8 week versus 16 week course length

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by makana793, Oct 20, 2008.

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  1. makana793

    makana793 New Member

    Just curious, which would you folks prefer in terms of course length? I like the 8 week format because you move at a faster pace. But a colleague of mine was saying that with 16 week courses since the coursework moves slower you are able to complete 2 courses per semester.
     
  2. Vinipink

    Vinipink Accounting Monster

    I have taken 2 courses at 8 weeks pace, it is brutal! I prefer 16 weeks but then I start to procrastinate. What I have done is take one course at a time, finish as fast I can and move to the next course.
     
  3. -kevin-

    -kevin- Resident Redneck

    8 week courses. Because if you time it correctly and the courses are available you can complete 4 courses in a 16 week semester. However, if you can't handle the workload and pace, the 16 week semester makes sense.

    The 8 week advantage for me was that my employer would only pay for half time, or no more than 2 courses per semester (16 week), because anything more than that is considered full-time for graduate studies. So the 8 week allowed for me to complete at least 3 courses per semester but never more than 2 at a time, which worked out great for my boss who could tell the training folks that I was not enrolled in more than two courses at a time. What they didn't know was that I also paid for some courses myself so that some semesters I was completing 4 classes. I was never asked and I didn't volunteer the info.

    Like Randell I travel a good bit so I have lots of time at night in a motel to complete studies.
     
  4. vewdew1

    vewdew1 New Member

    I've taken 8 week, 5 week, and 16 week courses. My experience has always been that the content is the same in any case, only the pace changes. It's mostly up to what you can handle. Typically the accelerated courses offer more flexibility in start dates. So, you could stagger them such that you can handle more of them concurrently because the finals and such don't fall within the same week. You usually don't get that opportunity when stacking traditional full semester courses (some weeks could get pretty nasty if you do).

    I've taken two 8 week courses at once while working full time and I'd not recommend it if you want to have any semblance of a social life. :D

    Danny
     
  5. makana793

    makana793 New Member

    Wow, this is interesting folks. I've been looking at different schools and it seems that the online schools like AMU/APU utilize the 8 week schedule while the B&M schools with online components tend to follow the traditional 16 week semester schedule. I guess there are advantages and disadvantages in every situation.
     
  6. gbrogan

    gbrogan Member

    I prefer the 16 week. Currently, I'm enrolled in Aspen and take the courses independently. I have 10 weeks to finish a course and my work schedule is very often not cooperative. I had to ask for an extension once because there was just no way I would finish on time.

    I wish they allowed 12-16 weeks to finish. It would take some of the pressure off and be much more accommodating to full time+ employees. My CCU courses were open ended and that was a godsend. I'd like to take a few interactive courses with Aspen but those have to be completed in 8 weeks. That's just not possible for me.
     
  7. maw

    maw New Member

    I am liking my NCU format since you have 12 weeks to finish but you can go at your own pace. I just finished my current class in 6 weeks.
     
  8. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Well, 8-week is too fast; but 16-week course is too slow. I perfer 10-week course, Troy University offer these courses duration. I loved it, I could complete 2 courses without sweat, but 3 courses are too much.
     
  9. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member


    Yeah, that is why I do not do the interactive courses. The independent mode at Aspen fits my lifestyle well.

    Nice to hear from you again,

    Abner :)
     
  10. makana793

    makana793 New Member

    I think 10 weeks is a good fit as well. It offers a balanced approach.
     
  11. haestra

    haestra New Member

    prefer 1 class at a time

    I'm down to my last 2 classes at TUI MHSM program. TUI offers classes in a 12 week period. I prefer taking one class in a 6 or 8 week period because I can streamline my efforts to that one class. With two classes I find it harder to switch modes especially if you have more than one activity for each class like participating in discussions.
     
  12. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    8 week courses sound like a dream to me. I've been doing 4 week courses with Bellevue. I'm on my 6th course and I am really starting to feel fatigued. The pace is brutal.

    Pug
     
  13. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Well, TUI's course has 4 credits, so 12 weeks are about right.
     
  14. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    While I was studying at AMU/APU I preferred the 8-week schedule because I had to stay focused for a shorter period of time on a single subject. The compressed schedule allowed me to rack up credit hours faster with the flexibility to take a break sooner if necessary.
     
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I've taken courses in 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16 week formats. I prefer the 8-week; it's fast enough to make it feel like you're making good progress, but long enough so it doesn't feel rushed.
     
  16. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Quote: Wow, this is interesting folks. I've been looking at different schools and it seems that the online schools like AMU/APU utilize the 8 week schedule while the B&M schools with online components tend to follow the traditional 16 week semester schedule. I guess there are advantages and disadvantages in every situation.


    No, it just seems that way. Liberty is B&M and offers 8 week online courses. Belleve is B&M and offers 4 week online courses.

    Pug
     
  17. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    My current DL class at Coastline CC is 8 weeks, however Coastline also offers DL classes of 16 weeks.

    I take two day courses (one weekend) at a University of California school usually earning 1-1/2 quarter units towards a Field Geology Certificate (just for fun).
     
  18. makana793

    makana793 New Member

    Bruce I gotta agree with you on this one. When I took the "traditional" 16 week courses in my undergraduate years, I felt like time stopped. The 8 week sessions moves much better.
     
  19. truckie270

    truckie270 New Member

    My DPA program courses at Valdosta State are on the agonizingly slow 16 week semester system. Another apsect of 16 week courses is that you will seldom have the professors in a program coordinate when their assignments are due, so you may have lags in the middle between assignments but assignments due at the same time in numerous classes.

    I teach courses for several schools and have used the 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 week formats for courses. As a professor, I prefer the 6 week course. Professors get tired of the long classes too.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 23, 2008
  20. triciaski

    triciaski New Member

    My preference is the quarter system in which classes are typically 10 weeks and you can take a full load year round. However, I also like 8-week courses that can be taken one after another at the rate of two per semester, as opposed to 16-week courses, which must be taken concurrently during the semester. I prefer to focus intensely on one subject rather than toggle with a lighter workload between two. Sixteen week semesters just seem to draaaaagggg out for me both as a student and as an instructor.
     

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