Condensed course formats offered at UCCS

UCCS offers four class formats for condensed classes: session A, session B, preterm and spring break classes.  

Session A courses take place during the first eight weeks of a semester while session B courses take place over the last eight weeks of a semester. Next semester, this means session A courses will occur from Jan. 21 to March 17, and session B courses will occur from March 18 – May 17. 

Pre-term classes take place before the semester begins, and they tend to be online asynchronous. For next semester, preterm classes begin Dec. 23 and finish Jan. 19. Spring break courses are the shortest and will run next semester from March 24 – 28.  

The number of classes offered in each format changes each semester. According to Assistant Registrar for Curriculum Management Ann Schwab, the Office of the Registrar schedules main campus courses depending on class requests from departments. 

As of Oct. 21, 50-55 courses will be offered during session A, 65-70 during session B and 45-50 during preterm. There are currently no spring break courses being offered next semester. Schwab noted there are typically less than five spring break courses. 

Teaching Professor Janice Thorpe is teaching two session A classes and one pre-term classes next semester. She explained that shorter courses offer more flexibility and allow students to move through their coursework faster or decrease their workload to focus on other aspects of life. They are especially valuable for non-traditional students who must balance school with work, family and other responsibilities. 

Federal law requires both synchronous and asynchronous courses to be instructor-initiated, predictable and involve in-depth analysis and conversation of the content. The Colorado Department of Education also requires 15 contact hours per credit hour, and those are reached via discussion boards, group projects and office hours for asynchronous courses.    

Although there are no set requirements that determine if a class can be condensed, Thorpe emphasized that professors at UCCS are very thoughtful about which classes they shorten and keep what students want in mind.  

“Every department really tries to know who their students are and what their needs are. So, all of this — the online eight week, whatever the modality is — it’s really based on knowing what your student population needs, or the campus student population. Our whole goal is to provide flexibility and choice for our students,” Thorpe said.  

Class registration for the spring 2025 semester began for select students on Oct. 28 and open enrollment is on Dec. 2.

The Mountain Lion statue on Nov. 6. Photo by Lillian Davis.