University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is one of the eleven degree-granting institutions of the University System of Maryland (USM). UMUC is comprised of:

• UMUC Asia, with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan
• UMUC Adelphi, with headquarters in Adelphi, Maryland
• UMUC Europe, with headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany

UMUC Asia has provided traditional courses to US military communities across Asia and the Pacific since 1956. More recently, UMUC Asia has offered a number of courses utilizing alternative delivery formats. With the rapid introduction of computers and the internet into academia, online education has become both a popular and effective medium. Our Online Learning (OL) program, in its current form, has been in existence since 1996.

OL courses have been designed to maximize flexibility for students, without compromising the quality and effectiveness of course instruction. Courses are presented via WebTycho, UMUC's proprietary online course delivery platform. Students and faculty have secure access to classroom space via the internet; thus, courses are conducted entirely in these virtual classrooms.

It is important to note that OL courses are not the same as correspondence courses. Classwork, though flexible, is not self-paced, and ultimately course requirements are completed within a fixed timeframe. Students should expect a class experience that is both challenging and fulfilling.

To learn more about UMUC Asia's OL program, please read through the additional information on this page. To contact our office, please call DSN 225-3696 or e-mail de-asia@umuc.edu.

Eligibility Tuition and Fees Courses and Programs Textbooks Technical Requirements and Support

Accreditation Student Services Course Format Self-Assessment Quiz WebTycho Tour

Members of the military communities, U.S. government employees, and family members who meet admission requirements are eligible to enroll in UMUC Asia OL courses. Local citizens interested in taking Asia OL courses should contact our office of Student Affairs.

Each year UMUC Asia OL offers approximately 500 courses at the undergraduate level, covering a number of disciplines, and including a mix of lower-level and upper-level courses. For more information on course offerings and degree options, please see the current OL schedule, or UMUC Asia's other programs of study.

Graduate OL courses and programs are offered through UMUC Adelphi. For more information, please see the following on UMUC's Graduate Online Programs.

UMUC is regionally accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

UMUC Asia OL offers five sessions each academic year via WebTycho, UMUC's online delivery platform. Each WebTycho classroom contains secure areas for posting class material, submitting assignments, and participating in both large and small discussion groups. In addition, students can access UMUC's extensive library resources and proprietary databases via the classroom.

Communication is typically asynchronous, so that students and faculty are generally not online at the same time. However, since all communication is contained in the virtual classroom, discussions can take place in a way that accommodates varying schedules and locations.

Students should expect to spend about eight to ten hours a week for each OL course that they take. Some courses, depending on the level of difficulty, may require more or less time per week. Students should plan accordingly, based on the extent of their remaining obligations (i.e., work, family, etc.).

All students taking UMUC Asia OL 8 Week courses are required to take one proctored exam near the end of the term. For more information, please read through our proctored exam procedures.

For more information on term dates, please consult our Weekly Calendar.

To successfully participate and complete online courses with UMUC Asia, students should have regular access to the following:

• A computer with internet access
• An up-to-date web browser (Internet Explorer 7.0 or 8.1)
• JavaScript Version 1.5 (or newer) must be installed on your computer
• Java Virtual Machine (JVM) must also be installed on your computer
• Cookies and Java must be enabled
• An active e-mail account
• Word processing software (Microsoft Word or a comparable program)

Other equipment or software may be needed, depending on course requirements. For more information, please view the specific course syllabus, available on our Schedule of Classes, or learn more about WebTycho's technical requirements. Learn more about installing the above Java applications on this setting up link.

Although the university has available limited computer resources in their on-site Computer Labs, access is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

Tuition and fees are payable at the time of registration. Our UMUC Asia tuition rate is coordinated with the US government and is applicable to all Asia students taking OL classes through UMUC Asia, Europe, and Adelphi. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

A list of fees is available from the current UMUC Asia Catalog.

Order Books and Course Materials - From inside the MyUMUC Student Center, scroll down to Ordering Textbooks located in the right-side column. Click on UMUC Asia – webText. This will open a new window to webText, our UMUC Asia book ordering system. The webText link can also be found on the Asia OL Webpage. At this point, new students will need to create an account to place a textbook order. This is separate from your MyUMUC account. In the "Account Sign In" box, click on Create New Account, fill in the form, and then click the Create New Account button at the bottom of the page. Be sure to enter your name exactly the same way it appears in your MyUMUC account. So, for example if your name is "Richard" in MyUMUC, webText will not accept "Rick".

Your payment options depend on whether you include the following information when creating your webText account:

1. EMPLID/Student ID
2. Last 4 digits of your SSN (or National ID#)
3. Date of birth

Once you have created your webText account, you are able to place your textbook order. Click on Place a Textbook Order. Be sure to select the appropriate session from the top drop down menu. The Class Location block automatically displays "Asia - Distance Education", so you can leave this as is, so now click the "Submit" button. Check the appropriate boxes for the classes you are enrolled in and click View Course Materials. The materials for the classes will be shown. Click on the Add to Cart button to select the items, and then click on Add to Shopping Cart.

Now it's time to check out. Click on Proceed to Checkout and select a payment method. In the next screen, select your preferred delivery method from the options listed near the top of the screen. If you have chosen to have your order shipped to a UMUC class center, please select the center from the dropdown menu. You can also review your shipping and billing address. Click the Continue to Checkout button. In the next screen you can review your order. To make changes to your textbook order, click on the Shopping Cart link at the top of the page. If everything is correct, check the box to affirm that you have read and agreed to the Terms and Conditions, and click the Place Your Order button. The last screen is your Textbook Order Confirmation Page. Please print out a copy of this confirmation and take it with you if you are picking up your textbook(s) from a Class Center.

Now you have ordered your books. If you chose your mailing address as your delivery option your OL textbooks will be shipped directly to you. If you chose to have your order shipped to a UMUC class center, please check with your UMUC enrollment office to see if they have arrived. Expect delivery in 7-10 business days; a bit longer for Europe and Middle East APO/FPO.

If you have any questions or comments about WebText, please send them to textbooks-asia@umuc.edu.

For information on course requirements, academic advising and financial aid, please consult the current UMUC Asia Catalog or the following information on student services.

Follow the links provided below for a closer look into UMUC's online learning program:

• To help decide if OL is right for you, take UMUC’s Self Assessment Quiz
• For a guided explanation of the WebTycho delivery platform, take UMUC's Online Test Drive
• For a list of things you'll need to take online classes, view the following checklist
• Take a WebTycho TOUR