New Student Orientation — Week 3

Final Week of Orientation! 😀

Hi! 😄 This third week of orientation was very interesting!

🎓 Grades and Degree Requirements

First, we learned about how we can check our grades in the platform.

Then, we were presented with the degree requirements for both the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree. If you’re curious, basically you need to take these courses in several areas of knowledge (plus the courses in your major and electives):

• UNIV 1001 Online Education Strategies.
• MATH 1201 College Algebra.
• MATH 1280 Introduction to Statistics.
• ENGL 1102 English Composition 2.
• PHIL 1404 Ethics and Social Responsibility.
• HIST 1421 Greek and Roman Civilization.

Disciplinary Areas of Knowledge:

• One course in Humanities.(You can choose! 😃) Options are:

AHIST 1401 Art History.
ENGL 1405 World Literature.
PHIL 1402 Introduction to Philosophy.

• One course in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Options are:

ECON 1580 Introduction to Economics.
POLS 1503 Globalization.
PSYC 1111 Introduction to Human Psychology.
PSYC 1205 Emotional Intelligence.
PSYC 1504 Introduction to Psychology.
SOC 1502 Introduction to Sociology.

• One course in Natural Sciences and Technology. Options are:

BIOL 1301 Introduction to Biology.
BIOL 1121 Biology 1 for Health Science Majors.
ENVS 1301 Intro to Environmental Sciences.

💡 Note: For a Bachelor’s Degree you need to take 5 courses in these three Disciplinary Areas of Knowledge.

In my case, so far I decided to take World Literature, Art History, Introduction to Economics, Introduction to Psychology and Biology 1 for Health Majors (But I will research more about the difference between this course and Introduction to Biology to make my final choice). I would also love to take Introduction to Sociology, if possible.

🎓 Class Standing and Course Registration

We also learned about class standing:

• First Year: less than 30 credits (aprox. 3 credits per course).
• Second Year (Sophomore): 30–59 credits.
• Junior: 60–89 credits.
• Senior: 90 credits or more! (I can’t wait to be here! 😍).

The course registration period varies depending on your class standing, the calendar that you will find on the UoPeople website shows the very first date but depending on your class standing, the date for your course registration might differ a little bit.

Course Registration is FIFO (First in, first Out). Courses fill up and close, so it is recommended to register early, if possible during the first days of registration.

💡 Note: There is a late registration period but courses that already filled up will not be available.

⚠️ You must complete a Bachelor’s degree in a max. of 50 terms (10 yearsbecause there are 5 terms of 10 weeks in an academic year at UoPeople). ⚠️

🎓 Applying to be a degree-seeking student

After you meet the English Language requirements by either sending your test scores of a test approved by UoPeople such as the TOEFL or by taking English Composition I (my case!) you can apply to become a degree-seeking student while taking your first foundations courses.

If your GPA (Grade Point Average) is above 2.00 (out of 4.00) or higher and you complete these courses, you are admitted to the degree next term.

If you do not submit the documentation during your first foundations courses, you can take a maximum of five courses, earn a GPA 2.00, and submit your high school documentation to be admitted.

More Info!

We learned about satisfactory academic progress at UoPeople:

• Good standing is having a GPA higher than 2.00.
• Academic warning is when your GPA falls below 2.00.
• Academic Probation is when you continue to have a GPA below 2.00 (there can be consequences).

Proctored Exams are tests that you take with a person that you designate as your proctor when you register for the course or you can use online proctoring with ProctorU.

💡 Note: You must complete at least 5 proctored exams for the Associate’s degree and 11 for the Bachelor’s degree.

We also learned how payments work, and what is considered “inactivity”. You can be inactive for up to 3 consecutive terms but no more in an academic year (September — August)

⚠️ If you drop or withdraw from all courses during a term, that term is considered “inactive”. You can also apply for a Leave of Absence (LOA) on the student portal up to 1 week before the term begins if you do not plan to register for any course. ⚠️

WARNING: If you do not register for any courses and do NOT apply for a Leave of Absence you are administratively withdrawn from UoPeople.

🎓 My Final thoughts:

I’m really excited to start studying at UoPeople. Now, more than ever, due to recent circumstances, I really appreciate every aspect of the university, specially how carefully they thought about students in developing countries who don’t have access to an accessible, reliable or high-speed internet connection.

The freedom they provide by letting us choose how many courses to take, which courses to take and really plan our path is truly amazing, I feel much more empowered and in control of my education.

This week I made a customized prerequisite chart for the Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science that I will share with you in the next few weeks 😄 Hope you like it. I have it right next to my computer and it has been very encouraging.

I will be taking English Composition 1 this next term that starts in November (It’s super exciting! 😁 🎉) I’m ready to work very hard and to learn so much thanks to this opportunity that they are giving me.

I will write more about my experience during the courses and share some inside tips with you 😉