Ohio State Opportunities Spread Nationwide

Whether on campus or miles away, pursing an education at The Ohio State University comes with many opportunities, experiences and challenges for students. To ensure students completing programs outside Ohio are able to receive the same rewarding experience as those on-campus, the university works closely with state regulators to meet state requirements.

State authorization allows the university to legally offer educational activities outside of the state of Ohio, making it possible for students to earn an Ohio State degree wherever they are. The State Authorization Team within the Office of Distance Education and eLearning is dedicated to researching regulations, as well as acquiring and maintaining state approvals. The team also works with licensing boards across the nation to gain approvals for programs leading to licensure. Additionally, Ohio State participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, known as SARA, which allows the university to offer educational opportunities in 43 SARA approved states. All of these actions work together to ensure the buckeye family can grow nationwide.

Currently, there are hundreds of online students across the country who are able to pursue online degrees through Ohio State Online because of our state authorization efforts. One of those students is Anna Leach, a full-time student in the Master of Learning Technologies program, participating in classes for her degree while living Tucson, Arizona.

Because some students enrolled in the Master of Learning Technologies program are licensed teachers, the State Authorization Team worked with the Arizona Board of Education to ensure Ohio State’s program met the state curricular requirements.

For Leach, completing a program at a distance, not just online but miles away from her university, has been both challenging and rewarding. Though she sometimes feels nervous about exams and rigorous coursework, she has never felt concerned that she wouldn’t be able to be successful in her program because she was in another state.

“I’m very grateful Ohio State complies with state authorization requirements and makes it possible for me to get a degree from across the country,” Leach said. “I know I wouldn’t be doing what I am right now if it weren’t for Ohio State obtaining state authorization approval in Arizona.”

Looking to the future, Leach plans to find a Ph.D. program, either in Arizona or somewhere else in the United States that will compliment her prospective Masters in Learning Technologies. She hopes to start teaching in higher education to grow her resume and gain more experience in her new field.

“Ohio State has given me a wonderful opportunity to study something new while being miles away from campus,” Leach said. “I’m very excited for the future.”

Are you interested in obtaining your Ohio State degree in another state? Learn more by visiting the state authorization page on the Ohio State Online website.