University distance learning student demonstrating digital technology.

Charles Sturt University is Australia's biggest online university, with 23,000+ distance education students.

CSU is also the major university in regional NSW.

  • The largest CSU campuses can be found in Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga and Goulburn.
  • It also has campuses and study centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, other regional areas and overseas.
Distance learning with CSU

CSU has a common internet platform for courses called Interact2. Each subject has its own site within CSU Interact to access learning content and tools.
Online support for each subject includes:

  • internet links and resources
  • an online subject forum (allowing for discussion with the Subject Coordinator and students)
  • an email address for contacting the Subject Coordinator
  • links to the library (allowing you to search for relevant information and resources)
  • links to other administrative and support areas of CSU.

CSU has a good geographic spread of facilities and organises overseas exams for its 1,000+ international online students. Students can also attend residential schools (which are compulsory in some subjects) and weekend schools.

Residential sessions are usually conducted in the break before each academic period (in February, April, July and September). They vary from 1 to 5 days and usually run between 9am and 5pm. The sessions often include a lecture series and small-group tutorials or practical/laboratory sessions. University-arranged accommodation is usually available for the main campuses.

CSU online courses

Charles Sturt University has a large number of distance education courses, covering just about every field of study.

Below is a selection of programs, some of which feature in Online Study Australia course pages. Visit here for detailed info about available courses.

1  Arts and Communication

CSU has one of Australia's biggest online Bachelor of Arts programs.

Communications

The university also runs a communications masters program in which you can major in journalism or organisational communication. It is 3 semesters worth of study if you have a relevant undergraduate degree.

Journalism topics include cultures and practice; convergent journalism (including social media); and research, writing and reporting for journalism.

Organisational communication students explore public relations topics such as internal communication management; corporate culture and change; organisational reputation; and communicating when there are issues or a crisis. The focus is on communication strategy and leadership.

Religious Studies

You can do religious studies by enrolling in a Bachelor of Islamic Studies. The course has 20 core subjects and 4 electives. It covers Islamic theology, Islamic jurisprudence, spirituality, Qur'anic studies, hadith, history and contemporary issues, and Arabic language. It was developed in response to a growing need for an understanding of the Islamic faith within Australian communities.

  • Graduate students can do a Master of Arts with a major in Religious and Values Education. It provides teachers of religion and values with a grounding in biblical, philosophical, ethical, and multi-faith disciplines within religious studies.
  • CSU also offers a Master of Islamic Studies by distance education. There is a 2-day supplemental residential school each session. The course is pitched at students interested in academic and teaching fields centred on Islam. It is available to bachelor degree holders from any discipline.

2  Business

CSU has a flexible Bachelor of Business program. You can do double majors, including by combining business studies with a non-business major. Available majors include accounting, banking, finance, human resource management, insurance, management and marketing.

The MBA program is workplace-focused. It develops skills and knowledge that can be readily applied to professional life. Assignments have a theoretical base but practical emphasis. There is an optional 1-day workshop early in the course, offering a chance to meet other students. The program has plenty of specialisation options. You also have the choice of a 12-subject (3-semester) or 16-subject (4-semester) degree.

3  Health and Community

Nursing

The nursing bachelor degree covers primary healthcare, indigenous health and culture, health challenges, health optimisation, discipline of nursing, clinical nursing practice, social justice, psychosocial sciences and biosciences. For some subjects, distance education students attend 1-4 day residential schools at CSU campuses (generally at Bathurst and Wagga Wagga).

Social Work

A 4-year bachelor degree in social work designed to meet the initial requirement of professional training in social work. Distance education students are required to attend 4 week-long residential schools during the course of their studies. The program is based in Wagga Wagga but can also be studied at Dubbo and Port Macquarie.

The Master of Social Work program includes both Professional Qualifying (in Wagga Wagga) and Advanced Practice (100% online) courses. The 2-year Professional Qualifying course includes 4 subjects with residential school requirements. A total of 140 days (980 hours) are allocated to field education. The 1- year Advanced Practice course has numerous electives to choose from.

4  Information Technology

CSU offers a good selection of development and accreditation courses in information technology.

Masters degrees are available in Information Technology, Management, and Systems Development. The courses aim to build applied technical and management skills. CSU offers some of the cheaper (low-fee) masters degrees. Discounts are applied for online study.

5  Psychology

CSU offers 3 postgraduate psychology degrees.

  • The Graduate Diploma (2 years part-time) allows graduates from other fields to obtain the equivalent of a bachelor degree.
  • A Postgraduate Diploma (2-years part time) is required for professional accreditation.
  • A Masters degree (4 years part time) is for registered psychologists who want to practise as Clinical Psychologists.

6  Science

CSU has a highly rated science program. It is supported by a network of campuses and study centres across NSW and Australia. Available majors include analytical chemistry, conservation biology, mathematics, microbiology and immunology, physics, plant science, and spatial science.

Environmental Science

The environmental science course is based at the Albury-Wodonga campus. For applied subjects, there are residential schools where you can access modern scientific equipment. Available specialisations are catchment management, conservation and management, land and water, and landscape analysis.

CSU offers multiple postgraduate degrees in environmental science fields. All are available for part-time, distance education study for the equivalent of 1.5 years full time. Some units involve residential schools or field trips in the Albury-Wodonga region. Masters degrees can be gained in Environmental Management, GIS and Remote Sensing, or Natural Resource Management.

Nutrition

You can study for a food and nutrition major as part of the Bachelor of Health Science Distance education students are required to attend residential schools that last 2 to 5 days. Key subjects are Foundations and Techniques of Biochemistry, Physiological Sciences, Human Nutrition, Food Processing, and Food and Health.

Mathematics

CSU has a general science course in which students can major in mathematics. Your online study of maths can be combined with several other science disciplines, including: analytical chemistry, conservation biology, microbiology and immunology, physics, plant science and spatial science. CSU also offers maths units in information technology and education programs.