How Our Programs Work

ACHS blends the support of a traditional semester schedule with the flexibility of online distance learning. Regular 15-week courses start three times per year: Fall (September), Spring (January), and Summer (May). Select accelerated 7.5-week courses start in March and July.

Most programs have a required sequence of courses based on full-time, half-time, or quarter-time status to ensure an incremental increase in knowledge to support student success. Students are provided with an Academic Plan based on required sequences and optimal student success at the time of enrollment so they know what to expect from the beginning.

Programs with a specialization or elective options (e.g. Associates and Bachelors degree programs) have a recommended sequence to accommodate students’ selections and meet prerequisites throughout the program. See the Program Catalog for specific sequence information or contact your advisor ([email protected] for prospective students or [email protected] for current students).

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Undergraduate courses are limited to 30 students; graduate courses are limited to 20 students.

We keep our instructor to student ratio small, so classes do fill quickly. You’ll want to register early to save your place. Registration deadlines are usually the first of the month prior to the semester start. Registration deadlines are published on the ACHS Academic Calendar. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Many courses are offered every semester depending on enrollment and course availability. Please visit our online Course Schedule for a list of upcoming classes.

Your online classroom comes loaded with rich, interactive content including written and recorded lectures, podcasts, video, graphics and illustrations, multimedia activities, ACHS eTextbooks, and exclusive access to subscription databases through the ACHS Library. Depending on your class, you may also receive DVDs, publisher textbooks, study guides, and hands-on practical lab kits with organic and sustainably-produced herbs, essential oils, and other practical materials. Through our Apothecary Shoppe, you can view a selection of these practical lab kits online. Practical lab kits are also called a Course Pack.

All of our course materials meet the highest standards; we use only the most reputable education publishers and certified organic suppliers of raw materials as a part of our quality promise to you. 

ACHS course curriculum is reviewed by industry leaders and subject specialists and is endorsed by the leading associations in each field of study. Plus, ACHS offers a Green Option for eTextbooks in many courses, which helps reduce your course costs and supports ACHS’s sustainability initiatives.

ACHS online classrooms feature a variety of content and learning tools to create an interactive, meaningful learning experience. A few key features of the ACHS online classroom are:

• A weekly module structure that seamlessly guides you through the course content
• Written and recorded lectures, podcasts, video, graphics and illustrations, multimedia activities, and ACHS eTextbooks
• Clear due dates and online calendar to keep you on track
• Asynchronous discussion forums for sharing ideas, questions, and research with your classmates and instructor
• Synchronous chat and lecture tools for live discussions with your classmates and instructor
• Comprehensive Library including access to several subscription databases for original research (plus free training webinars!)

We’re confident your classroom learning experience will include rewarding communication with both your classmates and professor. We hope you’ll take full advantage of any optional, live synchronous chats or lectures with your professor, as well as any required asynchronous discussion boards, online collaborations, skill-building quizzes, exams, graded papers, and classmate and professor feedback. You can access your graded assignments, module exams, and final exam, complete with professor comments, through the integrated online grade book, and track progress and success.

ACHS also offers several optional webinars free for current students and graduates throughout the year featuring ACHS faculty and industry experts. You can view and register for upcoming webinars through the ACHS Events Calendar.

Cohort course schedules are a wonderful opportunity to learn with a group of like-minded peers. A semi-structured course framework combines required weekly due dates with a highly flexible study schedule. You design the study schedule that best meets your needs each week, which is a distinct learning advantage over other programs.

ACHS courses are hosted on the Internet and are supplemented with textbooks, printed materials, and hands-on study kits. The ACHS classrooms are accessed through the Canvas learning management system, which has its own set of technical requirements.

 If you have any questions about these technical requirements, please feel confident contacting [email protected] for guidance. 

Also, all incoming students complete the ACHS New Student Orientation to familiarize themselves with the tools and functions of the online classroom they will use to complete their studies with ACHS.

As an ACHS student, you’re embarking on an exciting and transformational learning experience! If you have any remaining questions about studying at ACHS, please contact us at [email protected] or give us a call at 800.487.8839. We look forward to working with you!