Fitting a college education into your already busy schedule can seem daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. Through AACC’s IDEA Lab, one of the nation’s top community college online learning programs, you can take some college programs entirely online, get job training, sharpen your professional skills or take a course for fun, all from the comfort and convenience of your own computer. Our online classes are taught by many of the same professors who teach face-to-face courses at AACC, and, as an online student, you’ll have full access to online tutoring, technical support and other student services – everything you need to succeed in the online classroom.
Online courses use the internet and AACC’s online learning platform, Canvas, to deliver course materials and facilitate regular and helpful interaction between you and your instructor, and even between you and your fellow students. Online courses cover the same material as classroom courses and the learning outcomes are the same. The big difference is that the format offers a convenient way to take classes - allowing for greater flexibility in your schedule. It can save you travel time and expenses as well.
It is important to know that online courses are not self-paced. They have a clear start and end date, and your instructor will set deadlines for assignments and assessments in the same way as face-to-face classes. While you will have access to materials 24/7, you must meet the objectives of the class on the required timetable.
To search for credit online courses that will be offered during a term, go to Course Search.
By default, the results will show available sections only.
*Note: Some online courses may require proctored exams or on-campus assessments at a testing center.
To learn more about online learning, and debunk a few common myths, watch this Introduction to Online Learning tutorial.
AACC has many degrees and certificates available online. Complete available programs fully online or take in combination with traditional in-person courses and/or hybrid courses.
Hybrid courses combine the learning formats of in-class instruction with the convenience of online, computer-based learning. If you choose a hybrid course, you must attend scheduled campus meetings, which are fewer than most face-to-face classes, reducing the amount of time spent on campus.
To search for credit hybrid courses that will be offered during a term, go to Course Search.
By default, the results will show available sections only.
Think of an online course as your virtual classroom. Instead of the learning environment consisting of four walls, your virtual classroom is contained on the internet in a learning management system (LMS). AACC uses an LMS called Canvas to deliver all credit (and some noncredit) online and hybrid courses. All of the course content resides in a password-protected learning environment; however, you are able to receive course updates and reminders, where and when you want – by email, text messaging and even Twitter – making it easy to stay up to date with your course activities and communications.
There is a Virtual Campus Student Orientation available in every class in Canvas, which will help you learn how to navigate and use the tools of Canvas.
If you live outside of Maryland, review AACC's State Authorization information.
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Are you taking online courses? For class information, including meeting links and communication from your instructor, you will need to check Canvas.
Anne Arundel Community College has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Watch our tutorial,
Introduction to Online Learning.
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