Prospective Students

What Programs Are Offered Online?

Palm Beach State College offers online Bachelor Degree Programs

Learn more about Bachelor Degree Programs

If you are an Associate's Degree-seeking student, there are many fully online offerings for the general education requirements. If you want to see what is being offered fully online, utilize the Class Search, and search for distance learning courses.

Types of eLearning Courses

Hybrid Courses: Hybrid courses are a good choice for students who enjoy both online and on campus learning. Hybrid classes replace some of the time that would normally be spent in a classroom with online learning activities. Attendance is 50% in an on-campus classroom and 50% online. Your class will meet during designated times listed on your class schedule. You must have access to an internet connected computer.

In-Person Courses: Face to Face courses are traditional, on-campus courses that use an online component to augment or enhance the classroom learning experience. These courses require regular on-campus meetings. You must have access to an internet connected computer.

Online Courses: Online courses are a great way for students to complete degree requirements while juggling work and/or family responsibilities. These highly interactive courses engage students with course content through structured online learning activities. Although many of the College's online courses require no campus meetings at all, some do require on-campus meetings for an orientation, proctored tests, presentations, or group work. Required on-campus meeting dates are listed in the course schedule. You must have access to an Internet connected computer with a camera.

Live Online Courses: Live Online courses require no physical classroom meetings. Live course meetings are held on set days/times for online lectures and interactions. Uses electronic delivery methods (i.e., Zoom lectures & meetings, Microsoft Teams remote labs, video conferencing, chats, collaborations, or social learning technologies) to transmit instruction/information. You must have access to an Internet connected computer with a camera.

Technical Requirements

Have you Enrolled into Online Courses? Are you Thinking of Studying Online at Palm Beach State College?

Here are some Important Technical Factors to Consider:

One of the things you can do to be a successful online student is making sure you have the right tools for the job. eLearning strongly suggests you own your own computer AS WELL as having an alternate system as a backup, just in case. Additionally, you can come to any campus and use any student computer - but, we strongly advise that you not rely solely on coming to campus, as campus hours may not coincide with the time you have available to work on your homework.

Can you easily use Microsoft Office products (including Word and PowerPoint), conduct Internet searches, read long text passages on a screen, and troubleshoot minor issues with your computer? If you answered no, you may wish to consider starting out with web component courses instead of jumping right into a fully online course. Make sure you can handle the work and requirements in that component course before moving on to a fully online course.

As an eLearning student, you take on the responsibility for ensuring that your personal technology is compatible with all aspects of learning online, and that you are proficient in using your personal technology.

Internet or Wi-Fi Disruptions

Issues with your Internet Service Provider
Adequate Bandwidth

Unreliable Internet service and/or inadequate Bandwidth will have the worst impact on Examinations. Sudden spike in bandwidth use in your home (such as family member starting a Netflix or other streaming video movie, streaming music, downloading large files, etc.) while taking an exam will significantly reduce available bandwidth for the exam, thus slowing down new question refresh-rate, and/or completely freezing up the system if the online exam is video monitored with Respondus. Internet connection disruptions will log you out of the exam while test time test-clock continues to run, wasting valuable exam time.

Please ensure that your Internet connection is stable and that sharing of Wi-Fi Bandwidth is controlled before beginning online examinations.

Incompatible / Unreliable Computer Systems

Compatible Devices (computers), Operating Systems and Browsers
Computers full of Bloatware (many installed, usually free/downloaded programs, that use-up system resources)
Computers with Viruses
Computers that Crash (or need to be rebooted) Often

Incompatible and/or unreliable computers will make your online studies extremely frustrating, resulting in missed assignment submissions, problems with exam taking (ranging from ‘no access to the test,’ to ‘getting disconnected from the exam while answering questions’), and other various problems - which generally result in students earning lower course grades and lower student success rates.

Mobile devices are not completely compatible with the functions of Canvas and other embedded technologies and have very negative impact on your ability to successfully access the course and/or participate in the course activities should you attempt to use them (an exception is the Canvas App available for iPhone and Android devices).

Please review the Supported System/Browser Configurations and run the System Check to ensure your System is compatible.

Should you encounter any difficulties and/or unsupported notices, please Contact eLearning before an issue with your system prevents you from earning a good grade in your course(s).

General Computer & Software Skills

Updating & Installing Software
Managing Browser Options
Managing Installed Virus Protections and Firewall Software
Understanding and Managing Internet Connections and Bandwidth

The eLearning Department continuously monitors the systems that deliver the course content to you. It is imperative for your success to ensure that your skills and your system are also adequate to take online courses, and do not hinder you from participating and succeeding in your studies. You may need to install some supportive technology/software to access supporting course material, update your browser and/or Java software, etc. You need to know the basics of computing.

Canvas Skills

Understanding the General Structure and Premise of Online Learning
Knowing how to Navigate Canvas Courses
Knowing how to Upload Canvas Assignments
Knowing how to Take Canvas Exams (and use the Webcam Test Proctoring System)
Knowing how to Participate in Canvas Discussions

Students need to have the knowledge/skills to use the course delivery system (Canvas) effectively/efficiently, and have full understanding of best practices and the nuances of learning online.

Please enroll in ELO1000, our Free Online Learning Orientation Course, to ensure you understand the Canvas course delivery system and review best practices of learning online.

Message from the eLearning Team

The eLearning Team is dedicated to bringing you the best possible Online Course experience – and with your help, to do our best to eliminate technical issues that would have negative impact on your success.

Please take these issues seriously – attempting to use unsupported devices such as Tablets and Phones, sharing bandwidth with others streaming music/movies while taking exams, and/or not having the skills to use your system and Canvas effectively will result in frustrations and failure. We can help – but only if you take these issues seriously and put forth the effort to ensure you are ready to learn online.

Sincerely,
Your eLearning Team

Not yet a Palm Beach State student? You'll need to complete the following:

Admissions: Apply, Pay Application Fee, Send Transcripts, Submit test scores, etc.
Apply for Financial Aid if needed
Make an appointment with a distance learning academic adviser: Find your Adviser
(these advisers can work with students online or in person)
Search Available Courses/Register for classes - online classes fill up quickly, so register early!

Orientation

Are you already admitted to Palm Beach State? Register for ELO1000, the free online orientation to the College's eLearning courses.

Learn How to Register for ELO1000 - Student Canvas Training Course

The course is organized into Modules. Start Here highlights important information that will help you be more successful in taking your classes on Canvas. Introduction informs you of the PBSC policies and lists different Student Support Services available to you in person and online. Each of the Other Modules focuses on one specific Canvas Tool.

When you complete an entire Module you can claim a badge. When you complete all Modules, you can claim a Certificate of Completion. This Certificate may be required to be submitted in some of your courses.

Please enroll yourself into this resource (course) and begin your Canvas Journey: Enroll into ELO1000 - Canvas for Students

Contact Info

Email: elearningsuccess@palmbeachstate.edu | Phone: (561) 868-3303 | Online Help Form