Getting Started
Select a Program or Course (back to top)
Your first step in getting started is to select the online program or course in which you are interested. Carefully review the SFA Online website for the program or courses that you are interested in and contact the program coordinator or instructor to make sure that you are eligible to enroll.
Consider Your Readiness (back to top)
You'll also want to seriously consider your ability and commitment to complete an online program or course before you enroll. Online courses are not easy. The reading, assignments, and tests are just as difficult as those in campus-based courses. In addition, being successful in online courses requires you to be self-disciplined enough to log in regularly, focus on your assignments, and complete your work by scheduled deadlines.
Obviously, technology plays a big role in getting your education online. To be successful you must have easy access to a computer and the Internet. You must also be proficient with a variety of basic computing skills.
Also, READI is a web-based tool which assesses a learner's skills for online learning. READI indicates the degree to which an individual student possesses attributes, skills and knowledge that contribute to success in online learning. Please set aside approximately 30 minutes to complete READI.
- To begin, open a browser, Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.
- Access READI by typing the following address in the URL field: http://sfasu.readi.info
- Under the heading “New Users” type in the following information:
Username: sfa
Password: lumberjacks
- Click Login and complete the READI Indicator.
If you have the ability to complete college-level work, have the necessary motivation and commitment to complete your educational program, and have access to technology and the skills to use it proficiently, you should do well in the online environment.
Costs and Financial Aid (back to top)
Answers to questions about tuition and fees, billing, and payment options are available on the SFA Business Office website and by email at businessoffice@sfasu.edu. Students may also contact the Business Office by phone at (936) 468-1000 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday or visit the office on campus.
An online Tuition & Fees Calculator is available to help you plan your expenses. A fee of $25 per credit hour is added for all distance education courses to help cover the cost of delivery.
Out-of-State students living outside of the State of Texas while taking an SFA Online course may be eligible for an Out-of-State Electronic Fee price. Check with your academic department for eligibility and registration requirements.
At the bottom of the Tuition & Fees Calculator page, you will find a calculator specifically designed for the Out-of-State Electronic Fee.
Even though SFA Online courses are affordably priced, it never hurts to have financial aid. As an SFA Online student, you are eligible to apply for financial aid. The information and forms you’ll need to apply for financial aid are available online for your convenience.
Apply for Admission (back to top)
To enroll in any course at SFA, you must first be admitted to the university.
Admission requirements, procedures and online applications are available. You’ll also want to review the requirements of your chosen online program for any additional admission requirements specific to that program.
If you are seeking a graduate degree or a post-baccalaureate teacher certification, you should apply for admission through the
Graduate Office.
Answers to questions about getting admitted to SFA are available online on the
Office of Admissions website, by phone at 1-800-731-2902 or by email at admissions@sfasu.edu.
Office of Admissions
P.O. Box 13051
SFA Station
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Phone: 936-468-2504
Fax: 936-468-3849
Automated Info Line: 1-800-731-2902 or 936-468-5900
Register for Courses (back to top)
Upon admission to the university and fulfillment of all departmental advising requirements, you may register for SFA Online courses by web or phone. Information regarding registration is located on the Web at the Registration Page.
The Registrar posts registration dates online every semester. Normal registration hours are 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. To register for classes, (Add/Drop) log on to mySFA.
Class meeting time, place, and instructor information is available in the Schedule of Classes.
Non-resident Living Out-of-State?
Please be sure to register for the correct section of the course you want to take.
Fully online courses have a section number in the 500-599 range. The 580-589 range is a fully online section reserved for non-residents who are living outside of Texas while taking the online course. Hybrid courses are mostly online but may require several visits to the campus in Nacogdoches. Hybrid courses have a section number in the 600-699 range. The 680-689 range is a Hybrid section reserved for non-residents who are living outside of Texas while taking the Hybrid course.
Bills are mailed only when students pre-register. If students register during delayed registration, bills must be promptly paid in the Business Office (Room 204) of the Austin Building or with a Visa or MasterCard by calling (936) 468-1000. Failure to do so may result in the student's courses being dropped. Add/drop changes may be made to schedules during the registration period.
Any questions about registration should be referred to (936) 468-1370.
If you are an F-1 Visa holder, please follow this link for more information.
Registrar's Office
P.O. Box 13050
Nacogdoches, TX 75962
Phone: (936) 468-2501
Fax: (936) 468-2261
Fax: (936) 468-7638
Get Prepared (back to top)
Order Books
Textbooks and materials for your online courses may be purchased online through the SFA University Bookstore. You may have books shipped to your home or have the bookstore reserve and hold your books on campus. Check with your instructor or consult the Course Information Page for your course to determine what textbooks or materials may be required.
Prepare Your Computer
To take an Online course, your computer should meet or exceed the minimum computer system requirements as listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 2000/XP or a Macintosh with System 9.2 or higher |
| Processor | 600 MHz or higher (1.0 GHz or greater recommended) |
| Memory | 64 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended) |
| Hard Drive Space | 100 MB free disk space (1.0 GB recommended) |
| Modem | 56 kbps or higher speed (broadband/high-speed recommended) |
| Printer | optional (check with your instructor) |
| CD-ROM | optional - some courses use textbooks with CD-ROMs |
| Sound Card | optional (check with your instructor) |
| Monitor | 15" monitor (800 x 600 resolution - 1024 x 768 resolution recommeded) |
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*Some courses may have additional hardware and software requirements. Check your course's Course Information Page for any special requirements.
You can also visit the Software Downloads page to look for and download software that might be required, or request a CD with all of the required software on it.
Secure Internet connectivity from a local Internet service provider or you may choose to connect through SFA if you're a local student.
To ensure that your browser will function correctly with myCourses, use the official Blackboard Learning System Browser Tune-up.
Know your myCourses username and PIN.
Your WebCT Username is your mySFA Username. If you do not know your mySFA Username, please visit the Look Up mySFA Username page.
Your WebCT Password is your six-digit personal identification number (PIN) that you use to register for classes. If you do not know your PIN (or have forgotten it), please visit the Retrieve PIN page.
Try your myCourses logon. (If you are in the mySFA site, please right-click and select "OPEN IN NEW WINDOW").
Take the Online Orientation (back to top)
The Online Orientation allows you to become familiar with the myCourses environment as you learn many technical skills that will help you be successful in your online course. The Online Orientation is a free, non-credit course and will not appear on your transcript or affect your GPA. All students are encouraged to take the Online Orientation during the semester to use the resources provided in it for specific course tasks.
To access the Online Orientation, Click Here and follow the instructions.
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