Online Courses

Online courses hold no face-to-face meetings during a course term, including no face-to-face orientation meetings. An online course is managed totally with online communications, learning management systems, and other distance-learning tools. The course requires interactive dialogue, and all assignments are submitted electronically. Course exams, or quizzes, are administered via the online portal or through an arranged proctored exam based on individual course requirements.

Types of Online Courses:

Online synchronous (SYNC): An online synchronous course holds no face-to-face sessions; however, a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of course sessions are conducted synchronously (at same time online). Online courses use the current, official University learning management system as the primary platform for content delivery and communication.

Online asynchronous (ASYNC): An online asynchronous course holds no face-to-face or synchronous (at same time online) sessions. Online courses use the current, official University learning management system as the primary platform for content delivery and communication.

Academic Requirements for Online and Hybrid Courses

Students taking online or hybrid classes should meet the following academic criteria:

1. Be in good academic standing prior to registering for online courses.
2. Be technologically competent and have access to appropriate hardware and software necessary to complete the course.
3. Students who fail a course need approval from their advisor or dean to re-take the course in an online format.
4. All academic requirements for traditional courses, including course prerequisites, would apply to online courses as stated in the Piedmont University Catalog.
5. Undergraduate residential students in face-to-face programs are limited to taking no more than six online credit hours in each of the fall and spring semesters without express permission from the Vice President for Academic Affairs.