From application to graduation, Ball State Online is here for you. You have access to the same academic and student resources that on-campus students have—in addition to a dedicated Student Success Specialist—to support your success.
Getting Started with Online Learning
If you haven’t heard it already, welcome to Ball State University! There's a whole campus of opportunity waiting to come to you, even if you never step foot on it. But before you consider the world of academic wonders, try to focus on the following basics of being a college student—an online student in a new and exciting university community.
Undergraduate Students
If you’re working on a bachelor's degree, Ball State provides you with an online academic planning tool called Stellic. This tool shows the progress you are making toward meeting the requirements of your degree plan.
Stellic will help you:
- learn the minimum graduation requirements for your major and GPA required
- identify courses you’ve completed and courses still needed to fulfill degree requirements
- track all current and past coursework, including courses transferred to Ball State
- learn if courses completed meet requirements for other majors or minors you’re considering
- select the right courses for your next semester
Graduate Students
If you're working on a master’s, a doctoral degree, or a graduate certificate, you will work directly with your academic advisor to design your career plan. Please contact him or her for more information.
If you've not met your academic advisor, check this list.
As soon as you receive your Ball State username and password, you can log into our Orientation for Online Students.
As you click through all the services offered to you, we think you’ll feel like you're part of the Ball State community. Because you are.
You will be able to track your progress as you work your way through the orientation modules. It’s full of information that you can always revisit when you need it – 24/7.
The orientation is mobile friendly and will give you the information you need to go to your online classes with confidence.
Cardinal Central is a convenient, one-stop location for business processes, resources, and information. Use the Cardinal Central portal for business such as:
- update your class schedule
- manage your eBill
- access your financial aid information
- request transcripts
Access the Cardinal Central Portal.
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Student Success Specialist
Your Student Success Specialist is more than just your academic advisor. They are your biggest coach and supporter as you strive to achieve your academic and career goals. Many of our specialists have earned their degrees online while continuing to work fulltime and balance family time, so they understand what it is like to be in your position.
You’ll work with the same dedicated specialist from application to graduation. Reach out to them anytime for help, especially with the following:
- Individual Degree/Course Planning
- Program Changes or Additions
- Course Permissions
- Withdrawing from Courses
- Graduation Requirements
- Transferring Courses
- Transcript Review
- Virtual or Phone Appointments
Contact your Student Success Specialist
Unless you already have a Student Success Specialist assigned to you, you can contact online@bsu.edu if you need help connecting with a Student Success Specialist, tuition estimates, program information, application requirements, and how to apply.
What Online Students Have to Say
The best advice I have is to reach out to your advisor [Student Success Specialist]! All of the faculty members were accessible and helpful in stressful times for many.
— Quinn Zaerr ‘24, Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis
Online Services for Students
If you were impressed with the service during your application process, wait until classes start. Ball State provides both main campus students and online students with countless services and helps your academic success.
Academic Support Services
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please contact Ball State’s Disability Services (DS) office. DS coordinates services for students with disabilities. Documentation of a disability needs to be on file in that office before any accommodations can be provided.
Further online information for students may be found at the Disability Services web page.
For online students, the library is always open—particularly for research and locating reading materials.
In fact, most of the services of Ball State University Libraries are at your fingertips, whether you’re searching for books or articles, compiling a bibliography, or needing to consult with a librarian.
Handy Research Tools
These are a must!
- One Search will help you find articles, books, music, DVDs, and more.
- A Databases page provides general databases as well as databases by subject, so you can find the ones useful for your discipline.
Finding Books
You can search for materials using Interlibrary Loan or Academic Libraries of Indiana (ALI). At the Research Guide for Ball State Online, click on “Find Books” and see how Interlibrary Loan for Distance Education Students and ALI Reciprocal Borrowing Program can help. The research guide will also help you in your search for articles, course readings, dissertations, and citation and formatting sources.
Librarian at Your Service
It’s our motto! So please ask your questions via chat, phone, or email through our Ask a Librarian page. Or set up an individual appointment, and we can talk about your research questions through Skype or WebEx.
Our tutoring sessions, available through Ball State’s Learning Center, are led by nationally certified tutors.
- You can access online video workshops on relevant topics.
- Need help with technology or software applications? Web-based video tutorials are available through Lynda.com, accessible through bsu.edu/helpdesk.
- For those who live near Ball State's campus, tutoring is available during regular hours, some evenings, and on weekends.
- Tutoring is confidential, and it’s free.
- You can also get a tutor to help you with success strategies.
As you will see, the Writing Center is all about elevating your writing and not just correcting grammar and punctuation. There’s actually a grand design behind our writing consultations.
Like main campus students, you can get assistance on papers and presentations from the Writing Center, which can be accessed online.
But it’s important to remember that this is more than a place to get help with tomorrow’s assignment. Instead, it’s a resource that, by using the suggestions below, will improve the quality of your writing over the course of your college career.
- Ask questions about grammar, punctuation, usage, and style with a simple email or call.
- Schedule an online session with a tutor to discuss your writing project.
- Learn how to prepare for your writing appointment to get the most out of your time with the tutor.
- Take advantage of the Writing Center’s numerous tools for writers and helpful handouts and links.
Technology Support Services
Your course work is hosted in a Learning Management System (LMS) known as Canvas by Instructure. Canvas is a robust, web-based LMS that allows you to access course content such as readings, videos, lectures, and much more. Through Canvas you can interact with your instructor and classmates, and you can receive and hand in assignments.
For help with Canvas, current students can visit the Tech Academy Canvas Community.
Ball State faculty learn best practices in teaching through Canvas by participating in the Quality Matters Program, a nationally-recognized standard of best-practices for online learning. Our faculty’s commitment to teaching excellence is why Ball State won the National Excellence in Institution-wide Online Education Award.
When it comes to your technology purchases, you will probably be looking for ways to save. You can start saving at the Ball State Technology Store, a university-owned and operated service located on campus and available online.
Computer and software discounts include:
- free Microsoft Office 365 Pro Plus software, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- discounted computers, both PC and Mac
- discounted Adobe software
- and more.
Ball State’s Technology HelpDesk provides full-service support via phone and chat. View available tech support hours. Staff members can help you with questions related to:
- software and hardware
- setting up your computer, tablet, or mobile device
- accessing your course information
- username and password
- email account
As a Ball State student, you can also find thousands of free video tutorials to make your academic projects stand out. You can learn a new application or get a refresher course on basic skills that you will need as an online student.
MyBallState is an all-encompassing, customizable digital environment that removes clutter and allows students, faculty, and staff to access information, resources, and tools important to their successful, daily experience at Ball State. It is accessible via the website, and Apple and Android mobile apps.
Ball State's Tech Academy Canvas Community can help you find and utilize the technology and online resources you need to succeed. Some classes may require you to work with unfamiliar technology, and the Tech Academy has the information you need to know. You can access the community on your Canvas dashboard.
Career Planning
From your first semester with Ball State Online to your last, Ball State’s Career Center has staff, programs, and services that can help guide you to a career or graduate school.
And remember, a one-to-one career consultation may be your best option.
Cardinal Career Link
Cardinal Career Link is an online job search tool that puts you into direct contact with employers who want to recruit Ball State students and graduates. The service provides:
- a résumé builder to help you get started on your résumé
- a critique of your résumé when you upload it to your documents section
- ways to explore careers and industries
- appointment scheduling with a career coach
Educational Videos
You’ll find educational videos in the Career Center that explore topics such as:
- writing résumés
- preparing for interviews
- using social media as a job search tool
- planning for graduate school
- and more
Career Coaching
Our Career Center’s career coaches are highly trained professionals who can guide you in your career search and explorations. Whether you need someone to review your résumé, help with an internship search, or lead you through a practice interview, our career coaches will help you develop a strategy for success.
Alumni
Finding the ideal career can be a lifelong process. Even as an alum, you’ll have access to our Career Planning resources. It’s just one of the value-added benefits you receive as part of the Ball State community. See our services.
Cardinal Central
Cardinal Central is your one-stop shop for business processes, resources, and information such as financial aid, registration, and bill pay. Visit Cardinal Central if you need help with the following:
- Financial Aid
- eBill
- Ball State University Transcripts
Bookstore
The Bookstore can help with:
- Course Materials and Textbooks
- Textbook Order Status
- Graduation Apparel and Materials
- Ball State Merchandise
Student Health Center
As an online student, you have access to a lot of the same campus resources as on-campus students, including the Student Health Center. Online students wanting to utilize the Health Center services, will need to pay the $103 Health Center Fee each semester. All Health Center appointments are held on Ball State’s main campus. There are no virtual or telehealth appointments available. You can find more information on our FAQ page.
Online International Student Resources
If you are an international student, contact the Office of International Admissions and Services for help with:
- International Admission
- Degrees Earned Outside of the U.S.
- NACES Member Evaluations
- English Proficiency Requirements
Questions about Online Learning?
Chat with us (above), read our frequently asked questions, or email online@bsu.edu.
Explore All Online Degrees and Certificates
Our 100 percent online degrees and certificates are designed with the working adult in mind. Coursework is asynchronous, meaning you can complete it at a pace that fits into your daily routine without worrying about being late for class. You’ll earn a reputable Ball State degree whether you’re taking classes in a physical or online classroom.
Find Your Degree
Online Student Support Fund
The Online Student Support Fund provides small-dollar grants to students enrolled in an online program who face financial hardships that keep them from pursuing their education. Financial hardships can come in many forms: childcare costs, unforeseen transportation issues, health clinic visits, textbooks and supplies, updating technology.
Due to the fluctuation in fund availability, the fund can offer no more than 25% of the fund balance to any student requesting aid. The max amount awarded to any student will not exceed $500.
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