Future Students

Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community dedicated to transforming lives.

SWU Community

SWU students, faculty and staff are something, something, something else about our campus community.

Alumni & Friends

Warriors at heart. Your campus experience may only last a few years, but your connection to Southern Wesleyan can last a lifetime. Stay connected to SWU through events, publications, and social media.

Visitors & Neighbors

Whether you come for a campus visit, fine arts program, or athletic event, SWU seeks to provide educational and cultural opportunities not just to our campus community but to the greater community around us.

Program Format

Admissions : Adult Evening Programs : Program Format

By attending classes one night each week and participating in learning team activities, adult students at Southern Wesleyan University can complete the associate's degree in 30 months or less, complete major requirements for the bachelor's degree in approximately 22 months, or earn the master's degree in approximately 18-24 months.

Adult evening programs are geared toward the way adults learn, with active participation, learning outside the classroom, and an emphasis on applying what you're learning to your professional situation.

To make sure everyone is involved and engaged, most courses use a workshop-style format that is designed to generate class-wide discussions about ideas and allow you to evaluate the subject matter based on your practical experiences. With this format, teachers are no longer lecturers but facilitators who can offer new theories and perspectives for discussion.

Southern Wesleyan University reserves the right to modify course delivery based on enrollment volume. This could include changing from a fully on-site format to an online or hybrid format. Our desire is to provide a rich academic experience throughout your degree program.

Time Commitment

Classes meet once a week for four hours. Additionally, students should expect to allocate approximately 13-16 hours per week to their studies and projects; however, the amount of time may vary from course to course depending on the goals of the particular curriculum. There are no classes scheduled around certain holidays.

Class attendance is mandatory for both online and on-site students. Because much of your learning occurs through in-class discussions with other students, attendance at each is critical for the classes to flow smoothly. Online program attendance is required to help students stay on track for meeting course goals and learning outcomes. Attendance for online programs is measured by participation in the course and the submission of designated assignments by their due dates.

Adult Course Syllabi

You'll know exactly what to expect for each course and for each week. Every course uses a syllabus that outlines the weekly assignments and projects, the overall goals of the course, and the steps you'll take to fulfill the goals.

Online components in face-to-face format

We believe it is best for our students to interact with technology often and have strong computer skills in order to be a marketable employee in today's workplace. For that reason, some portions of face-to-face courses are conducted online through our online learning management system. From uploading coursework to accessing e-textbooks, many courses require interaction with our online learning environment.

For undergraduate students, elective courses in your program are fully online, even for on-site students. This also allows students to have flexibility for travel during their program, as students do not have to participate in face-to-face class meetings during these times.

For graduate programs, each program varies in how much online interaction is required. Please speak with an enrollment representative to learn more about a specific graduate program of interest.

Textbooks and Materials

Southern Wesleyan provides students in the evening and online programs with all books, e-books, or educational resources necessary for the course. Evening and online students are likely to receive an e-textbook and electronic supplemental materials. Utilizing e-textbooks reduces the impact on the environment. In addition, it is critical that all Southern Wesleyan University students check their SWU email account on a regular basis as important course related information (such as assignment updates, course expectations, special instructions regarding online materials) will only be sent to the SWU email account.

Additional Information

Class Representatives
Because clear communication makes everyone's life easier, some classes have a representative to ensure everyone stays informed. Learn more.

Learning Teams
Learning teams may be used to help facilitate the learning process in some courses. Participating on a learning team offers you the chance to discuss the material and work on various team projects. Learn more.