Distance Learning
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Am I eligible for the Liberal Studies Distance Learning Program?

Students who have an Associate of Arts degree (AA) from a Florida Public Community College are excellent candidates for the LS Distance Learning Program. Because many of the courses needed to complete UCF's General Education Program are not available online, it may not be possible for students who do not have these requirements met to participate in the LS Distance Learning Program. All students are also encouraged to have all foreign language entrance and exit requirements met before beginning the LS Distance Learning Program. Please refer to the degree requirements portion of this website to review the foreign language entrance and exit requirements.

2. What can I study if I am in the Liberal Studies Distance Learning Program?

Students interested in the LS Distance Learning Program can currently study the following subjects online:

•   Health
•   Public Affairs
•   Behavioral and Social Sciences (Political Science, Psychology and Sociology)

As the University of Central Florida expands its' offerings of courses online, this list may grow. Because the Liberal Studies department does not actually offer any courses, the program offerings are based on the general online course list for the university. Course selection should be made in individual consultation with the Liberal Studies Advising Team.

3. Can I take some of my courses at UCF and some online? What about taking some courses at another school?

We encourage students to be flexible and realize that online course offerings are limited and we cannot predict what courses will be offered and when. It greatly increases a student's chance of completing this degree in a timely matter if they are willing to occasionally travel to one of our UCF campuses. All UCF students must complete at least 30 of their last 36 hours at UCF (this includes UCF Distance Learning courses). You may be eligible for taking some courses at another institution if they are pre-approved by the Liberal Studies department. Students may not be transient (attending another institution) in their graduating semester.

4. I am planning on transferring to UCF. How will I find out if my previous coursework will transfer to UCF? Can the Liberal Studies department review my transcripts before I apply to UCF?

It is important to work closely with the UCF Transfer Services Office regarding transfer work to the University. They can be contacted at (407) 823-5959. You may visit their website at (http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~transfer/). Unfortunately, the Liberal Studies department cannot evaluate your transcript for you. Once students are accepted to UCF, the university reviews all previous credit and you will receive a Transfer Summary Report (TSR). At that time, you may approach the Liberal Studies office if you feel there are courses that may apply to your plan of study. You may submit a course description for each course you would like to request permission to use and our director will review your request. Remember, at least 18 hours of your areas of study must be UCF credit, and at least 18 hours must be upper-division. (Please refer to degree requirements portion of this website.)

5. Will I ever need to come to campus while taking web courses?

It is possible that you may be required to come to the UCF campus for an orientation to WebCT or to take exams. These requirements are determined by the individual instructor and/or department of the course. We suggest that all students contact the instructor prior to the start of the semester to inquire if they will be required to come to a UCF campus for any reason.

6. How much do web courses cost?

UCF courses taught online cost the same amount as traditional courses.

7. Is there a difference in Liberal Studies where the courses are offered on campus and majoring in the Liberal Studies online program?

In both cases, students are held to the requirements of the Liberal Studies major, found in the UCF catalog. The main difference is when students are planning on completing their Liberal Studies major completely online, there are fewer areas of study and minors due to the fact that not all courses in the Liberal Studies curriculum are web-based.