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University System of Georgia eCampus Offers Free Online Courses


Students can now take more than a dozen online non-credit college courses at no charge. While most students who take FreeCampus courses already attend USG colleges and universities, the courses are open to anyone. These self-paced courses are also asynchronous with traditional graded assessments. After successfully completing a course online, a student can receive a certificate for earning a grade of 75 percent or higher. There is no penalty for not completing a course.

With a focus on courses that are sometimes a barrier to college completion, the USG FreeCampus program allows students to better prepare themselves for credit-bearing courses. For example, a dual-enrolled high school student can take an English composition course to hone his or her writing skills before taking the for-credit version at a College or University. An adult learner who is returning to college after years away can brush up on math, increasing both confidence and future academic performance.

USG eCampus also offers free online courses in areas of interest, such as introductory guitar. Faculty across the University System of Georgia teach the eight-week courses. These courses have a rolling registration in fall and spring semesters and generally work at their own pace.

USG eCampus Associate Dean Dr. Sarah Kuck noted that more courses are in the works. “Students tell us they appreciate being able to ease into a challenging subject area without the cost or the risk of not doing well,” said Dr. Kuck. “What makes this program unique is that the courses are taught by the same faculty who teach other college courses and students are getting an authentic experience. At the same time, they’re embarking on a clear pathway that helps ensure success.”

Below is a list of current FreeCampus courses offered:

Anatomy & Physiology Prep – This course provides a foundation in terminology, basic chemistry, macromolecules, and other fundamentals of human anatomy. It provides foundational knowledge in areas essential for health majors.

College Foundations for English Composition – In this course, students are able to improve their writing and composition skills and be better prepared for College Composition courses. The course focuses on sentence structure, essays, analysis and argumentation, and research.

College Math Foundations – Designed for individuals who have struggled with math or need a review, this course covers foundational material, including factoring, fractions, linear equations, and calculator use.

Elementary Spanish Refresher – An introductory Spanish course with an emphasis on speaking and listening.

Elementary French Refresher – This course focuses on reading, writing and listening of the French language from a cultural perspective.

Macroeconomics – This content in this course is similar to that of a for-credit college macroeconomics course. It includes basic concepts and supply and demand, as well as performance measures, fiscal policy, and economic growth.

Introductory Business Law – In this course, learners will cover content that is typical of a college introductory business law course. Content includes contract law, legal procedures, torts, legal systems, and Constitutional law.

Introduction to Financial Technology – In addition to learning about career opportunities in this growing field, students will learn about cybersecurity, money, banking, and other foundational aspects of financial technology.

Introduction to Marketing – Students will learn about traditional approaches to marketing, including product, price, promotion, and place, as well as consumer behavior, social media marketing, and integrated marketing communications.

Fundamentals of Pathophysiology – This course is designed for students intending to become healthcare majors and wishing to build an understanding of fundamentals prior to taking a pathophysiology course for college credit.

Medical Terminology – Intended for both healthcare majors and other students, this course will enable students to understand and recognize medical word roots, terms, abbreviations, symbols, and prefixes.

Medical Mathematics – Designed primarily for students in health care majors, this course focuses on the calculation of medications, basic math and medication safety.

Essential Study Skills for College Success – This course provides students with the skills and tools needed for academic success. Among the topics covered are time management, test anxiety, selecting an appropriate major, and study strategies.

Library Instruction: Information Literacy – This course introduces students to eCampus resources for researching, citing sources, and writing and analyzing scholarly articles.

Guitar for Beginners – This course is designed for students who have little or no experience with playing a guitar or reading music but will gain proficiency in chords, scales and instrumentation through the course.

Registration for spring semester courses continues through February 29. For more information and to sign up, visit the USG FreeCampus website.

USG eCampus is a service unit of the University System of Georgia that assists SACSCOC-accredited USG institutions in administering quality, affordable, high-demand, post-secondary online degrees and credentials that address the workplace needs of Georgia and beyond.
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By Austen Clay, anclay@ecampus.usg.edu
Media Contact: Katie Black, kblack@ecampus.usg.edu

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