Admissions

Most Commonly Asked Freshmen Questions

Where do I go to tour and/or visit campus? Where do I park?
The Office of Admissions will provide you with a free parking pass which you may use in the lot directly off Siskiyou Boulevard next to the Britt Building. Look for the bright red awning that reads "Admissions" for the entrance to the Britt building; the Admissions Office is on your right. If you arrange the tour in advance, you will receive a letter with instructions and a map. You can also download a parking map.

How do I become an Oregon resident for tuition purposes?
Residency information is available on the Oregon University System web site.

Do I have to pay out-of-state tuition if I have not lived in Oregon for one year?
If you are attending the University full time and/or seeking a degree, the answer is, "Yes," you do have to pay out-of-state tuition. Refer to the SOU General Catalog for a complete description of residency requirements. If you are attending as a part-time admitted or as a non-admitted student (students taking 8 credits or fewer), then the answer is "No," you would pay resident tuition.

How long will it take me to get my degree?
The length of your degree program depends on how much course work you have already completed and what requirements you have met. To earn a bachelor's degree, you must earn at least 180 college level credits. Those credits are a compilation of specific general education courses, major courses, electives, and possibly minor courses. A full-time student could earn his/her degree in four years by taking 45 credits each year. Many students take longer because of job or family commitments. Summer classes that are college-level credit classes and required for your degree program will count. To finish faster, Southern Oregon University is one of a few select colleges and universities in the United States offering a three-year baccalaureate degree program. See information on the Accelerated Baccalaureate Program.

What is University Seminar? Do I have to take it?
University Seminar is an academic first-year experience for students entering SOU. This three-term sequence introduces students to key foundational skills that help them develop as researchers, critical thinkers, and communicators. University Seminar provides students with opportunities to examine their motivation and goals with regard to higher education. Through a structured sequence of writing experiences, students progress beyond unsupported assertion to reasoned argumentation and dialogue. More information is available at the University Seminar page.