Karnataka State Open University was formally established in the year 1996 on the 1st of June with the objective of promotion of open system and distance learning system of education in the state of Karnataka. The university is operating from its headquarters in the city of Mysore and it was established with the initiative of the Government of Karnataka. The university is acting as a pioneer in the field of distance education in the nation and it offers education to all without any boundaries. The university has a strong genesis of the Institute of Correspondence Course and Continuing Course and Continuing Education, which was established in the year 1996 under the state enactment KSOU Act 1992.

The courses offered by the Karnataka State Open University range from conventional to technical and professional courses and its unique programmes include courses in disciplines like fine arts, teacher education, creative teaching, hospitality management, health science, aviation, information technology, handicraft, theatre, agriculture, pre-school education and other areas of management. KSOU offers courses under different categories like IGNOU adopted programmes, certificate programmes, diploma programmes, post graduate diploma programmes, research programmes, post graduate programmes, online Programmes and under graduation programmes. The list of courses offered by the Karnataka State Open University under these categories is given below:

UG Programmes:

• Bachelor of Arts

• Bachelor of Commerce

• Bachelor of Education (General)

• Bachelor of Education (Special Education)

• Bachelor of Library & Information Sciences

PG Programmes:

• Master of Library & Information Sciences

• Masters of Law

• Master of Science in

o Mathematics

o Geography

o Information Technology

o Computer Science

• Master of Business Administration

• Master of Education

• Master of Commerce

• Master of Arts in

o Mass Communication & Journalism

o Psychology

o Sociology

o Public Administration

o Political Science

o Economics

o History

o Telugu

o Sanskrit

o Urdu

o Hindi

o English

o Kannada

Research Programmes:

• Master of Philosophy

• Doctor of Philosophy

Post Graduate Diploma Programmes:

• Post Graduate Diploma in

o Nutrition & Dietetics

o Mass Communication & Journalism

o Financial Management

o Business Administration

o Human Resource Management

o Marketing Management

o Communicative English

o English

Diploma Programmes:

• Diploma in

o Information Technology

o Statistical Process Control & Operations Research

o Journalism

• Post PUC Diploma in Kannada

Certificate Programmes:

• Certificate in

o Bio-fertilizers, Organic Manures, Bio-pesticides and bio-agents production (CBFOMBP & BAP)

o Nursery Management (CNM)

o Seed Production (CSP)

o Food Processing and Preservation (CFPP)

o Custom Hiring, Repair & Maintenance of Agricultural Machineries (CCHR & MAM)

o Processing and Value Addition to Fruits and Vegetables (CPVFV)

o Nutrition and Food (CNF)

o Food Preservation (CFP)

o Panchayat Raj (CPR)

o Solid Waste Management (CSWM)

o Environmental Technology (CET)

o Environmental Management (CEM)

o Kannada (CK)

IGNOU Adopted Programmes:

• Certificate in Teaching of English

• Diploma in

o Nutrition & Health Education

o Rural Development

• Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education

Online Programmes:

IT Programmes:

• Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications

• Master of Science in Information Technology

• Master of Computer Applications

• Master of Technology in Information Technology

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

• Bachelor of Computer Applications

• Bachelor of Technology in Information Technology

Management Programmes:

• Master of Business Administration

• Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

• Bachelor of Financial Market Management

• Bachelor of Business Studies

Professional Programmes:

• Bachelor of Science in

o Hotel Management

o Medical Lab Technology

o Fashion Technology

o Interior Design

o Mass Communication & Journalism

• Master of Science in

o Hotel Management

o Medical Lab Technology

o Fashion Technology

o Interior Design

o Mass Communication & Journalism

Traditional Programmes:

• Diploma in Nursery Teacher Training

• Bachelor of Library & Information Sciences

• Master of Arts in English

• Bachelor of Arts

• Master of Commerce

• Bachelor of Commerce

KSOU follows a practice according to which, if the number of students seeking admission to any of the above-mentioned courses is less than 20 students, the university will not offer such programme and the fee paid by candidates for such programmes will be refunded. The university also offers lateral entry facility to the programmes offered through online mode.

During the academic year 2010-2011, the university launched nine educational programmes for the benefit of students. It is permitted by the Government of Karnataka to launch programmes through collaborative arrangements. At present 48 partner institutions are offering nearly 250 programmes not only in India, but in other countries as well. The university has also recently introduced online MBA programme in such a way that education can be imparted to the management clientele in different parts of the world. The courses offered by the university and its partner institutions are designed according to the guidelines of the University Grants Commission and the Distance Education Council. The university has engaged well-experience academicians for offering week-end-counseling programmes and for conducting face-to-face contact programmes and a FM channel called Gyanavani is used extensively for dissemination of knowledge and for offering information to students.