Oregon State University Ecampus: A World of Opportunities Online

Oregon State University Ecampus stands as a leading provider of online education, transforming the lives of students in Oregon and across the globe. As part of the Division of Educational Ventures, Ecampus collaborates with OSU faculty to deliver high-quality learning experiences through degrees, certificates, and microcredentials. With a history rooted in pioneering distance education, Ecampus continues to innovate and expand access to education for all.

A Legacy of Distance Education

Oregon State University's commitment to distance education dates back to the 1880s, when farmers in rural Oregon could attend college-level lectures on agricultural science in their own cities and towns. These early lectures, often held in train cabooses, marked the beginning of OSU's journey to bring education beyond the traditional campus setting. Over the years, the university introduced programs in business management and manufacturing for residents of Portland and the Oregon Coast. By 1980, OSU offered a distance-learning degree in liberal studies to students throughout Oregon.

In 2002, the university converted its Distance and Continuing Education program into what is now known as OSU Ecampus. Today, Ecampus is recognized as one of the top online universities in the nation, offering a wide array of degrees, programs, and microcredentials.

The Ecampus Experience: Quality and Flexibility

OSU Ecampus is widely regarded as one of America's best providers of online education. The quality of Ecampus programs and courses has contributed to rising enrollment: Nearly 1 in 3 Oregon State students now learn exclusively online.

Ecampus courses are designed according to research-based standards, in partnership between professional instructional designers, multimedia developers and OSU faculty trained in online course design and teaching. All Ecampus online courses are developed by Oregon State faculty and are held to the same rigorous academic standards as the university’s on-campus classes. Ecampus works closely with more than 1,300 Oregon State faculty members, program leads and department heads in order to provide students with transformative educational opportunities. To ensure quality, Ecampus requires ongoing training for faculty developing and teaching online courses. The Ecampus Faculty Forum, held each spring, offers a platform for faculty, administrators, and staff to discuss online teaching excellence and research in online education. Ecampus also participates in the Quality Matters program, which focuses on continuously improving course design to enhance student success in online courses.

Read also: Evolution of the Oregon Mascot

The majority of Ecampus courses are delivered online asynchronously, meaning there are no scheduled meeting times, and you can access courses at your convenience. This flexibility allows students to balance their education with other commitments, such as work and family.

Degrees and Programs: A Wide Range of Options

Students interested in learning online with Oregon State can choose from more than 110 degrees, programs and microcredentials. Ecampus delivers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs online, with some hybrid programs that feature face-to-face components.

Bachelor's Degrees

Ecampus offers a diverse selection of bachelor's degrees, allowing students to pursue their interests and career goals. Examples include:

B.A. and B.S. degrees: Study the sciences and humanities and sharpen your critical thinking.
B.A. in Human Development and Family Sciences: Make a difference in the lives of people in your community.
B.A. in Social Science: Develop practical, interdisciplinary skills to promote human dignity and social justice.
B.A. in Liberal Studies: Customize your liberal studies major to meet your unique academic goals.
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering: Learn how to design, build and improve mechanical systems, components and processes.
B.S. in Natural Resources: Learn how to facilitate outdoor experiences that respect and protect natural resources and cultural heritage.
B.A. in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Acquire extensive knowledge in social sciences and humanities that focuses on gender issues and women’s experiences.
B.S. in Public Health: Learn to apply current theories and research in practice with aging individuals and communities.
B.S. in Psychology: Learn to support mental health and emotional well-being in individual, family and community contexts.
B.A. in Italian: Develop your speaking, listening, reading and writing comprehension of Italian.
B.S. in Semiconductor Manufacturing: Gain in-demand skills in semiconductor process development and evaluation.
B.S. in Business Analytics: Develop critical analytical skills and learn how to make data-driven business decisions.

Choose from bachelor’s degrees in fields such as business, natural resources and liberal arts. And in order to find the best program for you, our degree comparison tool will help you evaluate programs side by side.

Graduate Degrees and Certificates

Ecampus also offers a variety of graduate degrees and certificates for students seeking advanced knowledge and skills. Examples include:

Read also: Quarter System at OSU Explained

Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.): Prepare for leadership roles in higher education.
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Gain in-demand business skills through a highly regarded MBA program.
Master of Education (Ed.M.): Gain the skills needed to thrive in student-facing roles at postsecondary institutions and other organizations.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Environmental Sciences: Choose between two master’s pathways in the environmental sciences.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Fisheries and Wildlife Administration: Accelerate your career with advanced training in fish or wildlife biology, ecology, management and conservation.
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Interdisciplinary Studies:
Master of Science (M.S.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Gain a scientific and technical understanding of how drugs are brought to market - from research and discovery to manufacturing and approval.
Master of Public Policy (M.P.P.): Become an expert in policy theory, design and implementation.
Master of Science (M.S.) in Supply Chain and Logistics Management: Global supply chains need future-thinking leaders and logisticians who can anticipate issues and ensure smooth operations.
Master of Education (Ed.M.) in Adult and Higher Education: Shift your career by upgrading your skills in postsecondary student support and services.

If a full graduate degree isn’t quite what you’re looking for, you can still find an Oregon State program that meets your needs. Choose from dozens of online graduate certificates and microcredentials to add advanced skills in subject areas that align with your interests and professional goals.

Microcredentials

For those not seeking a full degree program, Ecampus offers online certificates and microcredentials that provide engaging opportunities to develop skills and knowledge with less time and financial commitment. These credentials focus on specific skill sets aligned with industry needs, providing practical experience across various in-demand areas with an emphasis on reskilling, upskilling, and career progression. Develop highly specialized skills when you complete a microcredential online.

Student Support and Resources

Ecampus provides a range of support services to help students succeed in their online learning journey. The Ecampus enrollment services team offers a personal connection to OSU Ecampus for prospective applicants. Success coaching is an academic counseling service for undergraduate Ecampus students, employing an individualized, strengths-based, and holistic approach.

In 2024, the Quality Matters program honored Oregon State with its Online Learner Support Certification, which lasts for five years and applies to all programs delivered online by Ecampus.

Affordability and Accessibility

Whether you live in Oregon or anywhere else in the world, you’ll pay the same tuition rate online. Use our tuition and fees calculator to create a rough estimate of the total cost of tuition.

Read also: Growth and Community at WOU

To make college more affordable and accessible for students, the Open Educational Resources Unit (OERU) works with all university faculty to create openly licensed course materials that are freely available to all students. The OERU encourages and supports faculty in using no-cost or low-cost (less than $40) course materials.

Innovative Initiatives

Oregon State's Division of Educational Ventures is home to Ecampus and a variety of other innovative units. The division helps OSU lead in the creation and delivery of new learning experiences that meet real-time student needs and workforce demands around the world.

Ecampus Research Fellows program: A competitive, internal grants program that funds OSU faculty to conduct original research in online teaching and learning.
Corporate and Workforce Education Unit (CWEU): Through innovative collaborations, the CWEU provides working adults and organizations around the world with increased access to OSU’s in-demand learning opportunities online and on campus. The CWEU prioritizes understanding an organization or agency’s needs and collaboratively designs a program that meets an employer’s unique goals.
Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE): CORE offers innovative workforce development experiences to meet the demands of the vast, entrepreneurial, and rapidly growing outdoor recreation industry. CORE’s offerings aim to address skills gaps and challenges in recruiting and retaining a diverse and equitable workforce.

Honors Degree Online

You can earn an honors degree online in any undergraduate degree program and benefit from the distinctive elements of the honors experience, including high levels of engagement, collaborative learning and an interactive thesis experience.

Testimonials: Student Success Stories

Students who have chosen Oregon State University Ecampus consistently praise the quality of education, the flexibility of online learning, and the support they receive from faculty and staff.

Fiona Wylde (B.S.): "One of the things I’m constantly impressed with is the depth of material we’re able to cover in an online setting."
MacKenzie Sharp (B.A.): "I felt like the quality of education I received online was equal to the quality I would have received if I were in person."
Mayra Radzinski (B.S.): "What I enjoyed most about the online coursework was that there were so many opportunities for hands-on experiences."
Joshua Chan Burgos (B.S. in Anthropology and B.S.): Oregon State does a good job of giving you opportunities to go out into the field to apply the concepts you are learning online. It was more than just studying.
Ashley Hatleberg (B.S.):
Taniah Johnson (B.S.): Earning my degree means I accomplished something I never thought I’d be able to do.
Amanda Kniepkamp (M.Eng.): NASA is constantly trying to get the best and the brightest, which is why I got my master’s to remain competitive with my peers. My confidence has definitely gone up.
Tommy Sheridan (Grad Cert, P.S.M.): That’s the real beauty and promise of online education. Students don’t need to leave their day jobs.
Meili Gunawan (Ed.M.): What I liked the most about learning online at Oregon State is the community with the instructors.
Aime Alvarado (M.P.H.): To have the support of my classmates, it was unbelievable. They were there from the beginning to the end.

tags: #oregon #state #university #ecampus #programs