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Online Students

Online Students

Why Study Online?

Apply to take ONLINE classes at BSCBSC offers online classes in nearly every discipline as well as several online-only programs. Nearly two-thirds of our student body is enrolled in at least one online course and 44 percent are enrolled only in online courses.  

While online learning offers great convenience and flexibility, it requires great discipline and self-motivation as well. Online courses are not easier than on-campus courses, your ability to guide and direct your own learning will be key to your success. An online class is not an independent study where you work at your own pace. Instead, you will have weekly assignments, quizzes and tests. Students are required to meet deadlines and participate in discussions on a schedule set by your instructor. Students must log on daily to keep up to date with class announcements, assignments and information relevant to the course.

Ready to Apply? Complete the following steps

Step 1 - Application
APPLY NOW
 
  • Non-refundable $35 application fee
    • Students who meet one of the following criteria are exempt from the application fee:
      • You previously paid the application fee
      • You are active duty military and as proof provide one of the following:
        • Military ID indicating Active Duty Status - verified in person only
        • Leave and Earning Statement (LES)
        • Orders indicating Active Duty Status
* These documents may be uploaded through the BSC Admissions Secure File Dropbox.
Step 2 - Transcripts
To be considered official, the transcripts must be received by BSC in a sealed envelope from the issuing institution or through a secure electronic transcript service.
  1. High School Transcript or GED. Exemptions to this policy may be granted if you have completed 24 or more semester hours of college level coursework. If you are a current high school student a hold will be placed on your account until the final high school transcript is received.
  2. College/University transcripts. Including any transcripts for credits completed while in high school. In progress transcripts will be required for any institution currently in attendance. A final transcript will also be required once grades are posted.
Transcript policy: Bismarck State College reviews for all prior transcripts from colleges reporting attendance through the National Student Clearinghouse. Transcripts will be required from all students reported on NSC as well as institutions self-identified on the BSC application. If a student has not attended an institution that reports enrollment, a letter confirming non-attendance must be obtained.

Electronic delivery can be sent to bsc.admissions@bismarckstate.edu.
If electronic delivery is not available, official transcripts may be mailed to:
Bismarck State College
Attn: Admissions
PO Box 5587
Bismarck, ND 58506-5587

Military Transcripts - Bismarck State College awards credit for Military Training Programs as outlined by the American Council on Education (ACE). A maximum of 40 semester hours of non-traditional college credit (e.g., AP, CLEP, military training, BSC challenge test credit, portfolio development, prior learning, and courses covered under high school articulation agreements) may be applied to an associate's degree, diploma, or certificate at BSC. Read BSC's Credit for Military Training Programs Student Policy, for more information.

Request your Joint Service Transcripts.

International Transcript - Any high school or college credential from an institution outside of the United States must be evaluated through an approved evaluation service. For further details regarding the evaluation process, please visit our International Students page.


Official transcripts must be received from ALL institutions previously attended. If you are unable to have an official transcript sent due to impacts of COVID-19, please contact the BSC Admissions department.
 
Step 3 - Immunizations

Documented proof of immunity to the following diseases is required for all students enrolling in on-campus courses.

  • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
    • 2 doses if the student was born after 1/1/1957.
      • A student may be accepted with proof of one dose provided a second will be received in no less than 28 days.
  • Meningitis (Meningococcal) - Meningitis information
    • All students 21 years of age and younger must provide documentation of Meningitis vaccination.
    • Vaccination must be AFTER age 16.
    • NOTE: Meningococcal-B is a separate Meningitis vaccination. It does NOT meet the NDUS requirement.
 

Exemptions to this policy may be granted in accordance with SBHE Policy 506.1. Students with vaccination exemptions may be excluded from class in the event of an outbreak. Contact BSC Admissions with questions regarding exemption.

Vaccine documentation may be uploaded through the BSC Admissions Secure File Dropbox. 

Step 4 - Placement Assessments
Submission of placement assessment scores at the time of admission is encouraged, however, is not a requirement. Although the placement assessments will be waived for admission, appropriate placement scores or equivalent courses will be required in order to register for math and English courses.

The following Placement Exams are preferred by BSC:
  • ACT or SAT must be dated within the last five years
  • ACCUPLACER dated within the last three years
The assessment may be waived by the following:
  • Remedial or College level English and Math courses successfully completed at a regionally accredited institution
  • A baccalaureate or higher degree has been earned from a regionally accredited institution
Bismarck State College offers the ACCUPLACER exam. For further details or to schedule an exam, please visit the BSC Placement Testing page.
 

Next Steps

The admissions process typically takes 1 - 3 weeks, depending on BSC receiving required documentation. If you have questions with any part of this process, feel free to connect with an Admissions Counselor or call 701-224-5429.

Upon completion of the online application, you'll receive an email giving you instructions on setting up an account in CampusConnection. This online portal gives you access to the following (and much more):
  • Check your Application Status
  • Check your To-Do List
  • Apply for Housing
  • Register for Classes
  • Pay Tuition
  • Accept Financial Aid and view Holds

For Helpsheet and Video Tutorials visit our Campus Connection Help page.

*If you have any previous college credits you may want to know how these credits will fit with BSC's requirements and what courses you will need to graduate. The Transfer Equivalency Website will allow you to find course equivalencies from various schools across the United States. This database is provided for planning purposes only. The absence of a college or university on the list is not an indication that BSC does not accept credit from that institution.

Review Financial Aid Options

Registering for Class

Step #1 – Watch for an Email: Once your admissions file is complete, you will be notified by email that you are eligible to register for courses.

  • An email that contains getting started information for Blackboard will be sent to your campus email about 60 days prior to the start of the semester.  After that, you will receive an email within 24 hours after enrolling in Campus Connection.

  • You will register for online courses in the same way you register for on campus courses.

  • The login ID and password for online courses is the same as the user ID and password used for CampusConnection.
 
Step #2 – Email Address
  • BSC student email is the school’s official means of communication with students.  If your Home Campus is BSC, your BSC email will be the one listed for you in Blackboard.  If your Home Campus is one of the other NDUS schools, it then generally populates you with your email for that school.  For all other students not Home with BSC or one of the other NDUS schools, the system will populate you with either your BSC email or NDUS email if you don’t add the BSC email address in Campus Connection.  This is important to note, as this email address is the one that your instructor will use to communicate with you throughout the class. 

  *Note: You will not see your class in Blackboard until the instructor makes it available, which generally is the first day of class.

Activate your BSC Student Email Account


Your registration email contains the following important information:
  • Registration is completed using CampusConnection. To be able to register you must have your CampusConnection User ID and Password. If you need to obtain your User ID and password, call 1-866-457-6387. Additional help can be found by visiting CampusConnection Help.
  • If you need assistance in choosing your classes, log on to CampusConnection portal to find your academic advisor. Refer to the "View My Advisor" help sheet for instructions.
  • To search for available courses, go to CampusConnection Help, locate the Course Search directions, then log into CampusConnection to begin your search.
  • Keep in mind specific deadlines for adding a course, dropping a course and withdrawing to zero credits. This information can be found at Calendars & Deadlines.
  • After you register for an online course, you will receive an email that contains important information about taking an online course. This email message will be sent 1-2 weeks before the semester begins, or if the semester has already begun, you will receive the email 1-2 days after you have registered.
  • You can order books online or over the phone by calling 1-800-445-5073 or 701-224-5453.
  • Tuition is due each semester by a specific date View Academic Calendar. Tuition can be paid with Tuition Assistance, Financial Aid, paid in full by cash, check or credit card. Tuition can also be paid online. Instructions to view your tuition information in CampusConnection can be found on the CampusConnection webpage.
If you have further questions about your tuition balance, please contact the Student Finance Office at 701-224-5533, 701-224-2451, 701-224-5706 or 1-800-445-5073, or by email at bsc.studentfinance@bismarckstate.edu.

Tuition Assistance documents may be faxed to the Student Finance office at 701-224-5550 or emailed to bsc.studentfinance@bismarckstate.edu.