Academic Catalog

Online Education

Foothill College offers students many online classes in a variety of modalities. Online and hybrid courses include lectures, discussions, assignments, and tests delivered via the internet with regular opportunities for digital interaction with instructors and other students. Students can take one or more online courses while also taking in person classes to satisfy general education requirements, or they may enroll in one of the many associate degree and associate degree for transfer programs offered entirely online at Foothill College. 

Foothill College may be required to receive state authorization to enroll students who do not reside in California in online courses. Many states either have given the college this authorization or do not require authorization. However, some states require significant fees to receive state authorization. Due to the significant and/or recurring fees for state authorization, Foothill College no longer permits a student to enroll in online courses if they reside in any of the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, D.C., or Wisconsin. For more information, visit foothill.edu/onlinelearning.

Please see below for the full range of options for virtual instruction.

Key Terms

  • Asynchronous Delivery – Asynchronous delivery for online courses refers to a method where course materials and activities are provided online, allowing learners to access and engage with the content without the need for in-person or real-time interaction. In this modality, content and activities (such as discussion posts, feedback on submissions, video lectures) occur within the Course Management System. Students must meet the weekly requirements outlined by the course instructor, but have the flexibility to do so within their schedule. Students engage with support services within a service schedule. 
  • Synchronous Delivery – Synchronous delivery refers to methods of instruction or a student service where interaction between the faculty/support staff occurs in real-time, with participants engaging in learning and communication at the same time, according to a set schedule. Synchronous delivery can occur in-person or online. 

Course Footnotes (found in the online schedule)

Code Definition Footnote Example
R Combined Virtual – entirely synchronous live in-person both on-campus and online during scheduled days and times This is a combined hybrid class requiring attendance; scheduled both on-campus and online meetings (e.g., zoom) live with the instructor defined on specific days and times, as noted in the class schedule. ENGL 001A01R: MW, 8-9:50am, room = 6505; F, 8-8:50am, room = online
T All Modalities Hybrid – a combination of on-campus scheduled days and times (with a room number will be held on campus), synchronous live in-person online during scheduled days and times, and asynchronous with online work This is a hybrid class requiring asynchronous class hours and in-person attendance. In-person synchronous class sessions are both on-campus and online scheduled meetings conducted live with the instructor defined on specific days and times, as noted in the class schedule. The class also requires asynchronous class hours allowing the student to work according to their schedule to meet the weekly requirements outlined by the course instructor. After registering find out how to log in to the course site: https://foothill.edu/onlinelearning/canvas-info/course-access.html ENGL 001A01T: MW, 8-8:50am, room = 6505; F, 8-8:50am, room = online; Tba, Tba, room = online
V Virtual – entirely synchronous live in-person online during scheduled days and times This is a fully virtual online class. ALL scheduled meetings are live with the instructor (e.g., zoom) defined on specific days and times, as noted in the class schedule. ENGL 001A01V: MW, 8-9:50am, room = online; F, 8-8:50am, room = online
W Online – fully asynchronous (TBA hours) This is a fully online asynchronous class, allowing the student to work according to their schedule to meet the weekly requirements outlined by the course instructor. After registering, find out how to log in to the course site: https://foothill.edu/onlinelearning/canvas-info/course-access.html ENGL 001A01W: Tba, Tba, room = online
Y Hybrid – a combination of on-campus scheduled days and times (with a room number will be held on campus) and asynchronous with online work This is a hybrid class requiring attendance, both on-campus and online. After registering, find out how to log in to the course site: https://foothill.edu/onlinelearning/canvas-info/course-access.html ENGL 001A01Y: MW, 8-9:50am, room = 6505; Tba, Tba, room = online
Z Online Hybrid – a combination of synchronous live online scheduled days and times and asynchronous online work This is a fully online class, with SOME scheduled virtual meetings (e.g., by zoom) defined on specific days and times, as noted in the class schedule. The remaining part of the class is online asynchronous, allowing the student to work according to their own schedule to meet the weekly requirements outlined by the course instructor. After registering find out how to log in to the course site: https://foothill.edu/onlinelearning/canvas-info/course-access.html ENGL 001A01Z: MW, 8-9:50am, room=online; Tba, Tba, room=online