Student Orientation to Self-Paced Courses

Student Doing online Course work
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  • Admission to TXST not Required

    Enrollment in online self-paced courses does not require official admission to the university. Courses are open to all those who meet departmental and course prerequisites and Texas Success Initiative Program (TSIP) requirements. 

    Registering and Accessing Your Course 

    Students register for their online self-paced course in Texas State Self-Service; see instructions for registering on the Registering for Correspondence page.

    Note: Payment is due immediately, via the Student Business Services portal, for Online Self-Paced courses.  If payment is not received within 24 hours or enrollment, you will be dropped from the online self-paced class.

    Once you register and pay, you will be given access to your self-paced course in Canvas. Once you have access to your course, a Welcome Email will be sent to your Bobcat Mail account. This Welcome Email highlights important information that you need to know about your online self-paced course. To access your Bobcat Mail, you will use your NetID and Password.

    You will access your course through Canvas. On your Canvas homepage, click "Dashboard" or "Courses" on the left-side menu of the page to search for your online self-paced course.

    Now you're ready to start your course!

    Self-Paced Course Credit Hours and Hours of Enrollment 

    Since you are technically not admitted to Texas State when enrolled in an online self-paced course, and your enrollment is not term-based, your course is not considered when determining either the number of hours you're enrolled in each semester. Nor does your course affect your status as a full-time or part-time student, except in the semester in which you complete the course, when it is counted in your total semester load.

  • Costs

    Visit the course cost page for current course costs.

    Financial Aid

    Online self-paced courses do not qualify for federal financial aid. However, we accept third-party billing to cover a percentage of the total cost. More information can be found at the Financial Assistance page.

    Student Loan Deferment

    Being enrolled in an online self-paced course does not qualify students for a student loan deferment. You must officially be enrolled in a university or college to obtain a student loan deferment on the basis of current enrollment at a university or college. For more information about the rules for student loan deferment, contact the financial aid office at your educational institution.

  • Beginning Your Course

    Check out the self-paced course Online Orientation Video to help you get started in your course.

    Course Material

    Refer to the Course Materials Page for information on obtaining required course materials.

    Contacting Your Instructor

    Contact your instructor by e-mail, using the Canvas Mail Tool in your course.

    Tutoring

    A variety of free tutoring resources are available for students enrolled in Texas State online self-paced courses. Visit the Tutoring page for more information

    Course Progress and Assignments

    Generally speaking, you may not complete more than two modules or lessons per week. Some instructors, however, may require you to complete no more than one module or lesson per week or to receive a previous assignment's grade and feedback before submitting a subsequent assignment. To find out if your instructor has different requirements, consult the information in the Syllabus of your course. If the instructor doesn't specify any course pacing limits, then you may not complete more than two modules or lessons per week. Please note that it is of great benefit to you to complete one module or unit at a time and to wait to receive graded assignments, so that you can read comments from the instructor before advancing with subsequent assignments.

    Grading

    Instructors may take up to ten (10) working days to grade assignments and exams. Instructors often will return graded assignments more rapidly, but at certain times during the year, such as holidays and at the end of the semester, you can expect that the turn-around time on assignments may take longer.

    Course Completion

    You must complete all lessons or modules and submit all assigned work, including exams, to receive credit for the course. Letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F are used for final course grades.

    Course Planning

    Plan your course schedule effectively and begin completing coursework promptly after your enrollment. Instructors are given up to ten (10) working days to grade each assignment submission, so plan for this assignment grading time. Students who begin their courses promptly after enrollment are more likely to complete courses successfully.

  • Course Credit

    Students receive academic credit from Texas State University for completed self-paced courses. Course credit is applied to a student's transcript in the semester in which a course is completed.

    Transferring Course Credit to Another School

    Texas State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Therefore, credit earned at Texas State is accepted by most institutions of higher education. However, you should consult your school before enrolling in a correspondence self-paced course to ensure that, upon successful completion of the course, credit earned will transfer and apply to your degree.

    Self-Paced Course Credit Hours and Hours of Enrollment

    Since you are technically not admitted to Texas State when enrolled in an online self-paced course, and your enrollment is not term-based, your course is not considered when determining the number of hours you're enrolled in each semester. Nor does your course affect your status as a full-time or part-time student, except in the semester in which you complete the course, when it is counted in your total semester load.

    Maximum Credit Hours Via Self-Paced Courses

    At Texas State, students may apply up to 18 hours of credit from online self-paced study courses to a Texas State degree.

  • Previous Grades in the Same Course

    Once the Texas State Registrar receives your online self-paced course grade, that grade replaces any previous grade earned for the course.

    Course Counts Toward GPA

    At Texas State, an online self-paced course counts toward your GPA. Policies vary among different schools, so if you are not a Texas State student, be sure to find out the policies from your school what the policy is regarding this at your school.

    Uncompleted Courses

    If you do not finish your online self-paced course before the course expiration date, you will receive an "NC" in place of a grade for your course.  This will display on your transcript as "NC," signifying it was not completed.  However, receiving an NC can be avoided by dropping your course. You are encouraged to stay organized and work hard to complete your course in the allotted time.

    Dropping a Course

    You may withdraw from a course at any time by accessing Texas State Self-Service. Please note that in order to receive a partial refund, you must withdraw from a class within the first 30 days. Refer to the Withdrawal Refund Schedule for refund amounts.

    You may not drop a course after taking the final exam, or for courses that do not have a final exam, after submitting the final assignment. Please note that in order to receive a partial refund, you must drop a class within the first 30 days. Refer to the Withdrawal Refund Schedule for information on partial refund amounts. 

    If you drop a course before your six-month or nine-month enrollment period expires, no grade will be reported to the Registrar, the course will not appear on your transcript, and the course will not be included in attempted hours calculations.

    Semester Your Course Grade Applies to

    Visit the Texas State Academic Calendar to determine when grades are due from faculty for the full term – typically stated as “Grades Due (Full Term).”

     Course instructors have up to 10 business days to grade assessments and exams. Therefore, if you complete your course 10 business days prior to when grades are due for the semester, then grades will apply to that semester. If you complete your course fewer than 10 business days prior to when grades are due for the semester, then the grade may apply to the following semester.

    For example, for the Fall 2024 semester, grades are due December 16, 2024. If you complete your course on December 2, 2024, your grade will apply to the Fall 2024 semester. If you complete your course after December 2, 2024, your grade may apply to the Spring 2025 semester.

  • Privacy in Distance Education

    Texas State has written policies and procedures for protecting the privacy of all students enrolled in all courses and programs, including distance education. These policies formally incorporate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and applicable laws and regulations. University policies include:

    Access to Student Records Pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 

    Appropriate Use of Information Resources

    Information Resources Identity and Access Management

    Security of Texas State Information Resources

    Texas State provides a notice regarding the privacy rights of students as well as information on how data is collected on its website. See complete explanations on the following:

    Privacy Rights Notice

    Privacy Statement (information gathering and dissemination)

  • Academic Honesty Policies that Cover Online Self-Paced Courses

    The Texas State Academic Honor Code applies to all Texas State students, including online self-paced students, as well as all courses, programs and academic activities at the university. Course syllabi and other course information typically include a statement about the importance of academic integrity. If you are unsure or have any questions, feel free to talk with your instructor or other trusted TXST staff, including a member of the Honor Code Council. Take a moment to review the Honor Code, the policy that outlines the process for students, faculty, and others when an Honor Code violation is suspected, and the Honor Code Council's website for enhancing awareness at TXST:

    The Honor Code serves as an affirmation that the University demands the highest standard of integrity in all actions related to the academic community. As stated in the Texas State Student Handbook, Violation of the Honor Code includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.

  • Online and Extended Programs is located in Room 302 of Academic Services Building North, adjacent to Old Main. For our exact location, you may wish to consult the campus map.

    Driving Directions from Interstate 35

    From I-35, take Exit 206 to Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82. From northbound I-35, turn left onto Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82. From southbound I-35, turn right onto Aquarena Springs Drive/Loop 82. Bobcat Stadium and satellite parking lots will be on your left. You will then cross over the San Marcos River. Aquarena Springs Drive intersects with Sessom Drive. You will either continue onto University Drive (Aquarena Springs Drive becomes University Drive) or turn right onto Sessom Drive, depending on where you plan to park on campus.

    On-Campus Visitors' Parking Options

    Visitors' parking is available in the Edward Gary Garage on the corner of Edward Gary Street and University Drive or in the LBJ Student Center Parking Garage on the corner of Student Center Drive and Tomas Rivera Drive. Check with Parking Services for complete information on visitors' parking.