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Office of Distance and Extended Learning Distance Learning
Texas State Office of Distance and Extended Learning Distance Learning

Distance Learning

Teaching Continuity Guide

Situations may arise that might require faculty to temporarily offer their class online with minimal notice. This guide is designed to provide a starting place to make this transition quickly and provides recommendations for faculty to make advance preparations.

The Office of Distance and Extended Learning, in addition to administering the self-paced correspondence, extension, and continuing education programs, provides information on Texas State's distance learning programs, courses, initiatives, and resources.

The Office of Distance and Extended Learning provides the Texas State community with an array of educational options through these program areas:

Faculty: Certification to Teach Online

Visit the Online Teaching Certification page to view the options for faculty professional development for online teaching at Texas State.

Distance Education Defined

Distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of instruction (interaction between students and instructors and among students) in a course occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. At Texas State, distance education courses are offered via Canvas, an Internet-based learning management system for delivering course materials, facilitating class discussions, implementing assignments and quizzes, and supporting learning outcomes. Courses typically fit into one of two categories:

  • Fully online course - A course which may have mandatory face-to-face sessions totaling no more than 15 percent of the planned instructional time. Examples of face-to-face sessions include orientation, laboratory, exam review, or an in-person test.
  • Hybrid course - A course in which a majority (more than 50 percent but less than 85 percent) of the planned instructional time occurs when the students and instructor are not in the same place. Mandatory face-to-face sessions may total up to 49 percent of the planned instructional time.

Out-of-State Distance Education Students

Many states have prescribed an “authorization” process for institutions from other states that deliver online courses to their state residents. Therefore, before accepting enrollments for online and correspondence self-paced courses from students residing outside of Texas and not planning on relocating to Texas, Texas State must be in compliance with the distance learning regulations of the states in which students reside.

For more information on state authorization and for a list of states in which Texas State is in compliance with state authorization rules, visit the State Authorization page.

Texas State's Online MSW Program Ranked 10th Nationally

Texas State School of Social Work's online MSW (Master of Social Work) program was ranked 10th among The 20 Best Master's in Social Work Online by BestCollegesReview.com. These rankings are based on several factors, including school and program reputation, student satisfaction, peer and instructional quality, and overall affordability.

Distance Education Courses and More

See the Schedule of Classes for a list of courses offered online or in a hybrid format through Canvas, on evenings and weekends, and at the Round Rock Campus. Listings are divided accordingly on the Schedule of Classes main page.