Course Instructional Methods

Youngstown State University is committed to providing an excellent academic experience. The method of delivery for each class is determined after a thorough assessment by deans, department chairs, faculty, and other campus experts. Classes are assessed to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment, quality instruction, and engagement with faculty.

Course Instructional Methods

  • Traditional: This modality takes place on campus with entirely in-person instruction.
    • Set Day/Time
    • Set Location
    • 100% In-Person Class Meetings
  • Agile Campus Hybrid and Virtual Campus: These modalities are a combination approach using traditional face-to-face and virtual instruction methods.
    • Set Day/Time
    • Set Location and Online Class Meetings
    • May have some in-person class meetings
    • May have live video conference class meetings or broadcasts from the “classrooms of the future” weekly
  • Online-Live Meeting: This approach provides a completely online class with live instruction.
    • Set Day/Time
    • Set Online Class Meetings
    • No In-Person Class Meetings
    • Live Video Conference Meetings
  • Web-Based: Students work entirely online, following the deadlines established by the course instructor.
    • No set day/time
    • No In-Person Class Meetings
    • 100% Online Learning Experience
  • The Office of the Registrar anticipates most students’ schedules will have a variety of class modalities.
  • Students should review their active registration in the Penguin Portal to see if some of their class instructional methods have changed before the beginning of each semester.
  • Students may adjust their registration through the last day to add a class, change a grading option, and/or change a credit option deadline; those deadlines are listed for each part of term on the Calendars page.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO REGISTER or LOOK UP CLASSES, Click here


How to Search the Schedule of Classes for Different Instructional Methods

  1. Log in to the Penguin Portal.
  2. Under e-Service for Students, select “Course Registration.”
  3. Select “Browse Classes” to view the Schedule of Classes.
  4. Select the term from the drop-down menu, and click "Continue."
  5. Click on “Advanced Search.”
  6. To search by instructional method, click in the "instructional method" field and select your preferred method(s). You may fill in or select any other fields to narrow your search even more.
  7. Click "Search" to review the results.
  • How will I know how my courses will be taught?

    If you are already registered for classes, you will need to log in to the Penguin Portal, click "Course Registration," click "Register for Classes," then select the term. Here, you will see your summary schedule listing your current registration. You will see a column that lists the instructional method of each course. If you are not yet registered and want to see the instructional method of a course, you will need to log in to the Penguin Portal, click "Course Registration," click "Browse Classes," select the term, and search for your desired course. Once you find the course, you will see a column that lists the instructional method.

  • I've already registered for courses. How will I know if my course instructional method or location has changed?

    You should review your active registration right before the semester begins, and again on the first day of your class(es). Course locations or instructional methods can sometimes change, so you want to be sure you have the most up-to-date information before you come to campus.

    While there are a few different places to find this information in the Penguin Portal, here is one way to find it: To review your active registration, you will need to log in to the Penguin Portal, click "Course Registration," click "View Registration Information," then select the correct term from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. From here, click the "Active Registrations" tab. Click on the title of each course, then view the "Class Detail" tab to find instructional method, and the "Instructor/Meeting Times" tab to find meeting location and times.

  • My course changed to online-live or web-based, but I don’t like remote courses. How do I change my schedule?

    You will need to withdraw yourself from the online live/web-based course that you no longer wish to take, and register for a different section that is offered in your desired instructional method. You can change your schedule without penalty until the last day to add a course. See instructions on How to Register. You may also call (330)941-6000 to have a Counselor at the Penguin Service Center assist you with the process.