College Catalog
Programs | Distance Learning
The Seattle Community Colleges offer a wide range of distance learning options using the latest technology,
through online courses, video cassette courses, and telecourses offered through the Seattle Community Colleges
cable channel, SCC-TV. The colleges are fully accredited, and with more than 150 courses to choose from, students
can earn an A.A. degree online at their own pace.
Distance Learning (DL) students experience the same curriculum, content and challenge as on-campus
students at the Seattle Community Colleges and are able to earn the same degree. DL classes are rigorous
and require students to structure their own schedules, balancing their time around the assignments/requirements
of the class.
Course content usually contains more reading and assignments to ensure that student learning
will be as rigorous as similar on-campus classes.
Experienced instructors are available for one-on-one communication, as are online study groups and discussion
forums with other students. Students have many opportunities to communicate with their instructors
through bulletin boards, email and telephone. Many classes have chat rooms for student-to-student interaction.
Students can work directly with an advisor who will recommend courses relevant to the student’s goals,
and develop an individualized degree completion plan.
State tuition applies in most courses and may be covered by financial aid. For more information, visit
www.seattlecolleges.edu/distance.
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Online Courses
Coursework for online courses is generally completed over the Internet, within a quarterly timeframe.
Students will be given textbook reading and lesson assignments.
Online study groups, student discussion forums, and contact with the course instructor via email enhance the learning experience.
Fully online courses do not require campus visit. Some courses may require limited on-campus visits;
please check the individual course description. Classes require Internet access and an email address.
Submission and grading of student work takes place online.
Most classes use bulletin boards for online discussion and do not require live chat.
Some online classes also incorporate professionally produced video materials.
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Washington Online Courses (WAOL)
Washington Online (WAOL) is a cooperative effort of Washington state’s community and technical colleges
to deliver coordinated online instruction.
A team of faculty members representing several community colleges develops Washington Online courses. Although students
register and earn credit through the Seattle Community Colleges, the instructor may be a faculty member at
another Washington state community or technical college. Enrollment follows a quarterly college schedule.
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Hybrid Online Courses
Hybrid online courses provide students with the scheduling flexibility of fewer campus visits while covering the
same materials as an equivalent class held entirely on campus.
Hybrid online classes usually have at least one on-campus meeting per week combined with a "virtual classroom" website
incorporating regular communications with the instructor and other students (through a bulletin board discussion),
online content and lessons, and interactive Web-based activities. These courses often use on-campus exams as assessment tools.
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Telecourses and Video Cassette Courses
Televised courses are offered through Seattle Community Colleges cable channel, SCC-TV in Seattle.
Telecourses involve viewing programs at specified times, reading textbook assignments,
and completing lessons outlined in the study guide that students receive upon registration.
Videocassette courses are identical to telecourses with the exception that students rent the complete series of videotapes
and view them at their convenience. The tapes must be returned to the Distance Learning Office at the end of the quarter.
Some of these videocassette courses are available on DVDs.
On-campus meetings are generally not required for these courses. However, students may be required to take their exams on campus.
Students who are not able to come to campus may find their own proctor to supervise the exams.
Assignments are submitted to the instructor by mail, in person, by fax or email.
Enrollment follows the quarterly college schedule.
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Videostreaming and Video-on-Demand
For students with broadband Internet connections, the Seattle Community Colleges offer online classes that
incorporate video-on-demand. Professional telecourse series and college-produced video materials are videostreamed
anytime students need to view them and videotapes may also be rented. These classes are available to all students.
Interactive Multisite Courses
Interactive Multisite Courses (also called ITV) are broadcast to and from Seattle colleges
(or around the world) via two-way live interactive teleconferencing.
Students from different campuses see and interact with one another and their instructor in specially
designed classrooms. Instructors may spend time visiting each participating Seattle college.
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Correspondence Courses
Correspondence studies are conducted by mail, and students receive study guides with a course outline, a
list of required textbooks, and instructions on how to complete specific lessons.
Students submit completed assignments to the Distance Learning Office for evaluation by the instructor,
who will return them to the student with comments. Students have 170 days to complete a course.
Consult with a counselor or advisor before enrolling.
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Minimum requirements for online, WAOL, videostreaming and hybrid courses include:
- Access to a PC with a Pentium processor (Windows XP) or comparable Macintosh computer (OS X)
- An Internet connection (DSL or cable modem connection recommended)
- An Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari or Firefox browser
- An email account and word processing software (Microsoft Word recommended).
Courses with audiostreaming or videostreaming will require sound and video cards and a broadband
(DSL or cable modem) Internet connection. Technology fees allow students to use campus computers and Internet accounts.
For more information on Washington Online, visit the Web site at
www.washingtononline.org.
Technical requirements for telecourses and videocassette courses require access to TV and VCR or DVD player
(for some courses) and to audiocassette recorder (for some courses). Typewritten/word-processed assignments are preferred.
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Online technology, licensing, video rental and videostreaming fees may apply. Washington Online courses
(WAOL) require a technology fee. Video rental and licensing fees may apply for telecourses and videocassette
courses.
Distance Learning classes are very popular and sometimes fill before the quarter begins. Students who register
early usually receive an email, postcard or orientation packet with specific information that will provide a head
start.
Students are encouraged to register early.
Books and study guides for most Distance Learning courses may be ordered online or purchased at
the campus bookstore. Academic advising can help students decide whether Distance Learning is a good
option for their personal situations. Students can be put in touch with an advisor through email at
dlweb@sccd.ctc.edu, by calling the toll-free phone number: 1-888-801-3607, or by visiting the website at
www.seattlecolleges.edu/distance.
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(206) 985-3928
www.scctv.net
The Seattle Community Colleges television station, SCCtv, delivers educational and community interest
programming via cable to residents of Seattle on Comcast cable channel 28, Millennium cable channel 32
and via streaming video on the Internet to the worldwide community at
www.scctv.net
Learning programs include 26 telecourses and courses on the web produced in PLANET! —
a video-based distance learning system developed by SCCtv.
In addition to television and Internet courses, SCCtv presents news and cultural programs and originates programming series
such as Art Work and Seattle ArtsLink, featuring Northwest artists; I Remember Seattle, with Seattle historical figures;
Entrepreneurs & Innovators, focusing on Pacific Northwest business; Books at the Berkshire, a series highlighting the works and
words of Pacific Northwest authors; and Synopsis, a student presented television magazine of news and events at
the Seattle Community Colleges.
In 2001, SCCtv built IRIS (Internet Resource Instructional System), an advanced digital distribution system allowing
organizations to use SCCtv/IRIS as their web portal to deliver high-quality video, graphic and multimedia educational
content over the web to students, faculty and administrators. SCCtv serves as the streaming portal for
Annenberg Media, the major telecourse producer in the U.S., and the League for Innovation. More than 800
colleges and universities and 77,000 K-12 public schools access educational video and rich media material through SCCtv/IRIS.
For programming information and to watch SCCtv on the web go to www.scctv.net.
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