Distance Education

Overview of Online Courses at SOU

Authorization for Out-of-State Course Delivery

Southern Oregon University participates in the national State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, making it possible for students from every state except Massachusetts to enroll in online courses offered by SOU.

In compliance with USDOE regulations, current and prospective students can find information about state authorization and complaint processes on the SOU State Authorization page. To determine whether programs in Education meet requirements for licensure in other states, contact the teacher licensing board in the appropriate state.

SOU offers a variety of distance learning courses. Find out how to access the schedule of classes, learn about fees for online courses and how to contact the support staff who can help you accomplish your goals. Is online learning for you?

Types of Courses

The term distance education describes learning activities occurring when the student and instructor are separated by time and location. While we offer three types of distance education courses at SOU, the majority are either fully or partially online. The three types are:

Online — In a fully online course, all instruction occurs over the Internet. You can take the course from the convenience of your home, office, etc., 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You access course content and resources, participate in discussions, submit assignments, and interact with the instructor and your classmates through an application called Moodle.
Note: Although an online course offers flexibility, each course has a start and end date, and each assignment has a specific deadline. Also, some courses may require a few online meetings on specific dates and times. Your instructor will provide advance notice of dates and times when such meetings are required.
Hybrid — A hybrid course is a combination of online course work and on-site (or two-way video) meetings. Some hybrid courses meet every other week while others meet only at the beginning and end of the term. When you register for a hybrid course, you will be informed of the specific meeting dates so you can plan accordingly.
Two-Way Video — A few courses are delivered using interactive video. These courses meet on a regular day/time using two-way video transmission. SOU presently transmits to sites in Medford, Klamath Falls, Grants Pass, Roseburg, and Coos Bay.

Courses offered online vary each quarter. To identify online courses:

Search the SOU Class Schedule.
Use the Delivery Method filter to limit your search to courses delivered online.
Be sure to consult the Footnote column for additional information about a course such as special requirements, meeting dates, or other important details.
Keep in mind that courses and fees are subject to change.

Fees

Special tuition and enrollment considerations affect online students:

Tuition for online courses is assessed differently than on-campus courses, and is the same for all students regardless of their Oregon residency status. Online course tuition applies to Oregon and out-of-state residents, including students enrolled through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the California Exchange Program, and the National Student Exchange Program.
While there is a $65 per credit delivery fee charged for online courses, credits that are taken online are not included in student fee assessments (building, incidental, green tag, and health service fees); students only taking online courses will not incur those fees. For current tuition and fees, refer to Tuition and Fee Schedules.

Information for Out-of-State Students

In compliance with USDOE regulations, current and prospective students can find information about state authorization status and complaint processes on this page.

Note: Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Scholarships and the California Exchange Program rates do not apply to online courses.

Student Support