Learning the lingo or what people are talking about is an important step to succeeding in college. Too often faculty and staff assume that you know how the system works and what they mean when they are talking to you.
Don’t let terminology trip you up! Prepare yourself by understanding these commonly used college terms.
A course that runs the entire semester in person and on campus.
Hybrid courses will meet on campus one day of the week and complete online classwork on the other day. (unless otherwise specified by the instructor.)
Also known as an Online Course is a course conducted over the internet through a learning management system (Canvas) without set scheduled class meeting times. (Asynchronous class)
Learn more about Online Courses at Distance Learning.
Students will meet remotely at the regularly scheduled class time via Canvas. Your instructor will meet with you live. (Synchronous class)
A Career Technical course is a class that focuses on teaching specific skills and knowledge related to a particular trade or profession. These courses are designed to provide students with hands-on experience and practical training in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, criminal justice, automotive technology, business, and more. (See below) The aim is to equip students with the technical expertise necessary to pursue careers in these industries, often leading to certifications or qualifications that can enhance job readiness.
A STEM course is an educational class focused on the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These courses are designed to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills by exploring concepts in subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, and mathematics. STEM courses emphasize hands-on learning, experimentation, and real-world applications, aiming to prepare students for careers in fields that require strong technical and scientific knowledge.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
A General Academic course is a class that provides a broad, foundational education across a range of subjects, typically including language arts, social studies, humanities, and fine arts. These courses are designed to develop essential skills in reading, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving, preparing students for higher education or a wide variety of careers. Unlike specialized vocational or technical programs, general academic courses focus on a well-rounded curriculum to build a strong intellectual foundation for students.
Examples include (but not limited to):
Full term courses are full semester classes. A full semester course is typically 16 weeks in Fall and Spring. A full semester in summer is only 10 weeks long.
A mini-term is a full credit condensed course that is usually a half semester in length.
Typically, 1st mini-term takes place the first of the semester and ends at mid-term. 2nd mini-term begins at mid-term and ends at the end of the term.
2nd mini-term classes will show in your course listing in Canvas on the first day that the class meets. It will not show at the beginning of the semester.
A Late Start class is a course that typically begins two weeks after the beginning of the semester. It will not show in your course listing in Canvas until the first day that the class meets. It will not show at the beginning of the semester.
M – Monday, T – Tuesday, W- Wednesday, R – Thursday, F- Friday
Traditional classes typically take place twice a week and will be listed as MW or TR.
Hybrid courses typically take place once a week and only one day will be shown.
Internet courses will not have any day listed. These classes do not have scheduled meeting dates.
Virtual classes will specify one or more meeting day(s) that the student must log in to their class via the internet.
Canvas (https://alabama.instructure.com/) is the Learning Management System where your classes are located (courses do not show in Canvas until the first day of class.)
Add/Drop is the short period at the beginning of the semester (usually the first day or two) that a student may make additions or deletions from their schedule without academic or financial consequences.
Ask Dual Enrollment if you are unsure before making any changes to your schedule!
myWCC Experience is the student online portal that provides access to registration, payment, schedule, transcript request, and so much more!
The CRN number is the five digit course reference number that is used to register for classes and can be found in the online course schedule.
