If you need to learn certain computer skills to get a new job or a promotion at work, but you have never attended college or only have a few credits left to complete your degree, taking classes online might be a good solution for you. Similarly, if you can't fit attending classes into your schedule or aren't interested in earning a degree, online computer classes are a great way to learn.

Before the advent of online computer courses, many people could not even consider the possibility of higher learning due to work and family schedules, their proximity to schools or the cost of tuition. Colleges and universities across the nation offer online computer courses. Even prestigious Ivy League schools, like Harvard and Yale, offer students the opportunity to study online. With online courses, students can learn a skill, get accredited in a particular field and, in some cases, earn a complete degree without attending classes in person.

Online computer courses vary in their requirements for students. Some courses require the student to do the online course work and go to the campus for lectures or for testing. Other courses allow the student to do all of the course work online. Some courses offer a certificate of completion, while other courses allow students to earn college credit. Some schools, including Yale, allow anyone to audit certain online courses free of charge.

Some online computer courses require students to log on at a particular time in order to participate. Other courses allow students to log on when it is convenient for them in order to do the class work. Generally the online courses have a time frame in which course work must be done, especially if the student is working towards a degree or certification, although some classes allow students to finish at their own pace.

Online computer courses vary from school to school, but they generally have similar features. Students attend most or all of the classes via the Internet. Some courses require students to purchase textbooks while others present all course texts as a computer download. Some classes have online interaction between the students and the teacher, others have advisers available for problems and questions, and other classes are completely student-driven, whereby the student reads the material, does any assignments and logs on to be tested.

Even though online computer courses offer more flexibility than their brick and mortar counterparts, prospective students should consider the requirements of the class before signing up. Most colleges and universities require students to be be registered with the college and charge the same tuition for online computer classes as they would for classes taught on campus. If you are considering an online computer course that is not part of a traditional school, check with the Better Business Bureau to determine whether this is a legitimate school and if there have been any complaints filed against them.