People planning to enroll in online degree programs may wonder how much time they will spend studying for each course. As is true for any type of educational program, planning and scheduling are two key factors in maintaining success.
Faulkner University, based in Alabama, offers a wide variety of online degree programs. Here, we offer our advice on how many hours online students may expect to spend studying for exams and working on assignments. These estimates also include the time spent attending the online class.
How to Calculate Online Degree Time Commitments
We think a good rule of thumb is to dedicate about six hours per week for each credit hour for an eight-week program. In other words, if your online course earns three credits when completed, you could plan to spend 18 hours each week dedicated to the course. This includes time spent in class, preparing for tests, writing papers, completing assignments, interacting on discussion boards, and meeting with faculty members when necessary.
As you can see on this Faulkner University academic calendar, we offer 16-week class schedules for traditional, on-campus students; eight-week class schedules for online undergraduate courses and one-year executive programs; and five-week class schedules for online master’s degree programs.
If you are enrolled in a five-week online class, the number of hours dedicated to classwork would increase from six hours a week to more, perhaps even eight hours a week. The degree level of the class is also significant. For example, we offer five-week online classes for students pursuing a master’s degree. Since the content of these courses builds on previous knowledge and experience, the material is likely more complicated or advanced, and assignments may require more time to complete.
Examples From the Faulkner University Online Catalog
Consider these examples of different types of online programs at Faulkner University to guide your planning.
Potential students who are interested in earning an undergraduate online business degree may be considering our Bachelor of Science in Business. To complete this degree program, students must take 60 hours of upper-level courses. Each course earns three credit hours over eight weeks. These business classes are organized by modules that consist of three classes each. According to our rule of thumb, students should expect to devote at least 54 hours per week to this schedule of full-time coursework.
Another online degree program offered at Faulkner University, the Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology, requires 53 hours of upper-level courses. These include required classes that are structured to earn between one to three credit hours, as well as 27 credit hours of psychology and free electives. Depending on the number and type of classes taken per module for this degree program, students may spend varying amounts of time studying and preparing assignments.
Online Degree Programs at Faulkner University
Understanding the time commitment required for college studies is important for planning. Many students who pursue online degree programs have work and family obligations. The flexibility offered by online education can help. The admissions office at Faulkner University can assist potential students who are debating whether to study full-time or part-time. We also offer financial aid for eligible students. You can find online degree programs in a wide variety of disciplines for associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and doctorate degrees at Faulkner University.
Based in Montgomery, Alabama, we serve students across the country with online learning. For more information about online degree programs at Faulkner University, request information today.