Courses: Face to face, Online, Hybrid/Blended
Face to face refers to those courses held in a classroom. While listed as “Lecture” or LECT in the Class Schedule, activities may also include class discussions, exercises, team work, projects, and more, plus the opportunity to talk with and learn from an instructor regularly.
Online courses offer students a flexible learning environment that is balanced with structured assignments and due dates, and frequent online contact with instructors and fellow students. Internet courses are offered on the online course platform, which enables students to work asynchronously (different times/different places) at their convenience. Fully online courses have the designation AYSN for asynchronous.
Hybrid or blended courses refer to those that have both an element of face to face and online work. This format shows the designation BLHY in the class schedule. Students taking online courses should have easy access to the internet, be comfortable doing reading and writing online and browsing the internet, and have basic word processing and file management skills.
Online and Blended/Hybrid courses are identified in the advanced search menu of the class schedule and eServices, under 'Delivery Method'.
Faculty-Designed Independent Study
As the name suggests, a Faculty-Designed Independent Study (FDIS) is developed and led by Metropolitan State faculty members. FDIS are available in almost every area of the curriculum. There are no class or face-to-face meetings; most communication is completed through mail, email or the university's online learning platform.
An FDIS may be an alternative approach to learning, with the same learning outcomes as the course of the same name, or an FDIS may have a unique subject area or address a specialized subject, not offered in a classroom or online format. Although faculty have designed these independent studies with specific learning objectives in mind, students can sometimes negotiate individual learning objectives and fine-tune other aspects of the independent study to meet their individual needs.
FDIS are offered in the Class Schedule, designated as INDS and section 21,. They can be found by sorting for Faculty Designed Independent Study under "Delivery Method" in Advanced Search menu of the online or eServices Class Schedule.
Deadlines
An FDISs must be completed by the end of the semester for which it is registered. If you choose to register after the start of the semester for an independent study, you will have a shorter amount of time to complete. Work is due on the schedule set up by the instructor; grades are posted at the end of the semester.
Theory Seminars
Theory seminars are designed specifically for students with significant experience and practical knowledge in a subject, but limited theoretical knowledge. The seminar provides an accelerated format to augment prior learning with related new learning, and to integrate practical knowledge with new theory. Seminars are offered in subjects such as Communications, Travel and Culture, Student-Directed Learning, and Community Leadership. Some specialized subjects like child psychology/child care and Perspectives 301 for the Individualized B.A. program are also offered as seminars.
Qualifying for a theory seminar generally involves completing a diagnostic survey or short quiz, which may be self-scoring. The diagnostic is typically submitted to the seminar instructor for advice about whether the seminar is the correct format. A diagnostic or syllabus may also be requested from the instructor, or from the student-directed learning advisor.
Find Theory Seminar information in the Class Schedule. Under “Advanced Search,” do a keyword search for “theory seminar.”