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The Certificate Program 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-Chapel Hill'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 UNC-CH's 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. This means that 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 your 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 Ph.D. 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 UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication graduate program?
Admission into the certificate program has no bearing on admission to the graduate-degree 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 M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Will the certificate be listed on my transcript?
After you complete the program, your transcript will indicate that you have earned a Certificate in Technology and Communication from UNC-Chapel Hill. Transcripts can be obtained from the registrar. Does the UNC-Chapel Hill journalism school offer an online master’s degree?
Not at this time. 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-CH 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 Web log or blog. Is online education right for me?
The Certificate program is a distance-education program that allows you 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. You 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, bulletin board postings or assignments — is the primary avenue for learning. Are any courses taught in the summer?
No. Will I ever have to physically visit the UNC-CH 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. Over weekends and holidays, response times may be longer. Instructors communicate via your UNC-Chapel Hill e-mail account. (See below: How do I get a UNC-CH e-mail account?) What kinds of technology do I need at home or work to participate in a distance learning course?
We strongly suggest a home broadband connection to the Internet and a computer running the latest Windows or Mac operating system. We use the Blackboard course management system to deliver 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, so you don’t need to be an expert. You will need to be comfortable sending e-mail and using the Internet. You’ll need to become familiar with posting messages to a discussion forum on Blackboard, and it is likely that you will be creating documents and attaching them to e-mail messages. Several courses also teach students how to create a Web log or "blog." I would like to familiarize myself with HTML before starting classes. Can you recommend some online tutorials?
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. You may find the following sites useful: HTML Tutorial and Webmonkey
Can I get to UNC-Chapel Hill 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. You will need to know your Onyen when you to try to connect to these resources. The library Web site provides detailed instructions. How am I graded? What are the grade options?
Your work will be graded on the same scale used by on-campus graduate courses at UNC-CH: H = High Pass, P = Pass, L = Low Pass, F = Fail and I = Incomplete. Keep in mind that a P does not equal a conventional C grade. The majority of students receive a P for work that is equivalent to an A- to a flat C. If a Certificate student earns two Ls 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 studentcentral.unc.edu with your onyen and password. Registering for Classes How will I know I'm registered for a course?
The School will send your Person ID Number (PID) acknowledging your enrollment in the program within a week of completing the registration form. What is a PID?
The Person ID Number (PID) is an identification number assigned to all persons affiliated with the University. This number is a universal number that is 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, you can obtain your PID using your social security number and date of birth. If you have been enrolled at any time at UNC-CH, you have a PID. How do I know which books to purchase?
Reading assignments will 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 Distance Education. Instructors also may assign texts, which can be purchased online at Amazon.com and other e-retailers. How do I get to my course(s)?
Course content is managed by Blackboard. You 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 at http://onyen.unc.edu/ with your PID and last name. (See How can I look up my PID if I already have one?) How do I get a UNC-Chapel Hill e-mail account?
When you create your onyen, a UNC-Chapel Hill e-mail account is created automatically for you. To send and read mail, visit http://webmail.unc.edu and login using your onyen and password. Instructors and program administrators will communicate with you through this account. You can change this default setting after you sign into Blackboard, but many students prefer to have an e-mail account that is different from their work or personal account. Even if you change this preference within Blackbaord or forward your e-mail as described below, it is still strongly suggested that you check your UNC e-mail account periodically. Can I forward my UNC e-mail address to another address?
We suggest you use your UNC e-mail address for all class-related eemail, but if you prefer to use a different e-mail address, you can change your preferred email address for UNC. Changing your e-mail at the site above is not foolproof and we suggest that you also forward your UNC e-mail address to your preferred e-mail address. I have taken classes at UNC-Chapel Hill before, but this is my first online course. Will my old onyen and password still work?
It will if your password hasn't expired. Onyen passowords 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 that you use the challenge-response system when you create an onyen and password. This system makes it easy for you to reset your own password when you have forgotten it by answering a set of questions you have defined in the system. How do I drop a course?
Withdrawal is dropping all of your courses on your UNC-Chapel Hill schedule for the semester after classes have begun. If for any reason you must withdraw from your course(s) prior to completion, you will need to notify the Office of Distance Education by e-mail in order to avoid academic penalty. Please also refer to the Academic Calendar. You may be eligible for a prorated refund, depending on the date of withdrawal.
Cancellation is dropping all of your courses on your UNC-Chapel Hill schedule for the semester before classes begin. It is, in effect, the same as not having registered at all. No entry is made on your permanent record and 100 percent of your prepaid tuition and fees is refunded. Please contact the Office of Distance Education to cancel courses.
Dropping a course assumes that you have more than one course on your UNC-Chapel Hill schedule for the current semester. You may drop a course with credit to your financial account up to the census date (about three weeks into the semester). You 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, please contact the Office of Distance Education. How can I obtain a transcript?
Transcripts can be obtained from the registrar. Financial Concerns Do you offer tuition assistance or scholarships?
Unfortunately, there are no grants or loans at this time available through UNC-Chapel Hill 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. Following are several 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-Chapel Hill accept military tuition assistance?
Yes. Please contact the UNC Cashier’s Office:
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, assistant director responsible for the military, and
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, who handles military billing. The telephone number is 919.962.1368. 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-Chapel Hill is a state-supported institution, our tuition is tied to rates 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, you can claim a tax credit or deduction for some or all of your 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 us with an address to which we will 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. Helpful Links for Enrolled Students UNC-Chapel Hill 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. You also can call (919) 962-HELP. Student Stores Blackboard
If you are experiencing problems with Blackboard, please check the help page found at http://help.unc.edu/?search=Blackboard. If you cannot log on or believe the system might be down, try calling (919) 962-HELP. We will send e-mail messages to all distance education students if Blackboard experiences technical problems. Student Central
Check your grades, pay your bill, verify course registration here, plus much more. Still Need Help? The School's Office of Distance and Executive Education stands ready to assist you. If we can't answer your questions, we'll find someone who can. The Office of Distance Education and Executive Education is staffed 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding University holidays. Call us toll-free at 1.877.668.0674. Have another question? E-mail
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Research & Graduate Studies 
