General

Do I have to come to campus to take Virtual Geography courses?
Answer: No, you can take VG courses from any location AS LONG AS you have daily access to a computer with a stable Internet connection.

Is there an orientation for VG courses?
Answer: No, you receive emails (to your mail.msu.edu accounts) with instructions on how to take VG courses. You should start receiving these emails about a week prior to the first day of class.

Can I take VG courses from any location?
Answer: Yes, you can take VG courses from any location AS LONG AS you have daily access to a computer with a stable Internet connection.

Can I take a vacation or go on a trip while taking a VG course?
Answer: Yes, AS LONG AS you have daily access to a computer with a stable Internet connection. We have had students travel across Europe and the US while taking VG courses -- they simply found an Internet cafe or public library every day so they could check their email accounts for messages from their Instructor and log into the course website to read lessons/submit homework assignments/take exams.

What do I need to take VG courses?
Answer: You need daily access to a computer with a stable Internet connection -- there are also a few technical requirements. You may need a required textbook (see course headings below for details). Also, it is highly recommended to have access to a world atlas while taking VG courses.

When are the VG course websites available?
Answer: The course websites are only accessible in ANGEL from the start to finish date of each Summer Session. Students registered for a course can log into the course website on the first day of class. The ANGEL sites are not available at any time to students who are not enrolled in a VG course and at times outside of the Summer Sessions.

How do I log into a VG course?
Answer: You log into a VG course in ANGEL using your pilot ID and password. Therefore, all students taking a VG course must have an MSU email account.

Do I need to log into the VG course websites at a certain time?
Answer: No, you may log into the course websites 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the Summer Session for which you are registered. You may access the course sites as many times as needed or for as long as you need to complete your required work. It is, however, possible for Instructors to track your login/logout times.

Am I expected to work on the weekends during the Summer Sessions for VG courses?
Answer: You are not required to do work on the weekend, but you can if you want to. While you will not be given an exam or quiz on the weekends, you may have homework deadlines on the weekends. You may, however, submit homework assignments at any time up to the deadline so it is possible for you to complete/submit your assignments during the week. Additionally, you may receive emails from your Instructor on the weekend. It is advised to check your email account at least once during the weekend.

Where do I take exams or quizzes for the VG courses?
Answer: You can take exams and quizzes on any computer with a stable Internet connection. You may log into an exam/quiz at any time during the period specified by the Instructor (usually a 24-hour window). Each exam/quiz is timed and must be completed before the set time limit. Links to the exam/quiz are provided for you on the course schedule page. Very detailed instructions accompany each exam/quiz.

How many hours a week should I expect to spend on VG courses?
Answer: Students in the past have spent between 8-15 hours/week on average working directly on a VG course -- this is the minimum effort recommended to do well in VG courses. Some students spend in excess of 20 hours/week working directly on VG courses. Additionally, students tend to spend 5-10 hours/week on average voluntarily exploring outside links and supplemental material.

Can I take more than one VG course at a time?
Answer: Yes, you can enroll in more than one VG course at a time. If you enroll in more than one, please notify your Instructor. Some course combinations are far more demanding than others.

I am a person with a disability, can I take a VG course?
Answer: Yes, taking our courses Virtually offers a few benefits over the traditional lecture. All Virtual material is provided for you on the web via ANGEL, which you can cover at your own pace. Also, exams/quizzes can be setup to accommodate your needs. Once registered for a VG course, please contact your Instructor to discuss individual arrangements.

Where can I go for official course descriptions?
Answer: The Geography Department webpage.

Can I register if I'm not a degree-seeking student at MSU?
Answer: Yes, all you need to do is register with Lifelong Education Status.

Can I take a Virtual Geography course at MSU and have the credit transferred to my university?
Answer: Yes, we recommend contacting the V-professor prior to registering for the course to obtain a detailed copy of the syllabus and course outline. We ask you to do this so that you can discuss the course with your academic advisor and department to gain permission to take the course and transfer the credits prior to actually taking our V-course - the course syllabus and schedule are typically needed to document course content. You'll also need to contact the Registrar's office to determine whether you would enroll in our V-course as a degree-seeking student or as a Lifelong Education student.

How do I register for VG courses?
Answer: There are a couple of registration options depending on your student status. More information.

Who do I contact if I have more questions?
Answer: You can email Beth Weisenborn, the Virtual Course Coordinator for the Geography Department, for more information about any of the VG courses.

GEO 204-V: World Regional Geography

Are there any prerequisites for GEO 204-V?
Answer: No. In fact, many of our VG students have had little or no prior exposure to Geography courses.

Is the lecture version of GEO 204 similar to the Virtual version?
Answer: The Virtual version of the course was developed by Dr. WinklerPrins solely for the Virtual environment. In terms of delivery, however, the Virtual course is taught entirely on the Internet.

Does this class require a textbook or other materials?
Answer: Yes, GEO 204-V requires a textbook. Once you register for the course, you will receive an email specifying which text you need and where it can be purchased. All materials required for VG courses can be purchased through online bookstores and shipped directly to you.

GEO 206-V: Physical Geography

Are there any prerequisites for GEO 206-V?
Answer: No. In fact, many of our VG students have had little or no prior exposure to Geography courses.

Is the lecture version of GEO 206 similar to the Virtual version?
Answer: Yes, in terms of course content, the Virtual version of the course was developed based on Dr. Arbogast's lecture version. In terms of delivery, however, the Virtual course is taught entirely on the Internet.

Does this class require a textbook or other materials?
Answer: Yes, GEO 206-V requires a textbook. Once you register for the course, you will receive an email specifying which text you need and where it can be purchased. All materials required for VG courses can be purchased through online bookstores and shipped directly to you.

GEO 330-V: Geography of U.S. and Canada

Are there any prerequisites for GEO 330-V?
Answer: No. In fact, many of our VG students have had little or no prior exposure to Geography courses.

Is the lecture version of GEO 330 similar to the Virtual version?
Answer: Yes, in terms of course content, the Virtual version of the course was developed based on Dr. Harman's lecture version. In terms of delivery, however, the Virtual course is taught entirely on the Internet.

Does this class require a textbook or other materials?
Answer: No, but we recommend a textbook for GEO 330-V. Once you register for the course, you will receive an email specifying which text you need and where it can be purchased. All materials required for VG courses can be purchased through online bookstores and shipped directly to you.

ISS 310-V: People & the Environment

Are there any prerequisites for ISS310-V?
Answer: Yes: ISS 210 or ISS 215 or ISS 220 or ISS 225.

Is the lecture version of GEO 206 similar to the Virtual version?
Answer: Yes, in terms of course content, the Virtual version of the course was developed based on Dr. Arbogast's lecture version. In terms of delivery, however, the Virtual course is taught entirely on the Internet.

Does this class require a textbook or other materials?
Answer: No.