to provide such documentation at the time of registration, they will need to pay the tuition and seek reimbursement directly from the third party.
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Helpful Links for Enrolled Students
UNC Libraries
The libraries can respond to your questions by phone, e-mail and chat. Set up your browser to go through the UNC proxy server to obtain access to scholarly journals and other library resources by following instructions found at http://www.lib.unc.edu/de/depgcon.html.
IT Response Center
The ITRC provides technology support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for students and faculty members. ITRC offers extensive online help, including a database of frequently asked questions. For help, call 919.962.HELP.
Blackboard
Students experiencing problems with Blackboard should check the help page. Students experiencing trouble logging on should call 919.962.HELP. The Office of Professional Education will send e-mail messages to all distance education students if Blackboard experiences technical problems.
Student Central
Check grades, pay bills, verify course registration here, plus much more.
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Still Need Help?
Please click here to view the Certificate in Technology and Communication handbook.
The school's Office of Professional Education staff stands ready to answer any questions. If they can't answer a particular question, they'll find someone who can. The Office of Professional Education is staffed 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding University holidays. Contact Professional Education toll-free at 1.877.668.0674.
Have another question? E-mail Rachel Lillis at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
