As a general guideline, you can expect to spend about 8.5–9 hours per week on coursework in a 3-credit online course. This may include watching or reading course materials, participating in discussions, completing assignments, studying, and communicating with your instructor and classmates.

If you are taking a fully online course, you will not need to come to the Pittsburgh campus to complete your coursework. Assignments, discussions, course materials, and interactions with your instructor and classmates take place online.

Hybrid courses include some required in-person meetings on the Pittsburgh campus. The number and schedule of those meetings depend on the specific course.

Synchronous or real-time activities happen live, with students and instructors participating at the same time. For example, an instructor may schedule a live online class session or discussion that everyone attends together.

Asynchronous activities do not require everyone to participate at the same time. For example, an instructor may post a discussion prompt that students respond to when it fits their schedule.

The instructor determines how synchronous and asynchronous activities are used in each course. Some courses may include scheduled live sessions, while others may be designed entirely around asynchronous learning.

Online learning offers flexibility, but it also requires self-motivation, organization, and consistent time management. Because you may not have a set class meeting time each week, you will need to establish a regular study schedule and stay on top of assignments and course activities.

If you are balancing work, family, or other responsibilities, think about how much time you can realistically dedicate to your coursework each week.

Take our online learning readiness quiz to see whether online learning may be a good fit for you.

Our online courses are taught by University of Pittsburgh faculty and other experienced instructors, including academics, industry experts, community leaders, and working professionals.

Online courses provide multiple opportunities to learn and interact through instructor-created course materials, feedback and interaction with your instructor, and collaboration and discussion with your classmates.

Yes. CGS Online courses are administered by the University of Pittsburgh's College of General Studies . Students enrolled in online courses are University of Pittsburgh students and are held to the same academic standards as students taking courses on campus.

Online courses appear on your University of Pittsburgh transcript just like other Pitt courses, and your University of Pittsburgh diploma does not indicate whether your courses were completed online or on campus.

Tuition rates depend on your residency and the applicable University of Pittsburgh tuition rates. Visit the Tuition Rates and Fees website for current tuition information.

Eligibility for financial aid depends on your student status and other requirements. Financial aid at the University of Pittsburgh may include loans, grants, scholarships, and other forms of assistance.

The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid reviews student applications for financial aid and provides information about eligibility and available resources.

Current College of General Studies online course offerings are available through Pitt's Class Search tool.

You can also learn how to identify CGS online courses on our Online Course Formats and Registration page.