At CMU, online courses do not include any face-to-face meetings in a physical classroom and all formalized instruction and coursework is completed online (CMU, 2015). That said, online courses can have various levels or elements of synchronicity.
Online Asynchronous
Courses do not require any real-time face-to-face class meetings, whether in a physical classroom or virtually. That said, they may make use of optional, highly-encouraged synchronous sessions. If proctored exams are required, that fact is noted in the course registration system.
Online Synchronous
Courses do not require any face-to-face class meetings in a physical classroom, though they do require learners to participate in virtual class meetings online at specified dates and times as noted in the course registration system. If proctored exams are required, that fact is noted in the course registration system.
Training Opportunities
Preparing Your Online Course Shell
Wrapping Up Your Online Course
Online Course Developer Resources - Contracted Developers Only