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Frequently Asked Questions
I. How Students Learn Through Self-Pacing
- Are there instructors in Self-Paced Studies?
- Will an instructor be present when I am studying in Self-Paced Studies?
- How do students learn the course material?
- Are there any lectures?
- In foreign languages, do students have practice in speaking the language?
- Will I have homework?
- Are the textbooks the same as those used in classroom sections?
- Is there an attendance policy?
- Is Self-Paced Studies a “tutoring” or “resource” center?
- Is the self-paced format a good way for all students to take courses?
II. Course Content/Credit/Grades
- Does a self-paced course cover the same material as a classroom section of the same course?
- How well do self-paced courses prepare students for the next course in a course sequence? (Example Algebra I to Algebra II)
- Are the same credits earned? Are the credits transferable?
- Do students receive grades in self-paced courses?
- Will my transcript indicate that I took a course in the self-paced format instead of in a traditional classroom?
III. Self-Pacing
- Can students complete a course in less than a semester? More than a semester?
- If I finish a course early, can I sign up for the next course in a course sequence,
or for a self-paced course in a different subject?
- If I need to continue a course into a second semester, do I pay for the course again?
- If I take more than a semester to finish a course, will this be indicated on my transcript?
- How many students take self-paced courses each semester?
IV. Course Meeting Times/Scheduling
- Do students have to attend class?
- Can students study in Self-Paced Studies on a “drop-in”, non-scheduled basis? Is that what “select your own class time” means?
- How do I arrange my class times?
- Are self-paced courses offered on both campuses?
- Are all the courses given offered on both campuses?
- Are all courses available at all times?
Yes. Each instructor is a subject matter specialist (in English, for example, and mathematics, Spanish, etc). return to top ^
Yes. An instructor in your course subject matter will be present during your scheduled class times to answer questions and to help guide you through your course. return to top ^
Students learn from reading textbooks and articles, working with computer programs, viewing videotapes, and conferring with the instructor. return to top ^
Most courses do not have formal lectures. However, some courses do have small-group discussions. return to top ^
Yes. Students have private or small-group conversation practice each week. return to top ^
Like all college courses, Self-Paced courses do require students to do homework in order to successfully complete their courses. Students should expect to do between 4 and 6 hours of homework per week for each 3-credit course. return to top ^
Not usually. Textbooks in Self-Paced courses are carefully selected so that students can learn the course content semi-independently, without formal lectures. The concepts covered in the textbooks are the same as those covered in the textbooks used in the classroom courses. return to top ^
Self-Paced courses do require students to attend class. If a student has excessive absences, s/he will not qualify for extended time into a second semester to complete a course, if needed. return to top ^
No. Self-Paced Studies is an academic department, which provides a unique, structured and effective, small-class learning format that encourages individual student student learning through close collaboration with the instructor. return to top ^
Self-paced courses are not for all students. Students that are self-motivated, can meet deadlines without constant reminders by the instructor, can manage their time effectively, and can devote at least 4 hours per week to do homework are those who are most successful in the self-paced format. To find out more, return to the Self-Paced main page and click on “Are Self-Paced Courses Right for You”. return to top ^
Yes. So, if a student successfully completes a course in Self-Paced Studies that is part of a course sequence s/he will be well prepared to take the next course in the sequence no matter how that course is taken: self-paced or traditional classroom. return to top ^
A recent study done by the College shows that students who successfully complete self-paced courses are just as well prepared for subsequent courses as the students that take courses in traditional classroom sections. return to top ^
Self-paced courses earn the same credit as classroom sections of the same courses. Credits for college level courses will transfer; Credits earned for developmental courses, whether taken in the classroom or in Self-Paced Studies, generally are not transferable to another college. return to top ^
Yes. Self-paced courses follow the regular College grading system. return to top ^
No. Only your course and grade will appear on your transcript. return to top ^
Less than a Semester: Students may complete a course in less than one semester, and take the Final Exam early. Once a student completes a course, s/he no longer needs to attend class.
More than a Semester: Students may take up to 2 full semesters to complete a course provided that they complete at least half of the course and have good attendance during the first semester of enrollment. return to top ^
With instructor permission, a student may enroll in a new course partway through a semester. return to top ^
The student does not pay the entire cost of the course a second time. Instead, the College charges a fee of $75 (subject to change) for a student to continue a self-paced course into a second semester. return to top ^
No. Once a course is completed, the course is listed under the semester the course was started and the final grade is indicated. No mention is made of having taken more than a semester to complete the course or that the course was taken self-paced. return to top ^
Approximately 1,600 students take self-paced courses each semester during the Fall and Spring semesters, and 500 students during the summer semester. return to top ^
Students do attend classes on campus. For a 3-credit course a student attends class for three 50-minute classes, two 75-minute classes, or one 2 1/2 hour class per week. Students select their class times for the semester from the available class meeting times at the time of enrollment. To see where and when a particular course is offered, return to the Self-Paced Main Page, then go to Courses/Schedules. Find the course you are interested in taking, and it will link you the available meeting times for the course. return to top ^
No. Students select their own class times and keep that schedule for the semester. However, adjustments can be made to meet the needs of job and family responsibilities. Also, students may schedule additional class times, as long as space is available, in order to make faster progress. return to top ^
A student selects class times from the available class meeting times at the time of enrollment with Registration. This is done using a “Time Selection Sheet”. To see where and when a particular course is offered, return to the Self-Paced Main Page, then go to Courses/Schedules. Find the course you are interested in taking, and it will link you the available meeting times for the course. return to top ^
Yes. Self-Paced Studies is located in Bedford in the Academic Resources Building (Building 1) on the first floor. In Lowell, it is in the City campus on the 4th floor in room 406A. For directions to either campus, return to the Self-Paced main page and click on “Directions.” return to top ^
Most self-paced courses are offered on both campuses. However, a few courses are only offered on one campus. To see where and when a particular course is offered, return to the Self-Paced Main Page, then go to Courses/Schedules. Find the course you are interested in taking, and it will link you the available meeting location(s) and times for the course. return to top ^
Most courses offer many class meeting times. However, a few courses have more limited class meeting times. To see a particular course’s available meeting times, return to the Self-Paced Main Page, then go to Courses/Schedules. Find the course you are interested in taking, and it will link you the available meeting times for the course. return to top ^
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