Gonzaga Online Frequently Asked Questions

Can I complete my online master's degree through internet courses?
How many students are typically in an online course?
Who will be teaching my classes?
What type of support services will I receive?
How long does it take to complete a program?
Is the tuition for online courses the same as for campus courses?
Why are the online courses eight weeks in length, while the campus courses are 15 weeks?
Are they the same courses in terms of content?
Is there a residency requirement with the Gonzaga online programs?
How do I purchase my textbooks and other course materials if I am an online student?
I want to enroll in courses; what's my next step?
 
Can I complete my online master's degree through internet courses?

Courses leading to the completion of our master's programs will be available online. Online courses are offered on a unique eight-week class schedule, as opposed to the campus 15-week class schedule. For every program there's a required residency, the rest of the requirements can be completed online.
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How many students are typically in an online course?

Typically 20 students are in a course and each class is split into smaller discussion groups. We keep our classes small to allow more one-on-one time with individual students.
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Who will be teaching my classes?

Every online class is designed by Gonzaga faculty and instructors with doctoral degrees. Each class is taught by faculty who have either a Ph.D. or a Master's degree and years of work experience in their profession.
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What type of support services will I receive?

We offer layers of support to our students. Earning your degree online can seem daunting. That is why we have set-up different layers of support to help you every step of the way.

We’re here to help you succeed. Our student’s support system:

  • 24/7 Tech Support
  • Student Services Support
  • Program Manager
  • Faculty Advisor

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How long does it take to complete a program?

Typically a graduate student, taking 6 credits per semester (two courses), could complete a program in 2.5 years. If you are able to add additional credits in any given period, you could accelerate your graduation.

If you have taken graduate level courses previously, but have not yet completed a graduate degree, you may be able to transfer those credits into the program.

Below are the stipulations for transferring in graduate credit:

Graduate students may transfer credits into their program with the approval of their Program Director, the Dean of the students program, and the Registrar’s Office. A maximum of 1/5 of program credits (usually 6 semester credits for graduates) may be transferred.

Course work must be distinctively graduate level by the transfer institution and must have been taken within the last five years. A minimum grade of a B (P grades must be defined as B or better) must be earned. Courses previously applied to a degree are not transferable to the student current program. It is important to note that all credits are converted to semester credits and are awarded after signatures have been obtained.
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Is the tuition for online courses the same as for campus courses?

Yes, the tuition is identical on campus and online.
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Why are the online courses eight weeks in length, while the campus courses are 15 weeks?

The online delivery of each course is offered over an eight-week schedule, with each course divided into four two-week-long learning modules. Courses leading to a degree of online Master's are the same in content regardless of the medium used to deliver them; the same faculty; and, access to the Foley Center Library is equivalent both for those who live in Spokane and those who live outside our geographic area.
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Are they the same courses in terms of content?

Each learning module is developed around content competencies, and organizes the students' work around readings, teacher presentations, films, mentor statements, and an on-going discussion among the students and the teacher. After doing the work outlined for each two-week module, students show evidence of mastery of the competencies through some means determined by the teacher (e.g., a paper).

Students who complete the work for an eight-week course in the online environment are required to accomplish the same type and amount of work that they would have been required to do for a more traditional fifteen-week course: both the eight-week online version and the fifteen-week face-to-face version are worth three graduate semester credits.
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Is there a residency requirement with the Gonzaga online programs?

For both the Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Master of Arts in Communication and Leadership, you are required to come to campus for one three-day weekend as part of one of your course requirements. Call (866) 295-3105 to discuss the details of the residency requirement for your program of choice with a Program Manager today.
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How do I purchase my textbooks and other course materials if I am an online student?

You may choose to buy new or used books from the Gonzaga University bookstore, from Amazon.com, from Textbooks.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or from your preferred bookstore. The Gonzaga University Bookstore's website (www.bookstore.gonzaga.edu) allows you to see what materials are required for each course you are taking, and to order used or new books online, which are then directly shipped to you.

Some of the textbooks and/or other course materials you used for a course will only be used for that course; other materials may be useful beyond one course.
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I want to enroll in courses; what's my next step?

1.  In order to apply to become a graduate student with Gonzaga University Online, please complete the online application or call (866) 295-3105 to call with a Program Manager.

2.  After submitting your application and the required application fee, you'll need to send the following materials:

  • Statement of Purpose
  • Official Test Scores, (GRE, GMAT, MAT or LSAT)
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Resume
  • Submission of an official TOEFL score of at least 550 by each international applicant who has graduated from a foreign college or university and whose native language is not English

3.  After being accepted into the program as a graduate student, you will be issued the following:

  • A Gonzaga e-mail address.
  • Blackboard access username and password (the same as your e-mail username and password)
  • Zagweb access username and password

4.  Once you are registered for your courses, you need to make arrangements to pay tuition. We will help put you in touch with the Student Accounts and Financial Aid offices when you reach this point of the application process.

5.  Enjoy being a graduate student at Gonzaga University. Go Zags!

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