Asynchronous Courses
Also called online classes, these are classes that do not have a specific meeting time. Students should log in several times per week to participate, submit assignments, and check deadlines.
Blended Courses
These classes are part online, part face-to-face, typically with one in-person meeting per week with rest of the content delivered online. Check your schedule for meeting times if you are taking a blended class.
Career, Technical & Health Professions
With academic programs like welding, nursing, and information computer technology, these degrees and certificates are designed for students to graduate and gain entry directly into the workforce.
Certificates
Sandburg offers many certificate programs. Often, these programs take a year or less to complete and are designed to prepare students for entry into the workforce.
Course Structure
You will see in the schedule that each course at Sandburg has a course prefix, a course number and a section number. The course prefix is designated by three letters (ENG); the course number is designated by three numbers (101); and the section number is designated by three numbers (100). On the schedule, you will see ENG.101.100.
Credit Hours
Most classes are 3 credit hours, which means they meet for about 3 hours a week. Some classes might have a lab attached to the class. In those cases, you might meet 3 hours in lecture and 2 hours for the lab (every 2 hours in lab equals 1 credit hour).
Degrees
Degree programs typically take about 2 years to complete. Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degrees are designed to prepare students for the workforce. Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) are examples of degrees that are designed to prepare students to transfer for a four-year college or university.
Developmental Courses
These courses build your skills to be successful in college courses and are designated with a course number beginning in zero such as ENG.097.100. These courses count towards your GPA; however, they do not apply to degrees or certificates. Developmental courses may be required prior to talking other courses depending on your placement scores and previous transcripts.
Electives
For AA, AS and AGS degrees, you have several courses that you will select called electives. It is helpful to speak with your academic advisor about your major and career plans so they can help you select the electives that will best meet your goals.
Federal Work Study
If you are awarded FWS and wish to apply for a job, you will need to obtain and complete a work study application from the Financial Aid Office. This program allows students to work on campus and earn funds to help meet educational costs. Students can earn up to the amount shown on their financial aid award letter. Students are paid in a biweekly paycheck for hours actually worked. To hold a work study position, minimum enrollment is six credit hours per semester. A job is not guaranteed and you are not guaranteed to earn your entire award.
Full-Time Status
To be a full-time student, you must take at least 12 credit hours during a semester. Three-quarter time is 9-11 credit hours; half-time is 6-8 credit hours; less than half-time is 1-5 credit hours.
General Education
If you are completing a degree, you will have to take general education courses. Typically, these are courses like English, math, sciences, humanities, fine arts and social sciences. If you are transferring to complete a bachelor’s degree, you will complete most of your general education courses at Sandburg.
Multiple Modality Courses
Multiple modality courses offer flexible attendance options, including in-person, virtual, and online. Check with your instructor about choosing an attendance mode.
Part-Time Status
Students taking 9-11 credit hours are considered three-quarter time; students taking 6-8 credit hours are considered part-time; 1-5 credit hours is considered less than part-time.
Prerequisites
These are courses that must be completed before enrolling in a higher level course.
Online Courses
Online options can be a great way to take a class. However, you should consider all of your other time commitments before signing up. Typically, online courses require a lot of time and are not “easier” than the traditional class. Read the course syllabus thoroughly. Note assignment, quiz and test due dates. Make sure you understand if your exams must be proctored (supervised by a college staff or faculty).
Semesters
Our fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks in length. Winter session is 4 weeks and summer session is 8 weeks.
Fall semester: August - December Spring semester: January - May
Winter session: December - January Summer session: June - July
Synchronous Courses
Also called “virtual” classes, these courses have a specific meeting time when class is conducted via an online video conferencing platform, such as Microsoft Teams. If you are enrolled in a synchronous course, you will need quality internet access, a device with a web-enabled camera and microphone, and time set aside to log in and participate at the designated time.
Talent Grants
Talent grants are scholarships awarded to high-performing, high-achieving students in the areas of athletics, performing arts, and academics. Talent grants can be awarded in the amounts of full, half, and quarter tuition.
Transfer Degrees
The Associate in Arts (AA) and Associate in Science (AS) degrees are designed to transfer to a four-year college or university so that students may pursue a bachelor’s degree.
Virtual Courses
Also called “synchronous” classes, these courses have a specific meeting time when class is conducted via an online video conferencing platform, such as Microsoft Teams. If you are enrolled in a synchronous course, you will need quality internet access, a device with a web-enabled camera and microphone, and time set aside to log in and participate at the designated time.
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