Online classes can be taught in one of two ways: synchronously or asynchronously. This refers to the meeting times and whether you will interact with your instructor and classmates at the same time or at different times. For all modalities, students need to have a computer in order to be successful in an online course.

SYNCHRONOUS: Instructor and students are online, interacting with each other at the same time. This method will require you to be online at a certain time each week.

ASYNCHRONOUS: Instructor and students are online, but there are no set meeting times when anyone must be online. While this method offers the most flexibility, there are still periodic deadlines for course assignments, and you and your classmates will be completing the course as a group. This is not a self-paced model. It requires a high level of self-discipline and inner motivation to stay on track and the ability to promptly reach out to the instructor when you need clarification. The instructor might offer real-time meetings such as office hours if necessary.

How do I find online modalities at the point of registration?

If you check the Class Schedule, and search “Instructional Methods,” you might see these terms. What do they mean? All of these have some online component. The biggest difference is in the degree of synchronicity for meeting times.

Modality	Level of Synchronicity	More information
ONL: Online	100% asynchronous online	This is the most flexible model but requires a lot of self-direction. An instructor might offer online office hours or other ways of interacting with you and your classmates, but it is not required.
RT ONL: Real time online	100% synchronous online	All class meetings are online in real time. No meetings are on campus. Cameras on for both faculty and students.
COMB ONL: Combined online	Half of the class meetings are synchronous and half are asynchronous.	Some class meetings are online in real time. No meetings are on campus.
Blended	A mixture of in-person classes that meet on campus with the instructor and the rest of the course happens online—asynchronously.	Some meetings are on campus.
Sufflex	Instructor and some students are meeting in-person on campus and some students are online. All classes happen synchronously—same time.	Here is a list of rooms where these classes are typically scheduled. Sufflex rooms on all campuses.