UNCG has been participating in a UNC system-wide program called Independent Study by Extension for several years. Sometimes referred to as correspondence study, the program offers numerous courses in a wide range of disciplines. UNCG also administers a number of professional development, non-credit courses that are offered outside the regular University schedule to the Piedmont Triad and N.C. communities. With the emergence of electronic technologies, UNCG now has the ability to offer selected courses to students in a distance-learning format.