Participating by Phone and Internet

The first year of the OAC is conducted online. Students will be directed to a class homepage where they will be notified of announcements, download recordings, receive homework and reading assignments, and be given exams. This is also where completed homework assignments will be submitted and where class discussions will take place.

Following the first year, OAC classes are conducted live using a teleconference system, so that students can participate from anywhere in the world as long as they have a phone. For students who are unable to take the courses over the phone, there is the option of taking the classes over the Internet.

To access ARI’s teleconference system (the “bridge”), students are given a number and PIN code once they have registered for a course. We recommend that students purchase a hands-free telephone headset to make note-taking easier. In order to maintain optimal sound quality we ask that students do not use mobile/cellular or cordless phones to call in, as they can cause interference on the bridge. Students living near our headquarters in Irvine, California, can take classes at ARI’s office.

Every class has a website, and each lecture is recorded digitally and made accessible via that website to students who are enrolled in the class. Currently, the OAC records classes in RealMedia® format. Thus, to listen to the online recordings, it is necessary to have a copy of RealPlayer® installed on one’s computer. RealPlayer® is available for free download at http://www.real.com/. More specific instructions on how to access recordings of classes on the Internet will be provided once a student has enrolled in a class.

Course materials, such as homework assignments, are delivered via email lists.  Messages sent to the list are also archived on the class website.  Some of the reading material for classes will also be made available on the class website.

Typical Course Schedule

The course schedule varies from year to year. Online courses are asynchronous and do not require students to log in to the class homepage at a specific time. Other undergraduate classes usually take place on weekdays, between 3 and 7 PM Pacific/6 and 10 Eastern.

The OAC year is divided into two semesters, Fall and Spring. Each semester is 13 weeks long. The fall semester begins in late October, and the Spring semester begins in early to mid-January. See the Academic Calendar for more information.

Students who have successfully completed their OAC courses for the year are automatically enrolled in the next year's courses.

Workload and Flexibility

The OAC is meant to supplement, not replace, a normal university workload. The first year is usually the busiest year of our undergraduate program. We do understand that some students cannot commit to this workload, and where possible we try to accommodate students who request extensions on assignments or who need to make other special arrangements.  

Grading

Grades are based on one’s performance on class assignments and tests.  To remain in academic good standing and to be eligible to receive financial aid a student must maintain an average grade of B or higher. Only students who maintain a grade of C or higher may advance through the program of the OAC. Instructors do not grade on a curve.