• Student Services

    Learn about our Academic Resource Center (ARC)

  • Get Involved

    The Dean of Students’ Office and the Student Coordinating Committee (SCC) work together to promote self-care and community

  • Student Colloquia

    View a sampling of colloquia titles from our Clinical Psychology doctoral students.

Services
Living Here

Online/Distance Learning Support

William James College supports your online class experience by providing distance learning students with a variety of services. Just because you don't come to campus doesn't mean you can't take advantage of our fantastic support services, many of which are available through web based tools, some 24/7.

When web services are not an option, our student services departments can make themselves available to students over the phone or using our webinar technology. William James College's webinar tool allows you to share audio, visuals, and if you prefer, a webcam, with a member of our William James College students services team.

Please take a look at the various Student Service departments (listed below), and learn more about how they may be useful to you, our distance learning student.

Dean of Students

The main goal of the Dean of Student’s offices is to facilitate, troubleshoot and triage issues that may arise for students during their time at William James College. Distance learning students are encouraged to contact the office for a phone or webinar consultation to talk about issues that may affect their education and development. In addition to one-on-one consultation, the Dean of Students office also offers additional student service resources including:

Academic Resource Center
The ARC is the Academic Resource Center for Students at William James College, which offers assistance to graduate students experiencing difficulty with writing and other academic tasks. Click here for more info.

Office of Multicultural Affairs & Community Service
William James College is committed to Diversity and Difference and meeting the needs of our communities. Our distance learning students can see our activities on the Diversity and Difference and Community Service pages.

Financial Aid

For students who are eligible, William James College offers Federal Financial Aid for our distance learning programs.

Our staff is ready to assist our distance learning students with all aspects of the financial aid process, including application processing, budget preparation and management of education loans. We are available by phone or by email. You may also schedule an appointment for one-on-one consultations as needed. To schedule an appointment, please call 617-327-6777 x1524 or email hilary_baxter@williamjames.edu. 

For more information on tuition, fees and links to the FASFA, please click here.

Library

Our Library is an information and service referral center designed to support the research needs of students and faculty, both on campus and at a distance. The library maintains a core collection of resources that are available remotely through our Library website. These include electronic books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, and more. Comprehensive interlibrary loan services, computer services, and online reference databases are also available. The library services reflect William James College's commitment to teaching students how to obtain information effectively.

Bibliographic instruction in library research methods is offered on a continuing basis, and distance learning students may request training over the phone or using our webinar tools.

William James College is committed to the continuing acquisition and development of computer information resources in its library. The library supports current online subscriptions to PsycInfo, PsycArticles, and Ebsco Host—a full text database. Our community also has access to the following online databases: Medline, Expanded Academic Index, and Health Reference Center. For more information, click here.

Career Services

Career Services offers career guidance and employment counseling, workshops, events, and resources to students and alumni across disciplines. Career Services collaborates with Alumni Relations, Field Education, and Academic Departments to help guide students and alumni through the many stages of their career development process. Please visit our career services web page at: www.williamjames.edu/career-services.

State Authorization and Consumer Protection

NC SARA Approved Institution Round LogoWilliam James College has been approved by Massachusetts to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. Please click here for the William James College student complaint and resolution procedure.

Readiness Quiz

Distance learning courses at William James College allow students to learn with great flexibility. Our online programs offer courses that can be taken "anytime/anywhere" as long as students meet the weekly deadlines. This type of learning environment is essential for students who work full time, have family obligations, or for various other reasons cannot come to campus to learn. It is important to note, however, that with great learning flexibility comes additional responsibility. To be a successful distance learner, students should be aware of the unique learning styles and techniques that are essential in an online course.

This short quiz addresses some of these characteristics, and will allow you to better evaluate if distance learning at William James College is right for you. Please write down your responses to each of the 10 questions.

QUESTIONS: Please write down your responses to each of the 10 questions.

  1. I believe that distance education courses require the same, if not more, of a time commitment than face-to-face courses.
    1. Agree
    2. Unsure
    3. Disagree
  2. I am willing to share and use my own experiences as part of the learning process.
    1. Agree
    2. Unsure
    3. Disagree
  3. I feel comfortable communicating my thoughts and reflections through writing.
    1. Agree
    2. Unsure
    3. Disagree
  4. I would characterize myself as someone who:
    1. Often gets things done ahead of time
    2. Needs reminding to get things done on time
    3. Puts things off until the last minute
  5. On a typical week, I can set aside 6-10 hours to commit to school work.
    1. Agree
    2. Unsure
    3. Disagree
  6. I would characterize myself as someone who is self-motivated.
    1. Agree
    2. Unsure
    3. Disagree
  7. When it comes to trying new technology, I feel:
    1. Comfortable
    2. Not 100% comfortable, but willing to learn
    3. Not comfortable
  8. Feeling that I am a part of a learning cohort is:
    1. Not particularly necessary to me
    2. Somewhat important to me
    3. Very important to me
  9. In order to feel confident in my work, I need instructor feedback:
    1. Within a few weeks so I can review what I did
    2. Within a few days or I forget what I did
    3. Right away or I get very frustrated.
  10. When reading instructional text:
    1. I usually understand it right away
    2. It might take me a few attempts to fully understand it
    3. I have trouble understanding written instructions

RESULTS: Please add up the number of A's, B's and C's you selected.

If you have mostly A's:Your results indicate that you may be a self-motivated and independent learner, who is comfortable learning in an online environment. We encourage you to apply to one of our distance education programs.

If you have mostly B's:You may be a successful online student but we recommend that you make a few adjustments in your schedule and study habits in order to be most successful. Online courses take at least as much time and effort and in some cases more time than traditional face-to-face courses. They also require a basic knowledge and comfort level with technology.

If you have mostly C's:Your results indicate that distance education courses may not be currently the best choice for you. While we do not discourage you from applying to one of our distance education programs, we recommend doing a little more research on what makes a successful online student, and adjust your schedule and study habits accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is distance education

Distance learning is defined as a formal educational process where the student and instructor are not always in the same location. Distance learning courses may be offered as synchronous (live) or asynchronous (archived) and may utilize correspondence study, audio, video, or computer technologies.

What type of course delivery methods does WJC utilize

Every William James College program falls under one of three  course delivery classifications:

  • Traditional: Course meets face-to-face, but may use web-based technology to supplement a meeting, or present course materials and information.
  • Blended: Course blends online and face-to-face instruction.  Most of the content (lectures, discussions, readings, assignments) are delivered online through William James College’s Course Management System, Canvas, and then group work, role playing and other activities better suited for face-to-face learning are reserved for when the course meets on campus.  The on campus requirement varies for every program, so please visit the program page for more information.
  • Online: All of the course content is delivered online. There are no face-to-face meetings.
Can you tell me more about the blended course structure

William James College's blended courses incorporate both online and on-campus study. Under our blended model, students view the weekly lecture, take part in weekly assignments, discussions, and collaborative projects with faculty members and classmates, all using the online learning platform. Each student is then required to attend one intensive weekend-in-residence (WIR) per course in addition to other on-campus gatherings.

How do I know if a blended or online course is right for me

Graduate students from all backgrounds can benefit from the flexibility and intensity that a blended or online course can provide. Research has shown, however, that students who are self-motivated, proactive, organized, open to new ways of communication, and have had some experience with technology do exceptionally well under this particular model.

Do I need extensive experience with computers in order to succeed in a blended or online program

While we recommend that students come in with basic computer literacy skills, blended or online programs are not limited to students who are "technologically savvy." In addition to an online orientation and trainings that will precede the semester, William James College has a highly skilled support staff ready to address any concerns or problems you may have with the distance component of your program.

Are the distance learning course lectures live or can I view them at my leisure

Most William James College blended and online courses lectures are offered as "asynchronous" lectures, which means you can login and view them at your own pace, provided you meet the assigned deadlines. Some courses will require you to login to an occasional live (synchronous) lecture, or to a scheduled group project meeting, however this will be made clear to you at the onset of the course

For any course - do I have the option of viewing a lecture online or coming to class each week

Not at this time. Currently you must adhere to your program's particular delivery method.

How important are the weekends-in-residence - WIR - of the blended programs

The WIR is required and vital to the cohort and experiential learning model. Most of William James College’s blended courses include one required weekend-in-residence, which is typically held on campus from 8:30am to 5:30pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday during the course. The WIR brings students together on campus to build upon the material from the weekly online activities. Students must make sure they can attend the WIR before they sign up for a course, since the WIR experiences cannot be made up or replaced.  Note: The online programs do not have a WIR. 

How will I remain part of the school community with lower face-to-face time of blended or online courses

William James College's distance learning approach is centered on active learning, engagement, and community. In addition to the in-depth weekly online discussions with fellow classmates and your professor, the intensive weekend-in-residence component of a blended program will allow you and your cohort to build strong academic and social bonds. Students participating in distance learning courses are also encouraged to come to campus to study, work on group projects, and participate in campus-wide activities and social events if possible. In addition, students enrolled in the programs have access to all of the same student service resources as face-to-face students.

What services are available for students taking blended and online courses

William James College's wide range of services are available to every student, whether you are on-campus or at a distance. Please visit the student services links found to the left to learn more.

Is financial aid available for blended and online students
Yes! As long as you are enrolled in a graduate level degree program, every William James College student is encouraged to meet with the financial aid office to discuss what financial packages might be available to them. 
What is the application process for the blended degree programs
The application process is for the most part the same for all William James College programs.  For each William James College program, students are required to complete an application, submit an application fee, and provide letters of recommendation and official transcripts. Programs may have additional requirements, which can be found under the individual program website. For non-graduate level, or non-matriculating courses, please contact the William James College admission office for more information. 

Dean of Students Office

We serve students academically and personally. We engage the community through programs and services; and work closely with students to enhance their experience. Email us at deanofstudents@williamjames.edu.

Student Leadership and Organizations
Student Leadership & Organizations