Independent Study through Correspondence:
Frequently Asked Questions
University
Click for your helpful guide to the most frequently asked questions about University Correspondence courses.
Who can enroll in University Correspondence courses?
Anyone can enroll. With the permission of a principal or counselor and the course instructor, high school students may enroll in a University Correspondence course.
To enroll in University Correspondence, do I need to provide transcripts?
No. Transcripts are not required.
Are there any prerequisites?
If a course has prerequisites, they are listed in the course description.
What is the cost to enroll?
University Correspondence course tuition is $252 per unit of undergraduate credit, and $290 per unit of graduate credit. Textbooks, audiotapes, videocassette tapes, and CDs are not included in the tuition. Please note that tuition is subject to change without notice.
The University of Arizona's Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) may not be applied to UA Correspondence courses.
Do I need to live in Tucson or Arizona to take a correspondence course?
No. You can live anywhere in the world. If you live outside the United States, there is a non-refundable $45 per course international postage fee. If you are not a U.S. citizen, but are living in the United States, please list the type of visa you hold on the registration form. We will not be able to process your enrollment without it.
Is there a deadline for signing up for a University Correspondence course?
No. You may register anytime, unless stated otherwise in the course description. However, you do need to take into consideration any deadlines that you must meet for graduation or employment.
How long do I have to complete a course?
You have nine months from the date of registration to complete a course, unless stated otherwise in the course description. A one-time, three-month extension may be granted. (There is an extension fee.) However, all course requirements must be completed before the one-year expiration date; otherwise, due to registration policies, a grade cannot be posted. If your course requires the completion of assignments, all assignments must be completed and mailed to the instructor before you can take your final exam.
How quickly may I complete a University Correspondence course?
You may take a final examination for a one-unit course 20 days from the date of registration, 40 days for a two-unit course, and 60 days for a three-, four-, or five-unit course.
How many assignments may I turn in at one time?
In most cases, no more than one assignment per week may be submitted.
Is University Correspondence course credit included in my G.P.A.?
At the University of Arizona, grades received for college-level correspondence courses are not included in your grade-point average. Check with your college to be sure of its policy.
Can correspondence credits be transferred to other colleges?
The college or university where you intend to earn your degree determines which credits are accepted. Check with your college advisor before enrolling.
When will I receive credit for the course?
A report of credit is sent to you after you successfully complete all course requirements. A copy is also sent to the UA Registrar’s Office to be recorded.
How long are my records kept?
Physical records on each student are kept in the UA Correspondence Office for two years from the date of registration.
How do I get my course materials?
You can pick up the course syllabus at the UA Correspondence Office or we can mail the materials directly to you after we receive your registration form and payment. You can pick up textbooks at the UA BookStores Correspondence section or they can be mailed to you.
Do you accept checks or credit cards for registration fees?
The University of Arizona Correspondence Office accepts checks, cash, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express.
May I take exams online?
No, all exams must be proctored. The proctor then submits the exam to the Correspondence Office by regular mail. You may take exams at the University of Arizona Correspondence Testing Center or under the supervision of a pre-approved outside proctor.
How do I take exams if I’m not in Tucson?
If you live outside of Tucson, you can take your exams in your local community under the supervision of a proctor. You’ll find detailed instructions about these procedures in your course study guide.
What does it mean when a course features a symbol?
The symbols indicate options for taking the course (via Internet), and for communicating with instructors and/or submitting assignments (via e-mail or fax).
What happens if I send in payment for a discontinued course?
Enrollment fees received for unavailable courses may be refunded in full or transferred free-of-charge to another correspondence course with equal tuition.
Does anything go on my transcript if I withdraw from or complete a course?
If you drop/withdraw from a Correspondence course within the first 30 days of registering, the course information will be deleted from your records. If you drop/withdraw from a Correspondence course after the first 30 days, the course name and number will appear as a “W” and remain on your transcript. If you do not drop/withdraw from a Correspondence course in writing and the course is allowed to expire, a “K” will appear on your UA record for approximately five semesters. After that period of time, the “K” will show as a “W.” For each semester you are enrolled in a Correspondence course, a “K” will appear on your transcripts. A letter grade will be entered for the semester in which you complete the course, although the letter “K” will remain on your transcripts to indicate the number of semesters needed to finish the course.
What if my exam gets lost when being mailed to your office by the proctor, or when being mailed to the instructor from your office?
Although rare for an exam to get lost, this sometimes happens. Under these circumstances the exam would have to be retaken.
Can I resubmit assignments or retake exams for a better grade?
No.
Can I audit a credit Correspondence course?
Yes, you may take any credit Correspondence course offered in this catalog on a not-for-credit/audit-only basis.
I am a UA student. If I take a Correspondence course will the credits count toward full-time student status?
No.
High School, Middle School, and Elementary School
Click for your helpful guide to the most frequently asked questions for High School, Middle School, and Elementary School courses.
Who can enroll in elementary, middle school, or high school correspondence courses?
Anyone! However, if you are attending school, you need your principal’s, vice principal’s, or school counselor’s signature on your registration form. Homeschooled students do not require this signature; they only need to indicate, in writing, “homeschooled.”
If I’m in middle school, can I take a high school correspondence course?
Yes, if your school counselor and principal agree that you can handle the work and give written permission. Your principal must sign your registration form. You will need to check with the high school that you will be attending to be sure they will accept the credit you receive.
Do I need to bring in transcripts from previous schools?
No, you don’t need to provide transcripts to register for a correspondence course.
Are there any prerequisites?
If a course has prerequisites (courses you need to complete before you can enroll in a particular course), they are listed in the course description.
Do I need to live in Tucson to take correspondence courses?
No. You can live anywhere in the world. If you live outside the United States, there is a non-refundable $45 per course international postage fee to cover the additional postage charges.
What do correspondence courses cost?
Tuition for high school, middle school, and elementary school correspondence courses is $125 plus a $15 non-refundable processing fee per course. An additional $25 fee is charged for foreign language courses. There is also an additional fee for textbooks and other needed supplies.
Do you accept checks or credit cards?
We accept cash, checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
How many courses may I take?
As many as you like! Remember, though, that you need written approval on our registration form from your school counselor if you’re in school.
When can I enroll?
Any time you like! Correspondence courses fit your schedule, so you can enroll at any time.
How long do I have to complete a correspondence course?
You have nine months from your registration date. Please note that if you register for more than one course, you have a total of nine months from your registration date to complete them all. For an additional fee, you may receive a one-time, three-month extension.
How quickly may I complete a course?
If you are taking a high school correspondence course, you may take your final exam six weeks after you register.
You may take the final exam eight weeks after your registration date if you are enrolled in an elementary or a middle school correspondence course.
All grade levels require that all lessons have been submitted, corrected, and returned to you from your instructor before you can take the final exam.
How many assignments may I turn in at one time?
Depending on the course, you may submit one to two assignments per week for grading.
How much credit will I earn when I finish a course?
Each course, whether it’s high school, middle school, or elementary school, covers one semester and is worth one-half unit of credit. In the case of some middle and elementary schools, this is considered completion credit.
Will correspondence credit be included in my grade-point average?
Many schools do include the grade into your GPA. It is best to check with your counselor, vice principal, or principal to be sure.
Can I take a class as Pass/Fail?
All students receive a letter grade. There is no pass/fail option available.
When will I receive credit for a course?
You’ll automatically receive a copy of the official report of credit after you successfully complete the course. The original report is sent to your school registrar and included in your records. If you are a home-schooler, both copies are sent to your home.
How do I get my course materials?
You may pick up your study guide at our office, or we’ll mail your study guide to you after we receive your registration form and payment. Please allow two weeks from the time you mailed in the form. You can buy your textbooks in person at the UA BookStores Correspondence section, or you can ask the bookstore to mail textbooks to you. Click Here 
to go to the book order form.
How do I take exams if I’m not in Tucson?
If you live outside of Tucson, you may take exams in your local community under the supervision of an approved proctor. Detailed instructions on finding a proctor are included in your study guide.
May I take exams online?
No, all exams must be proctored. The proctor then submits the exam to the Correspondence Office by regular mail. You may take exams at the University of Arizona Testing Center or under the supervision of a proctor.
What does it mean when a course features a symbol?
The symbols indicate options for taking the course (via Internet), and for communicating with instructors and/or submitting assignments (via e-mail or fax).
Can I resubmit assignments or retake exams for a better grade?
No.
What if my exam gets lost when being mailed to your office by the proctor, or when being mailed to the instructor from your office?
Although rare for an exam to get lost, this sometimes happens. Under these circumstances the exam would have to be retaken.
Can I audit a credit Correspondence course?
Yes, you may take any credit Correspondence course offered in this catalog on a not-for-credit/audit-only basis.
The UA Distance Learning program works with other departments and units on campus to develop and deliver specialized certificates and degree programs using video, CD-ROM, and Web technology. Engineering and Optical Sciences courses are featured, as is a Master of Engineering degree that can be completed entirely at a distance.
