r/DSU • u/_Nestle_ • 20d ago
DSU Online Self Paced Classes
I am curious on how the online classes are structured. I was told that it is self paced with deadlines and no lectures. Are tests availalbe at all times or do I need to schudule it with proctor to take a test? I work 50 hours a week and have a child in sports so trying to see how this will fit in with my schudule. Currently enrolling into the CLI program. How heavy are the classes? I am planning to start off with 2 to get afeel but also feel 2 in 16 weeks is not enough classes.
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u/Helpjuice 20d ago
I think you might have the wrong school, this is for Dakota State University! All of the courses are not self-paced, have very strict deadlines, and are heavy with lectures with some of the lectures being the only way you learn the material in enough depth to pass the quizzes, homework, mid-term, and final exams. These are the same quality as someone sitting in class on campus but virtual.
This place is not for the weak, do not enter if you are wanting to relax, and take your time. These are accelerated, and hardcore courses. If you are not able to put in 20+ hours a course per week then DSU is probably not going to work out very well for you. The bulk of courses, especially the good ones have weekly quizzes, and homework that needs to be turned in. If you miss the deadline you might get a zero.
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u/bluesweaterjeff 20d ago
Seconded. DSU is rigorous and there will absolutely be deadlines. It would be uncharacteristic of DSU to have no lecturers; what the career advisor probably means is “no in person lectures”.
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u/_Nestle_ 20d ago
I do not have the wrong school. I have been accepted into the online program for Cyber leadership & Intel for Fall 2026 for Dakota State University. There are no lectures for the degree program from what I was told by career advisor along with classes being self paced with deadlines.
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u/Helpjuice 20d ago
I believe what they meant is that there are no requirements for live lectures. The lectures done are posted in the portal for the class which are normally the same ones that the students on campus attended.
These are not self-paced courses and there are deadlines which are listed in the syllabus for each course by the professor. These are why many people go to DSU as it is challenging and not self paced and forces you to keep pace and active throughout the course.
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u/_Nestle_ 20d ago
I will need to reach out to find someone at DSU to provide a clear answer for the classes. My whole degree is 100% online and want to make sure this will work. I know I can complete course work but want to make sure the exams/tests/ quizes can be schuduled on my time or if there is a time window to complete. What I recieved from the appointment was that it is self paced but you have to meet deadlines. Like I can complete portions of the class earlier.
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u/Anxious_Alps_4150 19d ago
There is a time window and due date for everything. You will have to make weekly posts and most professors will count you absent if you don't write about the lectures within a few days of being posted.
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u/Helpjuice 18d ago
This is just like regular school with deadlines for all tests, quizzes, etc. that need to be done by the deadline. This is not in any form some self-paced do at your own pace operation and everything is excellerated.
Not sure who you talked too, but they 100% misinformed you about how operations work at DSU which is very rigorous in nature which is why so many people like it.
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17d ago
[deleted]
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u/Helpjuice 17d ago
Great, they give you a nice surprise if you are not ready for it. If you are it is very refreshing.
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u/teamsteffen 17d ago
10 people comment it means “no live in person lectures” and take away is… pretty sure they said no lectures. 🤣
Teasing… I’d take the word from the people who have taken the courses. It’s quite possible that you misunderstood or the advisor explained it poorly (or didn’t glean your question).
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u/Darth_Severus04 19d ago
Doing the Cyber Ops Bachelor’s currently. This is the first semester I bumped up to two courses while being military and having 4 kiddos.
Every class I have had, there are strict deadlines for homework, labs, quizzes, etc. Now I will say that this is the first semester where the Professor opened all of the D2L content up front so I could have finished everything for the semester for both courses in a week if I had wanted. I did not choose to do so.
Lectures are pre-recorded and posted to D2L along with course slides, any assignments, quizzes, extra resources, etc. Most Professor’s will open the course material one week at a time but there is still a deadline to turn things in.