How It Works

ODU Distance Learning can be a wonderful alternative for students without time or options to get to main campus.

Academic Support

Have you just been accepted? Visit our checklist for newly admitted students.

Advising


Extended Campus Support
Each extended campus location has staff trained to provide you the on-site support you need. If you attend classes at one of these locations, you will be assigned an advisor at that extended campus location. Please consult a location near you for staff contact information.

Graduate Advising
Academic Departments provide graduate student advising services. Please contact the department for assistance. You can find information about each program available at a distance through our Programs search page.

Online Support
Need assistance but don’t want to travel to an extended campus location or don’t have one nearby? We have two on-call advisors that can assist you. 

Contact Areas of support
Dr. Rob Curry
Director of Advising Services
rcurry@odu.edu
1-800-968-2638

You are interested in or participating in an undergraduate Military Distance Learning program (General Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology-nuclear, Health Sciences)

You live outside of Virginia and are not at one of ODU’s extended campus locations in Arizona or Washington and you are interested in, or are participating in, the online or video streamed undergraduate programs in Engineering Technology, Nursing (RN to BSN), or Computer Science.
Ron Woodard
Director of Transfer Services
rwoodard@odu.edu
1-800-968-2638

You are a student outside of Virginia and you are not at one of ODU’s extended campus locations in Arizona or Washington and you are interested in, or are participating in, the online undergraduate programs in Criminal Justice or Psychology.

You live outside of Virginia and are not at one of ODU's extended campus locations in Arizona or Washington and you have been given special permission to take video stream courses offered in the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Education, or Business & Public Administration.


Monarch TRANSFERmation
ODU's Monarch TRANSFERmation system lets you explore how courses you have complete at another institution might transfer to ODU for credit.

DegreeWorks
This is a web-based academic advising tool that identifies courses that fulfill requirements for your major and degree completion. It displays graduation requirements you’ve met and those yet to be completed. You can also generate "what if" scenarios to see how courses you have completed might apply to another major if you were to change majors. You can access DegreeWorks through LEO Online or myODU. The University Registrar has a text-based guide to using DegreeWorks, and ODU has posted a video about the tool on YouTube.
 

Academic Calendar & Course Schedule

Your guide for each course is your course syllabus. This document is your contract for the course and in it you will find the administrative details regarding your course. Distance Learning courses typically follow the University’s semester-based academic calendar.

Blackboard

ODU uses Blackboard as its course management system. Check out the Blackboard Quick Reference to learn how to access Blackboard, how to log in, how to find your courses in Blackboard, where to find help, and technical recommendations.

Bookstore

As a distance learning student at ODU, you can shop for your class books and materials at our online bookstore, ODU Express (www.odudlbooks.com). They have textbook rental and e-book options as well. Get all the bookstore details here >>

Course Registration System: LEO Online

LEO Online is the University’s online class registration system. Here you can search for course offerings in the “Class Schedule Search”. The selection options can be a bit confusing if you are not familiar with how the system codes courses. We've put together a guide to help your search process go smoothly. 

Exams and Proctoring

The process for taking exams depends on the delivery method for your course. All the details are here.

Library Services

Old Dominion University’s Perry Library is accessible to all students at a distance, including electronic resources, reference services and librarians. The Library has a web page with clear guidance for students at a distance.

Graduation

For Distance Learning students, your advisor will notify graduating students and send information as graduation approaches. Information about graduation also can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. All undergraduate students must take the Exit Exam of Writing Proficiency and the  Senior Assessment Survey. Exiting graduate students are asked to take the Graduate Student Satisfaction Survey.

Military Program Contacts >>


Transcripts (Academic)

If at any time you need to get a copy of your official or unofficial ODU transcripts, the Office of the Registrar is the place to go for guidance and assistance.

Complete the Official Transcript Request Form (PDF) if you need an official transcript.

If an unofficial transcript will do, it is available on the secure LEO Online system. Here’s how to retrieve it:

  1. Log in to LEO Online secure area.
  2. Select Student Records from options.
  3. Select Academic Transcript.

Tutoring: Smarthinking

ODU Distance Learning students can get tutoring and help with homework 24/7 through Blackboard, our course management system. The service is called Smarthinking. You can get help in:

  • Algebra
  • Basic chemistry
  • Basic math
  • Calculus
  • Geometry & Trigonometry
  • Microeconomics
  • Physics
  • Statistics
  • Writing

To access Smarthinking, log into Blackboard and click on Tools. You should then see a link to Smarthinking.