UMT is dedicated to supporting students learning at their own pace outside of the traditional confines of the classroom. UMT Distance Education uses advanced communication technologies to enable students to learn from the comfort of their home, office, or anywhere else in the world they can access the Internet.

UMT delivers courses over the Internet using text, lecture notes, online discussions, videostreaming, and other multimedia elements. The online materials are supplemented by books, readings, and other materials that mirror traditional classroom courses.

Online course material is divided into manageable units that allow students to complete course sections quickly. They are able to measure their progress and focus on areas where they need assistance.

Students communicate with their instructors and fellow students via email, discussion boards, computer conferencing, and other media. Instructors closely monitor students’ work, providing individualized instruction.

UMT Distance Learning frees students from the confines of the traditional classroom while providing an educational experience customized for today.

General Requirements

Students entering UMT’s Distance Education Program should be computer literate. They should have basic skills in using the World Wide Web, sending and receiving email, and word processing. Students should have a general familiarity with the computer(s) they use, know how to install software (if necessary), and be able to troubleshoot basic computer problems. Students may need other computers skills (such as using spreadsheets) for specific courses.

Computer Requirements

Blackboard.com is UMT’s distance education service provider. In order to access the courses, students must have a computer with reliable Internet access and a Web browser capable of accessing the course materials.

Blackboard recommends that your computer meet the following minimum standards:

• Platform: Windows 98, 2000, NT, ME, or XP; MacOS 9 or MacOS X
• Hardware: 128 MB of RAM, 1GB of free disk space
• Software: Microsoft Office (recommended), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Macromedia Flash Player, MP3 player*
• Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher; JavaScript and session cookies must be enabled.
• Modem: 56 K or better.

*Adobe Acrobat Reader and Macromedia Flash Player can be downloaded for free from Adobe and Macromedia respectively.

Some courses may require additional computer programs, such as Microsoft Excel. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any programs required for the courses, unless otherwise noted.