Distance Education Programs of Study

Distance Education

Vincennes University’s Distance Education offers students the opportunity to pursue their education goals without having to spend extended periods of time on a college campus. Over 400 courses are offered through the Distance Education Program, with more than 27 degrees available entirely online. Students who need access to college courses and who need flexibility to accommodate busy schedules, find Vincennes University’s Distance Education Program to be the answer.

Degrees available online at Vincennes University include:

New technology solutions are vastly changing and improving the ways we teach and learn. Distance Education courses are created to utilize that technology to deliver courses to students wherever they are. Classes are delivered to the student - anywhere in the world! Distance courses are highly portable, providing students additional flexibility in scheduling and completing classes. Many of the barriers that have prevented students, both traditional and non-traditional, from pursuing their academic goals have now been laid aside.

Most University Core Curriculum (UCC) courses are available online.  Please contact the Distance Education office to confirm if the UCC course for your chosen degree can be completed online.

Courses are available to students over the Internet offered in four different term options to accommodate a variety of student needs: 16- week, 14- week, 12- week, 10- week, and 8- week. A schedule of courses can be found at www.vinu.edu/distance, or by contacting the Distance Education office at 1-800-880-7961.

Students interested in pursuing their degrees through Vincennes University’s Distance Education Program are subject to the University’s standard admissions requirements. Students may apply online at www.vinu.edu. Students may register for Distance Education courses by contacting the Distance Education office. Students choosing the distance education option are required to develop the same competencies and satisfy the same degree requirements as campus based programs. Credits earned through the Distance Education Program are applicable to the University’s residency requirements.

Financial Aid is available for eligible students taking distance education courses. Eligibility is determined in the same manner as for other campus-based programs. Special rules apply for courses scheduled for terms longer than traditional semester-based courses. Students should refer to the Financial Aid section of this catalog for specific information and may contact the Financial Aid Office at Vincennes University for course eligibility determinations.

Students with credits earned through CLEP or Dantes (DSST) standardized testing programs, and/or credits earned through other colleges or universities may request that Vincennes University award appropriate transfer credit toward their degree programs. Students should arrange to have official transcripts forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for transfer consideration. Military students desiring an evaluation of military training and experience for college credit according to approved ACE guidelines, should contact the Military Education Program office at Vincennes University.

Credit by Examination. Vincennes University offers students the opportunity to enroll in courses on a credit by examination basis. Students who wish to pursue this option must first contact the Distance Education office to make sure that the course is offered online and that credit by examination is allowed by the academic college.  If the course is offered online and credit by examination is allowed by the academic college, then the student must do the following: enroll in the desired course, pay the standard tuition and fees, and advise the instructor and academic advisor of their intent to attempt to earn the credit by comprehensive examination within the first two weeks of the course start date. Students will receive the course syllabus and may purchase the required course materials. Students are required to prepare for a single, comprehensive examination that covers all course content and objectives. The instructor will refer students to the Distance Education Office to arrange for the examination.

It is the student’s responsibility to study the material required for the course and prepare for a single, comprehensive examination that covers the course. The results of this examination will provide the sole basis for determining whether credit is earned for the course.

Exception: Some courses require skill proficiencies; other courses may not qualify for credit by examination.

The maximum time allowed between the enrollment date and the exam date is the regularly scheduled length of the course term. If the student is awarded a passing grade on the exam, then the student has the option to refuse the grade and complete the course for the chance to earn a better grade.  The course must be completed within the enrolled semester. The grade earned by completing the course will be the final grade. The exam grade will not be awarded once the student refuses the grade and chooses to complete the course.

Experienced-based Learning Credit. Vincennes University offers adults the opportunity to earn college credit for significant lifetime learning and experience. Such experience may include lifetime work-experiences, earned certifications, in-service training, reading and personal study, and extensive volunteer work. Students develop a comprehensive portfolio detailing their life experiences and specifically describing the college-level learning derived. Documentation is required.

Students register for and complete the Portfolio Development course (ENGL 125) under the supervision of an English faculty member. Once the portfolio is appropriately developed, it is reviewed and evaluated by faculty from various disciplines to determine the award of experiential credit. The university’s academic deans are ultimately responsible for the final determination of credit to be granted. The transferability of experiential credit varies among institutions. Students should contact schools directly to determine policies regarding the transfer of experienced-based credit.