FAQs

Distance continuing education allows you to study at home, in the barn, at your office, or even while you are traveling – anywhere you have Internet Access. This allows you the flexibility to participate according to your own schedule. There are no classes to attend on campus and no schedule where you have to be online at a certain time. All students registered in a course begin the course at the same time and finish at the same time. As a registered student, you will be provided with a login and password to the online course website. It is here you will interact with the instructor and other students in the class. The instructor will guide you through the course content and you will participate in various learning activities, access discussion boards, complete readings, watch videos, and otherwise interact with the materials that will help you learn the course content .  You will demonstrate your learning by completing online quizzes, submitting assignments and writing papers. Every course has an assessment which results in grade which is recorded on your University of Guelph transcript – just like any in-person course you would complete at a university or college.

University of Guelph has a tradition of outreach and open learning opportunities and distance education provides a contemporary means through which we can continue to provide accessible learning to the community.

If you are new to online learning or distance education, you might be wondering what it’s like to take an online course. All courses are online and you access the course content through a password protected course website which we call CourseLink. Here is an image of what an equine course will look like once you’ve logged in.

Image: Equine Exercise Physiology Course Home Page

Everything you need to be successful in your online course is contained on the course website, expect your textbooks. Students are expected to purchase any textbooks associated with the course.

You are not required to be online at any specific time and your course is open 24 hrs a day. Each courses is 12 weeks in length and you should be online and active in your course at least three times a week. To be successful you should expect to spend 6 – 10 hours per week completing the course activities, discussions and assignments.  An instructor facilitates the course and you are able to ask questions and engage in discussions with them by using the discussion board. Our instructors are in the course almost everyday engaging with students. As with all university courses you can expect to complete assignments, quizzes and write papers as part of the assessment of your grade. Course learning outcomes and student expectations will vary with each course. You will find specific information on each course on the individual course information pages.

Yes the course is facilitated by an instructor. The instructor will guide you through the course content, answering your questions and facilitating your learning of the course material. They will provide you feedback on your progress and grade your assignments. Our instructors are very active in the course interacting with students through the discussion board and email, always with the goal of helping you succeed.

Many of our courses have teaching assistants called Peer Helpers. The Peer Helper in your course is also a great resource to our students helping you to navigate the course and complete the activities and assignments.

You can view our instructors bio’s on the Instructor link.

Yes, you may take the courses in any order. We do suggest all students begin with the Management of the Equine Environment course; students should take Equine Functional Anatomy before Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Nutrition before Management of the Broodmare, Stallion and Foal, Stewardship of the Equine Environment after Management of the Equine Environment and leave Equine Genetics to the end of your studies. There are courses in the Equine Welfare Certificate which require you to complete a prerequisites. You must meet the prerequisite requirements of a course before you are able to take the course.

If you have any questions on which order to take your courses please contact Open Learning and Educational Support and we can assist you in your decision. info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca

We strongly recommend you start with one course per semester, and then decide whether you can increase your workload to two courses per semester. We recommend students do not enroll in more than two per semester, in order to get as much as possible from each course. It really does take 6 – 10 hours per week to complete a course. We often find that students can over estimate the time they have available to complete the course work, especially if you have balancing work, family and your horses. We want you to be successful, and to be fully engaged in the course. If you are considering more than two courses, please contact our office to discuss this option with the program manager; info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca.

We recommend you only register for one course when you are taking any of the advanced courses. The advanced equine courses require self-directed research and preparing presentations, and you may find you spend 15 hours a week or more during some weeks of the course.

No, it is not required. All courses provide options for students who do not have access to a horse. In some courses it is recommended that you have access to a horse, a horse facility and/or various professionals in order to complete the optional learning activities. .

You can take the course from wherever you have a computer linked to the Internet! The benefit of the online format is that you can work around your busy schedule by studying from the comfort of your own home and at a time convenient to you. There are no classes to attend and you do not need to come to the University of Guelph campus. All that is required is a computer, an Internet connection, and a desire to learn more about the health and welfare of horses, the equine industry and business management. You will meet students from around the world.

Each course is 12 weeks in length. All students begin the class at the same time and end at the same time. Courses are broken down into units that are completed each week with everyone progressing through the course at the same time.

Your course is structured with a unit of content presented each week of the course

Having the course paced like this over each week allows you to have the support you need from classmates and instructors to successfully complete your course. You have the opportunity and flexibility within each week to determine when you will participate in the course. This will enable you to balance work, family and your horses to meet your educational goals.

The courses will vary in workload. We suggest you plan to spend six to ten (6 – 10) hours per week on your course. Some courses have optional readings and activities and students have reported spending over 10 hours during weeks where the subject matter is of great interest. During weeks you are preparing an assignment or engaging in an additional activity you may find you spend additional time. The advanced equine courses require self-directed research and preparing presentations, again you may find you spend 15 hours a week or more during some weeks of the course.

You may order textbooks from any book seller. The University Bookstore and Co-Op Bookstore will carry the required textbooks just prior to each course offering, but do not stock them on an ongoing basis. You will find your textbook listed on the course description page. Not all courses have an assigned textbook so be sure to confirm them on the course information page. Most publishers sell the textbooks online, and depending on where in the world you are studying, you may want to explore the best place to order your textbooks from.

These courses are designed to bring evidence-based knowledge to the student in an applied format to improve the management and welfare of horses in the industry. As a result, you will become a more informed person with up-to-date information based on new research. This becomes an important tool for anyone who wants a career in the horse industry. Many of our graduates have taken positions in equine management and find that with our certificate or diploma, they are able to move up in positions faster, due to the greater knowledge that they have. Other graduates have started new careers in equine administration, journalism, farm management, pharmaceutical sales, event coordinator and teaching to name a few. The certificate and diploma do not train you for one job, but prepare you to be better qualified for many jobs and professional opportunities.

How you use the certificate or diploma to advance your position and open up new opportunities will depend on you, but we are finding the industry is welcoming our graduates and giving them opportunities they would not have had otherwise.

Courses are offered on a rotating basis each January, May and September. You can begin your courses at any of these times. All students begin and end a course together. You will find the current course schedule on the Schedule link.

That’s a difficult question. You can participate in the course anywhere you have access to the internet. If you have a device (computer, laptop, IPad) and access to the internet you can continue to participate in your course anywhere in the world. While you are planning your vacation remember there are weekly discussions and activities you will need to complete. You will be responsible for keeping up with your coursework and submitting assignments as they are scheduled. If you are planning a vacation we recommend you review the course schedule to ensure you submit your graded assignments on time. You will not be granted any extensions because you are on vacation. On the other hand online courses offer the flexibility that allows you to travel and participate anywhere you are.

The Equine Studies courses are intended for adult learners. Students should be at least 18 years of age, or have completed Grade 12 or equivalent in order to register for these courses.

Each course is unique and has different assignment requirements. You can expect variety in the type and number of assignments.  An overview of the assignments can be found on the individual course description pages. You will have access to the specific details of your course assignments and deadlines when you login to your course and view the Course Outline.

All assignments and exams are submitted online. You do not have to come to the University of Guelph campus for exams, nor do you need to arrange for a proctored exam. Your course will contain specific directions about how to prepare your assignments for submission. Details for each assignment can be found in your Course Outline and the Assignment link in your course website.  Assignments are easily submitted as a file attachment to the course website Dropbox, and specific instructions on how to do this are provided in your course.

It is important for you to be aware of due dates so that you can complete and submit your assignments in a timely fashion. Contact your instructor in advance of the due date, if possible, if you are unable to complete your assignment on time Instructors may use their discretion to deduct marks for late assignments. Marks are deducted for late submissions, you will find the Late Submissions policy in your Course Outline.

If you are having trouble submitting your assignment to the course Dropbox you will contact the Technical Support Team at courselink@uoguleph.ca.

The University of Guelph has an Academic Consideration policy if you have a medical, psychological, or compassionate reason which prevented you from keeping up with your course.

Assignment of course grades is according to the following standards:

80-100 (A) Excellent
70-79 (B) Good
60-69 (C) Acceptable
50-59 (D) Minimally Acceptable
0-49 (F) Fail

When you apply for your certificate or diploma, those students achieving a cumulative average of:
80% or higher will receive a Certificate/Diploma with Distinction
70-79% will receive a Certificate/Diploma with Honours
Passing grade less than 70% but more 50% will receive a Certificate/Diploma

Yes, the equine online courses have an assessment process which results in the assignment of grades. Each course will have a selection of activities, quizzes, papers, research and other activities which the instructors will provide feedback on grades to the student. At the completion of the course students are mailed a grade report. At any time students may request a University of Guelph transcript. There is a fee to obtain the transcript. Log into your OpenEd Student Portal to request a transcript.

Our Equine Studies Online programs include:

• Equine Science Certificate
• Diploma in Equine Studies
• Certificate in Equine Business Management
• Equine Welfare Certificate

The University of Guelph has a variety of face-to-face equine programs including:

• Educational workshops offered through Equine Guelph
• Performance Horse Handler Certificate at our Ridgetown Campus
• Associate Degree in Equine Care and Management at Ridgetown Campus and the Regional Equine And Agricultural Centre of Huron in Clinton, Ontario
• Associate Diploma in Veterinary Technology our Ridgetown Campus
• Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management – University of Guelph Undergraduate Degree with an Equine Management Major

And through the Ontario Veterinary College the University of Guelph offers a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Start at our Home page and select the certificate or diploma program you are interested in, or alternatively begin at the Course Description page and select the certificate or diploma program from the drop down menu or browse the different course offerings and their requirements.

Yes, you can obtain more than one certificate or diploma but the University of Guelph requires a minimum of 50% of the courses to be unique to a credential. For example you cannot complete the ten courses required for the Diploma in Equine Studies and also request the Certificate in Equine Business Management. To achieve both  you would need to complete a further three courses so that at least 50% of your courses in the Certificate in Equine Business Management are unique to the certificate.

If you are working toward more than one certificate or the diploma plus a certificate please contact our office and we can assist you in planning your course of study. Contact us by email at info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca

The Diploma in Equine Studies is a comprehensive course of study requiring you to complete 10 courses, six core courses and four electives. The Equine Science Certificate is comprised of six courses – four core courses and two electives. You can choose to study for the Equine Science Certificate or the Diploma from the beginning of your studies or you can complete the Equine Science Certificate and continue your studies to complete the Diploma. The Diploma in Equine Studies allows you to combine the science and business courses for a broader selection in your course of studies.

Many studies begin their studies with the Equine Science Certificate and go on to complete the Diploma in Equine Studies. If you complete both the Equine Science Certificate and the Diploma in Equine Studies, the Diploma replaces the Equine Science Certificate. The Diploma in Equine Studies is considered the higher credential. Additionally, all of the courses in your Equine Science Certificate are also included in your Diploma studies. Therefore you have not met the University of Guelph’s requirement for obtaining two certificate/diplomas. This double counting of courses policy requires that a minimum of 50% of the courses in any certificate or diploma must be unique to the credential. Because the four core courses are part of both the certificate and diploma you cannot officially hold both.

Over the years our equine students have been very passionate and proud about their studies and the accomplishment of completing the Equine Science Certificate. Because of this we no longer require students to send back their Equine Science Certificate parchment once they have completed the Diploma in Equine Studies. However, students should still be aware that academically you hold one credential, the Diploma in Equine Studies.

Once you begin your studies you have 10 years to complete your Diploma.

Yes you can but you will need to plan your course selection carefully. Three courses you select for the Certificate in Equine Business Management cannot be used to meet the requirements of the Diploma in Equine Studies. In total, you will complete 13 courses.

If you are working toward more than one certificate or the diploma plus a certificate please contact our office and we can assist you in planning your course of study. Contact us by email at info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca

Yes you can but you will need to plan your course selection carefully to ensure you have the courses you need to meet the Equine Welfare Certificate program requirements, and at least three courses in the Equine Welfare Certificate do not count toward another certificate or diploma.

If you are working toward more than one certificate or the diploma plus a certificate please contact our office and we can assist you in planning your course of study.Contact us by email at  info@OpenEd.uoguelph.ca

Absolutely, the courses can be taken for professional development or interest. You do have to meet prerequisites requirements of any course you register for.

The Diploma program consists of ten courses. If you were to take one course a semester, it would therefore take ten semesters, or just over three years. However, many students choose to complete two courses a year and take a break in one semester. You can take up to ten years from the start of your first course to complete and receive the Diploma in Equine Studies.

You have five years to complete on of the certificate programs, and ten years to complete the diploma.

You can register for a course using our secure online registration system, or, if you live in Guelph you can register at our administrative office at Rm 160 Johnston Hall, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON  N1G 2W1.

To Register for a course begin at Equine Studies page, search for your course,  from the course information page select Add to Cart, and follow the instructions to complete your registration online.

Equine Course Information Page

This is also the page you will find everything you need to know about your course.

If you need assistance with your registration please contact our office at 519-767-5000 or by email: info@OpenEd.uoguleph.ca

Registration typically opens 12 weeks before the course start date. You will register for only the courses you will be taking in the current semester. Many of our courses fill up quickly so you should register early. Registration deadlines are posted on each course offering page, if a course is not full we will accept registration up until the end of the first week of class. We do have an early-bird registration discount for students who register before this early-bird deadline date which is 30 days prior to the course start date.

Registration deadlines are posted on each course offering page, if a course is not full we will accept registration up until the end of the first week of class. We do have an early-bird registration discount for students who register before this early-bird deadline date which is 30 days prior to the course start date. Please be aware that we do have courses which become full prior to the early-bird deadline date.

Our courses are open to everyone. Students are required to be at least 18 years of age. The courses are at University level, and the expectations are in line with this. It is recommended you read the course description carefully to ensure the course is right for you.

The courses are facilitated in English. In order to understand fully the course materials and increase your chance of success, we strongly suggest you have an English proficiency equivalent to a score of 89 iBT (Internet-based TOEFL) with no band less than 21, or successful completion of the advanced level of the English Language Certificate Program at the University of Guelph.

If you change your mind about taking a course that you have registered for, you will need to let us know as soon as possible. Always refer to the course cancellation policy. You will need to complete a course drop form. Fax the completed drop form to notify us of your intent to cancel your enrolment. In order to receive a refund, the form must be received by the cancellation deadline noted in the cancellation policy. Should you decide to not continue after the course drop date, you MUST still complete and send in a drop form, informing us of your intentions before the 40th class day to prevent receiving a grade of “F” on your academic record. The course drop form can be found on the Current Students page.

If during the course you become ill or injured and you find that you are having trouble completing the course work or will miss an assignment deadline, please talk to your course instructor. The University of Guelph has an Academic Consideration policy that allows you to request an extension to your assignment if you have a medical, psychological or compassionate reason. Medical documentation will be required. The instructor will then work with you to set a new due date.

If the nature of your illness or injury is such that you decide the right option for you is to drop the course you will need to complete a course drop form. If you have missed the drop deadline you will also need to complete the Request for Academic Consideration form. The University of Guelph will consider granting Academic Consideration for courses if there is extenuating medical, psychological, or compassion reasons. Academic Consideration may take the form of an extended deadline, a deferred privilege, a late drop or course withdrawal. If you require Academic Consideration beyond the end of the last day of the course you must notify the Program Manager immediately. The Program Managers contact information can be found on the Contact Us page.

You will find the course cancellation policy here.

The cost of our online courses range from  $549.00 Canadian (Early Bird) and $625.00 Canadian (Regular). Please refer to each course offering for Early Bird cut off dates.

Required Textbooks are not included in the tuition fee, and must be purchased by the student prior to the course start date. Textbooks are listed on each of the course offering pages.

There is no discount for registering in all six courses at once.

Registration by credit card converts foreign currencies to Canadian dollars.

Receipts are issued. In Canada, the tuition portion of your course fees may be tax deductible.

You may be eligible to receive a bursary award towards an Open Learning and Educational Support continuing education activity and/or Open Learning program. Visit our financial assistance information page for more information.