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 a distance learning course format. It is part “traditional” and part “distance learning.” Furthermore, the distance learning course format MAY integrate asynchronous (virtual, not real-time) online lecture, synchronous (live virtual) class sessions, OR off-site (e.g., internship or clinical experiences).

It is extremely important for students to review the “section details” and “instructional methods” to ensure selecting the right option for registration.

Hybrid – Asynchronous (Online)
A hybrid asynchronous course meets on-campus for instruction and to complete laboratory exercises and assessments. The lecture portion of the course occurs asynchronously online (not real-time).

For example, if you register for a Biology course such as BIOL-101, your class meeting times will occur in a lab/classroom on campus for instruction, lab exercises, and summative assessments. The lecture portion of the course occurs asynchronously in an online course via the learning management system. The instructional method is often denoted as “LAB, Online.”

Hybrid – Synchronous (Live Virtual)
A hybrid synchronous course meets synchronous remotely during scheduled time via live web conferencing. The class also meets on campus in a classroom, lab, or studio, as indicated.

For example, if you register for a Computer Networking Technology course such as CNT-210, a portion of your class meeting times will occur in a classroom on campus and via a live virtual session(s), as denoted on the schedule in the course syllabus. That means that you can expect to meet your instructor and classmates during the scheduled days and times, as indicated, on campus or via a synchronous remote lecture through a web-conferencing tool.

Hybrid – Off-Site
A hybrid off-site course, such as an Accounting Internship (ACCT-206) or Advanced Medical Surgical Nursing (NURS-205) course, includes “Lecture” and “Off-site” times for work-related learning. This is managed according to the way in which your instructor and workplace/off-site setting has been arranged. As such, a 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.

Schoolcraft College offers Online (ONL) credit courses, which provide scheduling flexibility for students. Students can choose from 7-, 12-, and 15-week schedules.

Online courses provide flexibility to students, comprising no set meeting times on campus or virtually. Nevertheless, students must complete weekly assignments, participate in asynchronous online discussions, and apply time management strategies to ensure successful academic performance. Note, online MATH courses require multiple on-campus proctored exams.

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

Synchronous (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

• 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 via a distance learning format, as specified. Your course includes components that must be done on campus using specific equipment/materials, etc.
  
• See “section details” and other information to verify the type of hybrid format (i.e., hybrid-online, hybrid-synchronous, or hybrid off-site).
• This is a good option for you if you:
  • Have the flexibility to and work better with meeting at set meeting times on campus
  • Have a space to be relatively uninterrupted during virtual class sessions (applicable to hybrid-online courses); OR
  • Prefer to not meet at a designated meeting time (applicable for hybrid- asynchronous courses)
  • Can manage your time to engage in and complete scheduled assignments

• Online courses use BlackBoard and include an online course shell.
• While no specific day and time occurs for class meeting sessions, students must actively engage in the online course – submitting assignments and participating in online discussion boards, as denoted in the syllabus and the course.
• This is a good option for you if you:
  • Prefer to not meet at a designated time
  • Can manage your time to engage in and complete the weekly scheduled assignments
  • Are comfortable with primarily communicating with faculty via email

• Classes meet synchronous (live virtual session) 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

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.