Online courses at ACAS are much like classroom-based courses at traditional "brick and mortar" schools. Learning takes place through a blend of assigned textbook and scientific paper readings, instructor written or audio lectures, short online video presentations, class discussions in the Forum (a virtual bulletin board system) faculty feedback, inter-student discussion, individual field projects, group class projects, case studies, and research and writing assignments. Students generally spend a minimum of 10 hours each week studying in a typical three (3) credit course. Four or more hours of the training is devoted to online classroom discussions, teleconferencing, instructor lectures, and other work in the ACAS online environment. Note that student time spent in an online Forum may vary from student to student depending upon work habits. For example, some students may write topic discussion responses online and others may do so offline, and then go online to post the information. Therefore, measurement of online participation in a course is not easily comparable to traditional classroom instructor contact hour methods. However, this is compensated by quality of writing and research measurement, critical analysis of material, testing, projects and research paper writing.

For each course, students are required to complete assigned readings and projects, post a minimum of two contributions to the discussion of the week, complete end-of-chapter- exams, and write a research paper citing at least six sources.

Our on-line courses have published start and end dates. Students enroll in courses and must follow deadlines published by the institution. Students are enrolled in a "class" with other students who have enrolled at the same time. Unlike many other on-line institutions, ACAS programs do not permit "go at your own pace" completion. Goals must be set and deadlines met.

Live chat-rooms, white boards and teleconferencing (no cost to students) are available to instructors when real-time discussion or guest speaker presentations are offered. When real-time sessions are scheduled, students are advised several weeks in advance.

Detailed Description of An Online Course:
Students whom wish to take online courses with the American College of Applied Science will perform the following steps:

1. Submit an admission form via a link from the appropriate program's department website section
2. Once approved, the student will register and pay for the course(s) via the online registration/payment form located on the college's website.
3. Once payment has been approved, the student will receive an initial payment receipt with information about the course(s) paid, Class start date, where to buy books, and other important information about the course(s).
4. 48 hours before the class start date, students are emailed a welcome announcement containing relevant information about the course(s), where to buy books, the url to the classrooms, dates to remember for discussions topics, exams, research papers and instructions regarding the online process. Announcements are posted in the student's classroom or emails are sent throughout the quarter regarding relevant information, exam dates, etc.
5. Tech support is available by phone or by email for assistance.

Taking a Course Online:

1. Access to the virtual classroom is granted the start day of each quarter.
2. Students log in to their assigned classroom using the username and password they selected during registration.

Once students have logged in to their class, students can access an orientation file provided on the navigation bar, professor's announcements and information about starting the course. The course may involve additional readings, assignments, class discussion, papers, and exams online.

Students should click on the 'Orientation' button on the left navigation bar of home page of their classroom and complete the 10 - 15 minute orientation to become familiarized with the various course areas. This is a thorough documentation about the description of each of the Side Bar navigation links. Specific how-to information on each classroom feature is available to students in each area of the classroom.

The forum is where students will receive topic assignments. Students should visit the forum every day to follow the week's topic discussions and to communicate with fellow students and instructor.

The 'Assignments' area is where the student's instructor will post a variety of assignments throughout the course. Students should check this area weekly. 'Course Notes' area is for additional handouts, research links, etc. Students should also check this area each week.

Any required textbooks are listed on our book store pages and should be purchased before the first day of classes.

Students will not be required to be online at any specific time of day. Students are required to be online a minimum of 3 times per week to avoid missing any time-sensitive announcements and to complete any assignments. Also, most of the classes count participation in class discussions and such toward the student's final grade.

Residential Workshops
Hands-on instruction in certain coursework is offered. ACAS has therefore contracted with the non-profit Animal Behavior Center of New York and the Queens Community Animal Shelter in New York City. This single facility is used for the workshop portion of some training to enable students to work with dogs, cats and other companion animals and their family members. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation, accommodations, and payment for these workshops. ACAS may, from time to time, arrange discounted hotel accommodations for its students. Students must budget their time and funds to participate in workshops when required for program completion. At this time the workshops are only offered in New York.

Externships
Externship placements are a means of achieving "hands-on" educational objectives. Students can work in environments where theoretical knowledge may be applied to real work situations. These include developing or enhancing professional skills and responsibility, developing animal handling and assessment skills, and experiencing standard operating procedures in an actual operation. The student is placed with a public or not-for-profit agency or organization (hereinafter referred to as the host agency). As much as possible, ACAS tries to locate placement near the student's home. During the externship quarter the student spends at least 12 hours per week on the work at the host agency. This does not include time conferencing with the faculty supervisor or commuting. The externship exposes the student to substantive aspects of operations in the host agency. Limited clerical work that is job-related is included. Externships include several of the following:

• Developing and investigating facts
• Conducting research
• Participating in operations
• Drafting documents such as standard operating procedures, case studies, and reports
• Participating in or attending sessions in which the host agency deals with the public
• Other duties assigned by the faculty member and agreed upon by the host agency.

The student will be supervised by one staff member at the host agency (hereinafter referred to as the supervisor), but may also work with others at the host agency. The faculty member will discuss the planned experience for the quarter with the supervisor before the externship begins and the student's progress during the quarter.

The student will verbally communicate with the sponsoring faculty member for at least one hour every other week and may include one on one or meetings of a group of students via teleconference involved in similar externships.

The student will keep a journal or log of activities at the host agency. The faculty member will review and evaluate the log at least every other week.

The faculty member will engage the student(s) in critical evaluation of the externship, discuss the professional experience at the host agency, identify operational and ethical issues raised by the externship experience, and explore the issues of procedure that relate to the student(s) experience.

The student will receive six (6) credits on a Pass-Fail basis.

Restrictions:
Second year Masters Degree students will be given preference for enrollment in externships.

No student will be permitted to take more than one, six-credit externship for credit.

Faculty Student Ratios
There is a faculty ratio of 1 to 25 for online courses and 1 to 12 for workshops and externships.