ASU announced Tuesday that it is partnering with Youtube and Crash Course to provide students with a series of online classes on Youtube in an effort to break down accessibility barriers for higher education.
The partnership, named "Study Hall," provides students a chance to earn college credits through online classes on Youtube before they even apply to college. Students can sign up now for four different courses that will begin on March 7.
"These transferable, credit-bearing courses are a significant expansion of the current Study Hall collaboration between the three organizations, which is aimed at breaking down barriers— including accessibility and cost— to open flexible new pathways to high-quality education," read a press release from Crash Course, ASU and Youtube.
In a survey conducted by Edge Research cited in the press release, researchers talked to recent high school graduates who either dropped out of college or did not go entirely. The graduates cited high costs, stress and uncertainty about majors and future careers as the top reasons for not continuing their education.
"Since the launch of Study Hall, it has become the destination for college hopefuls to understand how to navigate higher education, explore majors and fields of study, and get an early start on foundational topics," said Hank Green, a science communicator and co-founder of Crash Course in the press release. "In partnership with YouTube and a top public research university, we can light up a pathway from an informal love of learning to a more formal academic environment."
Study hall videos are free to watch, but if a student decides to sign up and start the coursework there is a $25 charge and a $400 fee to earn credit for each course. Individuals who sign up before March 7 will receive special pricing of $350 per course. Learners need only pay for credit if they are satisfied with the grade they receive.
"Learners begin by watching course content on the Study Hall YouTube channel, and if they're interested in formal coursework beyond the videos, they can sign-up to participate in full online courses at ASU led by the same award-winning faculty that teach all ASU courses," the press release read.
The first four classes available are part of a suite entitled "College Foundations," which aims to encompass the essential courses of most first-year higher education institutions. The suite includes English Composition, College Math, U.S. History and Human Communication. Study Hall plans to have 12 courses available by January 2025.
"Study Hall is an easily accessible place for learners and families to get a jump-start on college— from planning on how and where to go, to actually earning college credits," ASU President Michael Crow said in the press release. "Through the power of partnerships and technology, we continue to find new ways to break down barriers and create new pathways to higher education."
Edited by Sadie Buggle, Reagan Priest and Grace Copperthite.
Reach the reporter at mtvega1@asu.edu and follow @madivega18 on Twitter.
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