Frequently Asked Questions

The best way to contact our team is to submit an email question.

Please note that the Online and Distance Education office is able to answer general education, program, enrollment, and course information inquiries. For detailed information regarding a program and/or course, please contact the program contact listed on the program page or the course instructor. 

As an NC State student taking online or distance education courses, you can expect to encounter a variety of delivery formats across courses and programs.

For example, you may access course materials, activities, and assessments asynchronously with a web browser through Moodle, NC State’s official Learning Management System (LMS). You might have synchronous classes or meetings with your instructor through Zoom or Google Meet. You might view course videos in Panopto, or collaborate with your peers in Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, or other parts of the Google Education Workspace. 

Moodle: NC State’s learning management system for course content delivery.
Zoom or Google Meet: Video-conferencing application that allows synchronous online class sessions and other meetings between students, faculty, and staff.
Panopto: Video platform that houses and streams instructional videos.

The process to apply to take classes at NC State varies depending on your desired student classification: undergraduate student, graduate student or Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student (click on your desired student classification to find out how to apply). For more information on NDS enrollment, visit our Online and Distance Education website.

The first place to start is to visit our Online and Distance Education website.

There you will find information about:
Programs: A full list of certificate and degree options.

Courses: A listing of courses that are offered each semester.

Enrollment: Information and procedures on how and when to enroll for online and distance education classes based on your student classification. This section of the website also has information for international students and students on academic suspension.

Students enrolling in online and distance education classes for the first time are strongly encouraged to view the Distance Education Virtual Orientation (opens in new tab).

If you are a non-degree studies (NDS) student or pursuing an undergraduate certificate online and distance education program, you may upload a copy of your transcript to your NDS application. Not all DE programs require you to submit transcripts, please check the program page to confirm required materials. Note: The Online and Distance Education office does not accept mailed transcripts.

Former and current NC State students can find directions for ordering transcripts on the Student Services website. If you have additional questions regarding your transcript, please contact the Student Services Center at (919) 515-NCSU (6278) or email them at studentservices@ncsu.edu.

If the program you’re applying to requires an official transcript, it must be sent directly from the institutions to NC State University. Most institutions have mechanisms in place to directly send an official transcript to NC State electronically. View more information about the undergraduate admissions transcript process on the Undergraduate Admissions website. Find more information regarding the graduate admissions transcript process on The Graduate School website.

Select the classes you desire to take:

• The complete schedule of courses is available online.
• NDS students are limited to taking eight hours of classes per semester.
• Note: If you fulfilled the prerequisite for a course at another institution, you will need to contact the instructor and/or department for enrollment assistance.

Register for classes via MyPack Portal:

• Find out when “open enrollment” begins by checking the enrollment calendar for that particular semester.
• Register with the enrollment wizard
• If you have difficulties, please contact Student Services
• Find important information on add/drop dates by clicking on the academic calendar.

You can contact the Office of International Services (OIS) here at NC State. Please be sure to first visit the OIS website as it contains a lot of great information that may answer your questions.

You may also contact the office of Online and Distance Education by submitting an email question.

Non-Degree Studies (NDS) students are not assigned advisors.

If you have questions about a specific academic program, please contact the program coordinator. Each program webpage has a Program Coordinator listed with their preferred contact information.

Students may also email University Advising and Exploratory Studies for assistance at university-advising@ncsu.edu.

Students can take classes at NC State University through the Non-Degree Studies (NDS) program. Through Non-Degree Studies, individuals in the Research Triangle area, across North Carolina and beyond are provided flexible access to NC State University’s credit courses and programs. Thousands of individuals gain access to NC State through this portal each year, including individuals from under-represented populations, and those who are first-generation college students.

Comprehensive student services, including registration assistance, are provided for individuals interested in continuing their education by engaging in on-campus and online and distance education credit courses.

Through Non-Degree Studies, individuals can take undergraduate or graduate courses to:

• Meet NC State University admission requirements,
• Transfer credits to another university,
• Update professional skills, or
• Enrich personal experiences.

Flexible enrollment options are available to meet demanding and busy schedules. Enrollment options include:

• On-campus courses,
• Day and evening classes, and
• Online and Distance Education courses, which utilize a variety of delivery technologies.

Visit the university enrollment calendar to find the open enrollment date for NDS students.

All students registered in NC State courses can utilize both the Math Multimedia Center and the Unity Computer Labs. You will need your Unity ID and password.

Your assigned email address will be your Unity ID@ncsu.edu. For example, Jane Doe’s Unity ID is jedoe14, so her email address is jedoe14@ncsu.edu.

Visit the OIT website for information about your NC State email and/or your Unity ID.

Not sure which Learning Management System (LMS) your course uses? Visit the WolfWare website to find out course information, like technology used in the course. Instructions on how to look up a course in WolfWare are included below:

1. On the far left-side index, select the name of the college of the course you’re seeking information on (ex: Design).
2. Select the semester you’re enrolled [ex: Spring (all sessions), 2023 Courses].
3. Select the subject (ex: D-Design) and number (ex: 101).
4. The search results will return all of the available courses. Click on the blue “i” icon for course information and you will be directed to the course information page of your interested course.
5. Look in the box located on the right side of the page, under “Tools” to see information on Learning Management Systems used in the course and other technology requirements.

Please refer to the Student Services website for the current tuition and fees. In addition to visiting the Student Services website, you can review your student account, or view your bill online.

An explanation of required distance education fees can be viewed on the Student Services Center website. Detailed information regarding Online and Distance Education tuition and fees can also be viewed on the Student Services Center website.

Financial Aid eligibility is determined by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. We encourage you to contact a financial aid advisor directly to learn more about financial aid opportunities and your eligibility.

Please note that students in non-degree programs are typically not eligible for financial aid, with the exception of certain licensure programs, PBS coursework, and some graduate certificates. Review Program Eligibility Requirements to learn more.

For additional information, visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid website or call (919) 515-6278.

Please visit the DELTA Testing Services website to find out more information on testing services.