Students who are interested in studying at a distance learning or correspondence school typically must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Other schools, however, are more stringent in their admissions process. Some schools require applicants to submit transcripts of any college courses they took while still in high school or after high school, and students also might have to write and submit an essay about their educational and career goals.
To get into a distance learning master's degree program, such as one offered by Capella University, students generally must submit a copy of their four-year bachelor's degree program. Meanwhile, aspiring doctoral degree students must submit transcripts from their master's degree program.
In addition, some online schools require students to complete an entrance placement exam to determine whether they are ready to complete their chosen degree program or to determine the level of classes with which they should begin.
To succeed in a distance learning or correspondence school, students must have access to a computer with high-speed Internet. They usually are required to have a certain screen resolution, CD-ROM drive, sound card and speakers and a webcam and microphone for audio/video conferencing. Institutions also will tell students what type of operating system, browser, word processing software, media player and other types of software they need. Schools such as Arizona State University actually require potential students to test their computers and ensure computability with the school's online technology using a system profile tool before attending their first-year orientation at the school.
Classes in a distance learning or correspondence school program can cover a wide range of topics depending on a student's area of study. For example, an online psychology student might take a class on drugs and human behavior, while a health services administration student might study health care policy online, according to Drexel University.
However, degree students generally first must take a core of liberal education courses, much like the core courses required of students at a traditional university. These courses include the humanities, literature, mathematics and biological science, according to the University of Minnesota. Students submit papers and other coursework to instructors online and can use e-mail and discussion boards to communicate with professors and fellow students. They can access their coursework 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some programs, such as those in chemistry, include lab kits that students can receive at their homes to practice their skills.
Although correspondence programs are mostly online, some schools actually require their students to also complete a hands-on experience before they can graduate. For example, online dental assisting students at Rio Salado College in Arizona must complete an on-site practicum supervised by a dentist. In this situation, the school can help arrange an on-site internship/externship site in the student's area. In addition, some correspondence programs require students to visit the campuses of their schoosl at some point during their programs.