Distance learning programs can vary from class to class, program to program. While many schools use regular mail or e-mail to submit and receive course lessons and papers or to communicate directly with instructors or admission offices, some schools use the Internet to deliver instruction. Others employ satellite or cable delivery methods.

And although every course will be a structured a little differently from the next, a distance learning course might look like this:

The military student signs up for the course. Before the term begins, the student picks up or receives by mail his or her class syllabus and purchased textbooks. During the course, the student reads the textbook(s) and visits online message boards weekly, posting class comments and questions. This is the equivalent of the classroom setting. When it¹s time to take an exam, the student visits an approved college, library or human resources training center near to where he/she lives and completes the exam under the supervision of an approved proctor.
Since distance learning classes are often strictly offered online, you will need the following to complete one of these courses:

• A Pentium-class PC running Windows 95 or 98 with at least 16 MGs of RAM and at least 30 MGs free on your hard drive, or a PowerPC Macintosh running system 7.5 or higher with at least 16 MGs of RAM and 30 MGs on your hard drive.
• A printer.
• Connection to the Internet. This will be required; so students should also have a fast modem, a reliable Internet Service Provider with e-mail, such as AOL or Earthlink, and a browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape, installed on their machine. Furthermore, students should be familiar with their computers, sending/receiving e-mail and attachments and using their browser.