The University of Iowa offers a variety of delivery modes for online classes.  You can search for courses by delivery mode in MyUI.  

Online courses delivered in a fully online format.  The digital device you are using to access courses must be able to make audio and video connections. Online instructors use both methods to convey content to students. For more information about potential software used in your online course: Distance and Online Education Technical Support.  To see an example of an online course, press here to visit our Sample Online Course page. 

Search for online courses in MyUI by selecting "Online" in the Delivery Mode checkbox. Online and distance courses have a section number of 0EX_. 

There are two main meeting patterns for online courses. Some course sections have a combination of these two patterns:

  • Online with Synchronous Meeting:  Synchronous meetings take place online at a specified time listed in the course summary on MyUI. 
  • Arranged Time Asynchronous Online:  Asynchronous meetings may not have a specified meeting time. Students are expected to access course material and adhere to deadlines listed for course assignments and exams. 

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT ACCESSING ONLINE COURSES FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES: There are some locations outside of the United States where the University of Iowa students have had difficulty accessing online courses. Please find more information here: Online Outside of the U.S.  

Off-Campus: Off-campus courses meet at a location other than the Iowa City campus. You can take off-campus courses in certain subjects in Des Moines, Sioux City, the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, and other locations as determined by an instructor.  Search for off-campus courses in MyUI by selecting the desired "Learning Center." Online and distance courses have a section number of 0EX_.

Workshops: Workshops are offered on-campus, online, and/or at a distance. Workshops are generally shorter than a full semester, often lasting three weeks or less. Workshops have a section number of 0WK_.

Distance and Online Education Nondegree Status: This status is for students who plan to enroll in online courses without entering into a degree program.