Course Formats

Traditional courses include set meeting times held live on a physical campus. Traditional courses require students to attend and actively participate in on-campus class sessions for the duration of the semester.

A hybrid credit course combines traditional classroom time with scheduled online class sessions. It is part “traditional” and part “synchronous remote.”

Most of the class meets synchronous remotely during scheduled time via live web conferencing. The class meets on campus to conduct hands-on work in the labs or studio or may meet off-site for work-related learning.

How this is managed may depend on the course and the instructor. For example, if you register for a Computer Networking Technology course such as CNT 210, you would plan to meet during the class meeting times either physically in the classroom on campus or “in class” online depending on the schedule that is established in your syllabus. 

Whereas, in an Organic Chemistry class (CHEM 213), you will see the meeting times are divided into “Lecture” and “Lab.”  When you get ready to register, you’ll find that the note on the section indicates that all lectures will be conducted synchronous remotely and all labs will meet on campus. That means that you can expect to meet your teacher during the scheduled days and times for a synchronous remote lecture through Zoom or Collaborate and you can expect to meet your teacher during the scheduled lab times on campus in the physical Chemistry lab.    

If your course meets off-site such as in an Accounting Internship (ACCT 206) or Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing (NURS 205) course, you will see that the “Lecture” and “Off-site” times will be managed according to the way in which your instructor and workplace/off-site setting has been arranged and TBA or TBD may appear in the section meeting times. This could include both online and in-person experiences depending on the work or clinical setting requirements.

Students are required to attend both on-campus (or off-site, if applicable) and in the online environment, plus participate in academic assignments in either setting. 

• View the Distance Learning website
• Learn about Distance Learning Hybrid (HYB) courses

The Distance Learning Department offers Online (ONL) credit courses. These course styles provide greater scheduling flexibility for students.

Students can take an online course when and where it is convenient for them, as there are no requirements to meet at set times on campus. Students are required to keep up with weekly assignments and participate in online discussions. Please note: online MATH courses require multiple on-campus proctored exams.

• View the Distance Learning website
• Learn about Distance Learning Online (ONL) courses

Students are required to participate in online discussions or classroom interactions. 

Synchronous remote (SYNC) courses include set meeting times with each meeting held as a live virtual session via a web conferencing tool. SYNC courses require students  to log in, attend, and participate in each SYNC live class session during a given semester. Active participation includes fully engaging in live discussions and submitting completed assignments in the course by their respective due dates.

• Traditional 100% on-campus credit courses meet face-to-face in the classroom or lab setting for each meeting period.
• This is a good option for you if you:
  • Prefer hands-on learning
  • Like face-to-face instruction

• Course uses BlackBoard as the virtual classroom
• No specific day and time students must log in (assignments still must be turned in according to the syllabus)
• This is a good option for you if you:
  • Prefer to not meet at a designated time
  • Can manage your time to complete the weekly scheduled items
  • Are comfortable with primarily communicating with faculty via email

• Classes meet synchronous remotely at the same day and time each week using a web conferencing tool (according to the section number you have chosen.)
• Course uses BlackBoard to distribute and submit materials
• This is a good option for you if you:
  • Work better with a regular schedule of class meeting times
  • Have a space to be relatively uninterrupted during the virtual class sessions
  • Like the consistency of meeting with your faculty and classmates.

• Classes meet at the same day and time each week but part of the time will be on campus and the other part will be using a web conferencing tool. See section notes for more information about which part meets synchronous remotely and which parts meets on campus.
• This is a needed option for you if:
  • Your course includes components that must be done on campus using specific equipment/materials etc.

Schoolcraft College provides students an opportunity to earn credit for certain courses through independent study. Students are expected to master the competencies the course requires. Students work independently under the direction of the assigned faculty member and are expected to meet with the faculty member at designated times during the semester. Contact the appropriate instructional administrator for more information. Students must obtain approval from an instructor and administrator to take an independent learning course.

Schoolcraft College offers global endorsements, service learning endorsements and a Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program.

• Learn about Endorsements

PPL continues to offer a wide range of online classes with our partners Ed2Go and UGotClass. These classes are offered in a totally online environment and you can access them whenever and wherever it is convenient for you. You will be emailed instructions for accessing your online classroom prior to the first class.

Effective Fall 2020

In order to maintain a wide range of offerings, CEPD has moved some of Fall 2020 classes to a Virtual Format.  Classes meeting virtually will meet in a synchronous format, during the scheduled class time. 

Virtual classes meet at a distance during the scheduled time via live web conferencing on Zoom. For example, if you registered for Virtual class that lists the class times as Tuesday from 7:00–9:30, you will still be “in class” on the same day and time. Your class will be live and face-to-face with your teacher and your classmates, but you will use Zoom, a free conferencing tool.  Students will receive information on joining the Zoom classroom from their instructor prior to the start of class.