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General Questions
What is an online course?
An online course is a course in which learning and student participation take place via the Internet. Through the Continuing Studies website, students will access an e-learning environment which will include weekly lessons and assignments, online discussion boards and chat rooms to promote student interaction, and an online writers' workshop.
Who developed the current offering of online courses?
The online writing courses have been developed by accomplished writers who have held Stegner Fellowships in the prestigious Stanford Creative Writing Program. In creating their courses, each writer has drawn on their individual teaching and workshopping experience, as well as their personal writing interests.
What are the courses being offered, and how do I enroll?
Starting on Auguest 18, you can click on the links below and register online for one of these courses:
What is a typical online writing course like? And how will I interact with classmates and instructors?
In a typical course, students will encounter a series of weekly lessons, which will include hand-selected readings, discussion points and short writing assignments designed to help students refine their craft. In the second half of the course, students will write longer pieces and workshop them with fellow students and the instructor. Using online discussion boards and chat rooms, each student will receive constructive commentary from the instructor and feedback from their peers.
How long is each course?
Each course is 10 weeks in duration. The first class of the Fall term starts the week of
September 22, 2008.
What kind of time commitment is required?
On average, each writing course will require a minimum of 5-8 hours of time per week.
How often will the class meet online? Are there designated times to participate online?
Class participation generally takes place at the convenience of the individual student with one exception: Instructors will schedule virtual office hours (usually in the form of a chat session) at a specified time during the week.
What are the prerequisites for taking a course?
There are no prerequisites for the courses currently being offered. Novice and experienced writers alike will find the small, workshop environment a venue where they can receive substantive feedback and refine their craft, and also learn by offering helpful suggestions to others.
Must I be a graduate of Stanford in order to take a course?
No. These courses are open to Stanford alumni as well as members of the general public, regardless of where you live.
Do I need to purchase course materials?
Yes. These course materials, usually in the form of books and anthologies, must be purchased by each student. Upon registering for a course, students will receive bibliographical information (including ISBN numbers) for the texts, along with links to online vendors (such as Amazon.com) where they can immediately purchase the texts online. Even if you already own a particular book, we ask that you ensure that you have the same edition as your classmates to facilitate page referencing, reading assignments and discussion.
Are the courses graded?
Students will have three grading options. The online courses can be taken for 1) a letter grade, 2) credit/no credit, or 3) no grade.
Can I earn a degree or credit toward a degree from this course?
Stanford Continuing Studies courses can be taken for a grade and credit, but that credit cannot be applied toward a Stanford degree. It may be possible to apply that credit toward a degree program at another college, university or writing program, depending on that institution's academic policies. Students who complete at least 18 units of course work may be eligible for a Certificate of Completion -- see the Continuing Studies Grades, Credits & Certificates page for more information.
Can I receive a proof of completion for my course?
Upon request, Stanford Continuing Studies can provide students with either official or unofficial transcripts listing all completed Continuing Studies courses. The first five (5) transcripts are provided free of charge. Transcript requests must be received in writing. Please see the Continuing Studies Grades, Credits & Certificates page for more details on transcripts.
What is your refund policy?
In order to be granted a full tuition refund, students must cancel their registration online or in writing to the CSP office by 5:00 pm on the first Thursday of the class; the registration fee and course fees are non-refundable. You may sign into your MyCSP account to drop a course and receive an automatic refund. Faxes (650-725-4248) and emails are also accepted. Please allow 2-3 weeks to process emailed or faxed refunds.
Why are the online courses more expensive than the classroom courses?
The price of the online course was determined largely by class size. Each online writing class is limited to 15 students and one instructor, making it significantly smaller than the writing courses offered on campus, and allowing the instructor to give each student more time and personalized attention.
If my course does not begin for several weeks, do I need to enroll now?
Due to the limited class size of these online writing workshops (15 students per class), we ask that students enroll early in order to ensure a place in the course.
Technical Requirements
Do I need any special computer equipment in order to take an online writing course?
Although personal computers vary widely, you will not need any unusual or leading-edge hardware or software. Any computer, either Mac or PC, with a relatively modern operating system and Web browser will work. If you are an AOL subscriber, using AOL browsers, it is very likely that you already have either the Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers on your computer--if not, these browsers are available for download from their creators, free of charge. Make sure your web browser has Javascript and Cookies enabled.
The minimum system requirements are listed below:
- Windows XP Professional: Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape 7.1, Mozilla 1.7.2, Firefox 1.0
- Windows XP Home: Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape 7.1, Mozilla 1.7.2, Firefox 1.0
- Windows 2000: Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape 7.1, Mozilla 1.7.2, Firefox 1.0
- Macintosh 10.3.6: Internet Explorer 5.2, Netscape 7.02, Mozilla 1.7.2, Firefox 1.0, Safari 1.2.x
Can you remind me of my username or password?
If you have already created a MyCSP user name and have forgotten your MyCSP name or password, we can email your user name and a new password from our Forgot Password page. You can also just lookup your MyCSP user name if you remember your password. The password is case-sensitive.
Is my credit card information secure online with the Stanford Continuing Studies Program?
Yes, all information is kept secure. The CSP site uses the Internet-standard SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to protect your personal information from intruders or hackers.
Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
Please email continuingstudies@stanford.edu or call 650-725-0222 with any questions.
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