Online and Remote Learning

Learn where and when you want.

SCS is committed to making learning as accessible as possible both locally and across the globe. We are continuously expanding our list of over 540 online learning opportunities. From languages to accounting, we offer flexible learning opportunities.

Our online courses are instructor-led and delivered through the University of Toronto’s Learning Management Engine – Quercus. Quercus uses weekly, real time modules and has tools for engagement and community building. Course preparation has built in flexibility so you can read, study, and complete assignments on your own time.

You will communicate with your instructors via discussion boards and/or email. Some online courses include live, interactive webinars. If you’re unable to attend the live webinar, you will be able to view a recording of the webinar on your own schedule.

You may also want to investigate funding opportunities available to you on our Financial Assistance page. Your path to lifelong learning is more attainable than you think!

Want to jump-start your writing, sharpen your focus and create commercially viable work? This course explores a range of popular fiction genres - such as mystery, the thriller, horror, romance, science fiction, fantasy and young adult - and introduces you to a community of like-minded writers. You'll learn how to create strong plots, scenes with impact, three-dimensional characters and believable dialogue. You'll also examine the business of writing, including agents, publishers and the US and international markets. Apply concepts of plotting, pacing and characterization. Write the opening chapter of an original work of genre fiction. Produce a 25-word log line that sums up your project. Investigate the genre fiction marketplace.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE
Pharmaceutical and laboratory operations depend on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). This GMP/GLP course teaches you the regulations and expectations of Health Canada HPFBI GMP/GLP and US FDA GMP/GLP and how they apply to the manufacturing, distribution and importation of pharmaceutical, radiopharmaceutical, biological and veterinary drugs. You'll learn effective Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) writing and GMP auditing and get valuable insight from guest speakers who work within the pharmaceutical industry. Financial assistance may be available to eligible Ontario residents through the Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU). Please email scs.learnerservices@utoronto.ca for details.   Ability to work in a GMP/GLP-compliant environment. Know the importance of good documentation practices and record-keeping. Understand the purpose and reasoning behind GMP/GLP regulations and their practical application through key quality systems. Understand the Qualyty Assurance-GMP-Quality Control relationship. Acquire essential skills for effective SOP writing and GMP auditing.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE
Advance your understanding of occupational health and safety (OHS) management and get the tools to develop and apply the right system for your organization. If you're a professional with responsibility for managing OHS, learn about legislative compliance, risk management, hazard recognition and control and due diligence. You'll analyze and discuss precedent-setting case law, scan contemporary systems and thoroughly review the amendments to Bill C-45 that established the crime of OHS Criminal Negligence in the Criminal Code. Apply and interpret federal and provincial occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation. Ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices. Apply the principles and key requirements of an OHS management system. Review Bill C-45 (Section 217.1 of the Criminal Code) and know how to comply with it. Create a safety culture within an organization.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • Winter - 26
  • ON-LINE
Building on your project management experience, this micro-course will help you develop the skills and competencies you need to establish, lead, and/or work within a Project Management Office (PMO). A PMO provides structure to centralize and standardize project management initiatives so your organization improve its project management maturity and can achieve its goals. You’ll learn about the different types of PMOs, how they create value, and how to select the right type of PMO to best support the unique needs of your organization to be successful. By the end of this learning experience, you’ll know how to create, grow, and sustain a PMO that delivers value to your organization, and how to navigate important risks and challenges. In addition, you’ll gain the ability to assess the maturity of an existing PMO, and how to align the PMO to organizational strategy. Within 4-6 weeks of successfully completing this course, you will receive your micro-credential indicating achievement of the outlined learning outcomes and competencies/skills. Micro-credentials are tamper proof, verifiable, blockchain-based and 100% digital. They can be shared on social media, including LinkedIn and Facebook, embedded in websites or downloaded as PDFs. For more information, please visit: https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/unique/micro-courses. By the end of this micro course, you'll be able to: Describe what a PMO is and does Assess the appropriate type of PMO for an organization Evaluate the considerations for creating a PMO Assess the maturity level of a PMO Design a PMO to add value to an organization Create a PMO execution plan Competencies developed and assessed in this course include: Assessing the type of PMO needed Writing a PMO business case Building and sustaining a PMO Assessing the maturity of a PMO Aligning the PMO with strategy
  • Winter - 26
  • ON-LINE
This course introduces you to key concepts, strategies, and trends behind the extraordinary rise of ecommerce and its impact on both our professional and personal lives. Today, the “do-or-die” importance of ecommerce to modern-day business success and survival is indisputable. This course combines conceptual learning with case study presentations of real-world online businesses and discussions on ecommerce impacting “breaking news” stories.  A primary outcome of the course is the ability to research, strategize, and develop a preliminary business plan for an online business.   Understand the terminology, key trends, core sales, marketing & infrastructure needs of ecommerce Recognize the technical, strategic and operational demands of starting and running an online business Review the most common online business and sales models and understand how they can be used to create a successful omnichannel online business Develop a start-up strategy for an online business with consideration given to a target market, value proposition, market offering, and financial model Research, conceptualize, and develop a preliminary business plan for an online business 
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • Winter - 26
  • ON-LINE
This course familiarizes you with a range of tactics to grow an online business. You'll learn about audience research, online marketing strategies and web analytics. Discover how to interpret web data so you can drive high-quality traffic to your website through search engine optimization (SEO), digital advertising and engaging user experiences. You’ll understand how to attract, engage and retain customers while familiarizing yourself with widely-used tools in the industry. Class assignments allow you to demonstrate your knowledge by creating a management presentation that includes data analysis and strategic optimizations. Apply key ecommerce/online business tools, including cutting-edge AI platforms. Understand web-based marketing and audience research. Learn how to optimize the digital customer-experience. Get to know website design and effective content creation strategies. Leverage tools to design, manage and optimize an online marketing program
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE
From sitcoms to single-camera comedies and animation, learn how funny can function and thrive on television. Work with an experienced TV comedy writer and a community of like-minded writers in a course that combines lectures and workshops. You'll explore and develop the key elements of good comedy, including character, story, timing and joke punch-ups. Understand how to break down a television episode and create a beat sheet. Gain tools to write a sample episode of existing series, to work in a writers’ room, and to develop an original series.
  • Winter - 26
  • ON-LINE
This course will help you understand the foundations of energy management methods, policies and trends. Find out how energy resources are generated, transmitted and distributed in a modern economy. You'll learn about energy from conventional sources (fossil fuels, hydro-electric and geothermal) and renewable resources (solar, wind and biofuels). You'll also learn how to do a cost-benefit analysis of energy conservation and how to maintain and integrate energy systems in residential and commercial buildings. Assess the efficiency of conventional and renewable energy sources. Estimate the energy uses of residential and commercial buildings. Understand, calculate and benchmark energy bills for residential and commercial buildings and industrial plants. Assess the maintenance and integration requirements of energy systems.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE
Residential and commercial buildings are among the biggest users of energy. This course teaches you how consumption (and budgets) can be cut through better energy management and conservation systems. You'll learn to conduct energy audits, the use of instrumentation and measurements in buildings, and the organization and implementation of energy management and control strategies in building systems. The course also covers existing legislation and available grants, as well as current energy control and management systems. Assess energy use in buildings. Perform energy audits on residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Compare relevant techniques for reducing energy consumption in buildings. Use Cumulative Sum Control Chart (CUSUM) analysis and other analytical tools in assessing consumption.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE
Modern buildings and urban communities need energy management systems that are sustainable and effective. Learn how deregulation and energy policies, standards, codes, and best practices (such as ISO and ASHRAE), impact the buildings and their energy systems. Use advanced economic analysis techniques to evaluate alternative financing arrangements for energy management projects. Examine distributed generation and renewable generation technologies, and how these can be integrated into the current electricity system. Learn about commissioning of buildings, and how human behavior can impact the energy management systems. Explore how sustainable development principles and strategies can be used in the energy management of a building, a corporation, and an urban community. Analyze the energy policies of Canada and Ontario. Assess the impact of codes, standards and best practices on the buildings and energy systems. Analyze the implications of ISO 50001, ASHRAE 189.1, and LEED certification requirements on energy management. Perform an economic analysis of alternative financing options for energy management projects. Evaluate distributed generation including renewable generation technologies. Assess the importance of building commissioning and the impact of human behaviour on energy management. Explain the structure of deregulated energy markets and analyze the development of energy procurement contracts. Apply sustainable development principles in the energy management of a building and the development of sustainable energy strategies for a corporation and an urban community.
  • Spring/Summer - 26
  • ON-LINE

Start your lifelong learning journey

Sign up with us to receive the latest news about our courses and programs, speaker series, course bundles and more.