Definitions of courses
Credit Courses
University credit courses are offered in semester hours and can be applied to a degree or certificate program. These courses can be eligible to transfer to another college or university.
Noncredit Courses
Non-credit courses are courses for personal or professional interest. These courses do not offer college credit and cannot be applied toward a degree or academic certificate. However, in some cases students can earn continuing education units, certification or other evidence of class completion to meet personal or professional requirements.
Online Classes
An online class is delivered 100% electronically using the internet or other computer-based methods. The teaching is conducted from a remote location through an online course learning management system or other online or electronic tools. Students have access to the teacher and classmates synchronously, asynchronously, or both. Online classes typically are term-based, but some may be offered in a self-paced format.
Hybrid Classes
Hybrid classes provide a combination of traditional, face-to-face classroom instruction with online technology. In-person meetings dates, times, locations, and other relevant factors vary from course to course and are made available to students prior to registration. Hybrid courses can also be referred to as Blended or Low Residency Courses.
Format of Class Sections
In addition to the standard definitions above, class sections may be further defined or delivered as one or more of the following:
- Term-Based Online Courses: These courses follow a semester calendar of assignments and examinations, but with the flexibility of a web based environment. Rich interaction between cohorts of students and instructors create dynamic learning opportunities.
- Self-Paced Online Courses: Self-paced courses provide additional flexibility for students with busy schedules. Students may enroll at any time and finish in less than a semester or take up to six months. Projects and exams can be completed when students have time to focus on them, but they should plan to allow a minimum of two weeks of study for each credit hour taken. These courses include online interaction among students and a broad range of web activities. (Just a note that Colorado Springs doesn’t offer these types of courses).
- Synchronous Classes: Students participating in classes synchronously are able to participate in the class sessions in real time via conferencing technology.
- Asynchronous Classes: Students participating in the class asynchronously watch the class lectures when it is convenient for them to do so, by streaming or downloading the lectures to their computers or other devices.
Library Courses
Digital recordings of captured lectures for online distribution. Library courses adhere to the same academic semester dates as students taking a class offered on campus, including the enrollment period, drop deadlines, tuition payment time frames, and the course completion deadline. Students may enroll in these courses for academic credit, with pre-approval from the library course’s instructor.