Teaching Online
Explore the pathways to teaching online at Seattle U.
Interested in Teaching Online?
Important Calendar Unification Update: Fall 2025
Beginning in Fall 2025, the university has paused the development of new curriculum, including new online courses. During this time, the Instructional Design Studio will work in coordination with deans, chairs, and program directors to identify which online courses will move forward in the semester programs of study. IDS will focus its support on helping faculty convert existing online courses to the semester format. Because online course development requires more time and coordination than traditional face-to-face courses, IDS will partner with faculty to make the conversion process as efficient and supportive as possible while maintaining the high standards of quality in online education.
Exceptions
This pause does not apply to online programs already in active development or to new online initiatives identified as part of Reigniting Our Strategic Directions, Goal 5. These efforts will continue to move forward in alignment with the university’s strategic priorities.
Pathways for Teaching Online
Online Program Design
Explore how the Instructional Design Studio supports the development of high-quality, mission-aligned online programs at Seattle University.
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Learn About Online Course Development and Review
All online courses (synchronous or asynchronous) must pass IDS review in order to be offered beginning in Fall Quarter 2023. If you're interested in developing a new online course, start here.
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Course Design Program
If you plan to design a fully online or hybrid course, consider joining this community of practice that meets once a week for one quarter.
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Course Facilitation
Faculty are sometimes assigned to teach a fully online course that was designed and certified by another instructor. We call this process “course facilitation.” Teaching an online course built by another faculty member can sometimes require a bit of training and orientation, so IDS is here to help.
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Calendar of Upcoming Events
If you would just like to learn a little more about teaching online, we have a variety of workshops and consultations that happen frequently, virtually or in our lab.
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Course Definitions
Web-Facilitated Courses
A traditional face-to-face course where the instructor uses technology to enhance the instructional experience.
Hybrid Course
A course where any of the traditional face-to-face class time is replaced by online learning activities. A hybrid course is also known as a “blended course.”
Online course
All course activity is done online. There are no required face-to-face sessions within the course and no requirements for on-campus activity.
Most online course activity and coursework are completed asynchronously (no requirement to be online at the same time), although there may be occasional synchronous meetings but they do not necessitate that students be on campus. Online courses cannot be self-paced, independent study courses and should instead provide rich learning experiences with a high number of instructor-student and student-student interactions.