Brenau University first opened in 1878, as seminary for women. By 1972, the school began initiatives to provide educational opportunities for adult students and nontraditional learners. Today, Brenau University is a four-year, private not-for-profit, coeducational institution of higher education, located in the city of Gainesville, Georgia.

Students can pursue associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, in addition to postgraduate certificates and doctoral programs. Brenau University provides a number of undergraduate and graduate distance education programs, including associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. 

Brenau Online oversees distance education programming for the university. Brenau strives to create a highly interactive virtual learning environment. Individual classes can be completed within seven weeks, and are asynchronous. While classes do not require on-campus components, students must attend virtual courses from five to seven days per week. Certified instructors receive training specifically geared towards teaching distance education courses.