Course Naming Guide
If the words below appear in a course title, in a description of the course, or in relation to the modality of the course, it should conform with meanings listed below. We note that all courses must be in compliance with credit hours policies found here: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/policylibrary/policies/credit-hour-4006343/
Basic Learning Environment
Hybrid Course
A course offered in a combination of environments (online, in-person).
As additional description:
a. There are required in-person sessions at predetermined times
b. Students in a hybrid course are expected to participate in the same combination of online and in-person activities – that is, all students attend in-person for in-person activities and all students attend online for online activities
c. Utilizes an online learning management system (LMS)
d. Contains online elements including but not limited to online activities, video lectures, interactive tutorials, discussion forums moderated by the course instructor, and online assignments, quizzes, or other online activities graded and reviewed by the course instructor
e. Has a syllabus that outlines course materials, format, and credit hour requirements
f. In illustration, but not in limitation, it can take the form of:
i Uses in-person sessions for hands-on activities, discussions, or exams, while lectures and other course materials are available online.
ii A course that alternates between online and in-person sessions on a regular schedule.
A course conducted entirely in-person.
As additional description:
a. All participation occurs in person at predetermined times
b. An online learning management system (LMS) may be used for course management and submission of materials
A course conducted entirely online. May or may not require online participation at predetermined times.
As additional description:
a. Faculty choose the course to be asynchronous or not:
i Asynchronous: Course has no set online class meeting times. Course has interactive activities for students to complete. Course is delivered entirely over the internet, without requiring any online participation at predetermined times.
ii Partially or Fully Synchronous: Course has a set number of class meeting times that are conducted online at predetermined times, as well as other online learning activities.
b. Utilizes an online learning management system (LMS)
c. Must incorporate student-instructor interaction and be instructor-supervised
d. Includes various forms of engagement including but not limited to video lectures, interactive tutorials, quizzes, discussion forums moderated by the course instructor, group projects, and assignments, quizzes, and other activities graded and reviewed by the course instructor
e. Has a syllabus that outlines course materials, format, and credit hour requirements
Further Course Descriptions
Colloquium
A session or series of sessions that focus on a particular topic or area. Colloquia are sometimes conducted to permit graduate students to report and evaluate research on a specific topic. In other colloquia, professors or visiting scholars report on research or on a specific subject. When course credit is awarded, participants are held to academic expectations that are comparable to those of any other for-credit course.
Fieldwork
Research or professional practice conducted outside the institution and in direct contact with the people, natural phenomena or other entities being studied. May or may not be designed with regularly scheduled meeting times between course instructors and students.
Independent Study
A self-directed course of study under the guidance of an instructor.
Independent study courses are typically not considered part of a faculty member's or instructional staff member's base teaching load. Accordingly, faculty members or members of the instructional staff are not compensated for an independent study. All faculty members are assigned an independent study section number. Under extenuating circumstances, a department may request, via the green sheet process, an independent study section for a member of the instructional staff.
Internship
An extended field experience of a student under the direct supervision of an onsite professional in collaboration with the College. May or may not be designed with regularly scheduled meeting times between course instructors and students.
Laboratory
A first-hand experience to develop technical skills in observing and utilizing materials related to learning and teaching, clinical practice, scientific inquiry or quantitative analysis.
Lecture
A course that consists primarily of instructor-delivered material but may also include small-group work and discussion among students.
Practicum
A course or student exercise involving practical experience as well as theoretical study. May or may not be designed with regularly scheduled meeting times between course instructors and students. There are 2 types of practicum courses:
Seminar
A method of conducting a class or course almost entirely by discussion among the students and instructor with groups no larger than 15 or 20 students.
Certain seminar courses are designed specifically to prepare students to apply research methods to specific problems and to demonstrate competence in implementing and presenting research and constructive criticism of research of others. Students in these courses are generally expected to produce research papers.
Student Teaching
A structured, supervised learning experience for a student in a teacher education program in which the student teacher practices the skills being learned in the teacher education program and gradually assumes increased responsibility for instruction, classroom management, and other related duties for a class of students in the area of the certificate sought. These skills are practiced under the direct supervision of the certified teacher who has official responsibility for the classroom at the school and in tandem with the TC instructor of record. May or may not be designed with regularly scheduled meeting times between course instructors and students.
Studio
Guided, studio-based practice in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography and video, and new and creative media.
Work Conference or Institute
A comprehensive or intensive experience or program of relatively short duration on a narrowly focused topic which may or may not offer credit. When course credit is awarded, participants are held to academic expectations that are comparable to those of any other for-credit course.
Policy Owner: Academic Affairs Compliance
Originally Effective:
Last Updated: April 2024