what is course in education

Major, Course, and Class: What's the Difference?

15 Minute Read

Tagged as: US vs UK

Here at Occam Education, we are immersed in the language of academics every single day. Our job is partly to be well-versed in the terms that higher education institutions use to talk about what they do, what they are like, and what they have to offer students. However, the terms that we use sometimes change. On top of that, these terms do vary in their usage from country to country.

It is very easy to get confused by terms that education professionals like us take for granted. Because we understand that the ambiguity of words can make it very hard to understand exactly what people like us are talking about, the "Defining the Terms" series is designed with parents and students in mind.

Between the usual American and UK universities we cover now, and the international institutions we will talk about in the future, how can you easily tell which term means what? To be honest, it will not always be immediately clear. And as in any profession, context is everything. What we can do, however, is provide some clarification.

Not only are some of these terms confusing, the college application process is a complex and often stressful one. We at Occam strive to make this process as clear, and dare I say it, as pleasant as possible. This is why we created Wend, our free app which helps you search for colleges, keep track of deadlines, and manage your application-related tasks.

This post will talk about three of perhaps the most fluid terms in American, Canadian, and UK higher education: major, course and class.

What is a major?

A "major" is a term common to American and Canadian higher education parlance. 1 A student’s "major" refers to what their primary area of study is. 2  For instance, a common question students in the US will ask one another is "what is your major?", to which students respond with what field they are working for a degree in.

A student who successfully completes the courses prescribed in a major qualifies for an undergraduate degree with the name of the major attached to it. For example, a student who completes an Arabic Studies major at the University of Notre Dame earns a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Arabic Studies. Another term for a major is "specialization," a term used by Babson College.

Similarly, when people have earned their degrees or left university in the US, the questions "What is your degree in?" and "What did you major in?" mean the same thing.

What is a course?

This term has very different meanings in the US and UK higher educational systems. In the UK, a "course" or "course of study" refers to what subject a student is seeking a degree in. 3 This is what US systems call a "major," as we talked about above. Oxford University, for example, encourages students to choose their course (not major) before they apply. UK universities do not use the term "major."

A " course " can also refer to a series of lectures taken over a certain period of time in the UK. 4

In the US, a "course" refers to an individual lecture or "class" offered in a given semester. The term "course" is also used to discuss individual Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) lectures in high school. (This is to emphasize the accelerated level of work required of students.)

The term "course of study" is often used with the same meaning as "major" in the US. This usage, however, is usually reserved for legal documents such as student visa applications and other immigration forms. However, it is occasionally used when discussing the series of lectures and examinations that American students take to complete their degree. (This is also called a "concentration.")

What is a class?

A "class" in the US is a more colloquial term for an individual lecture or semester-long course. 5 Students often use the phrases "I am going to class" or "I am taking a class with Dr. Person this semester."

In the UK, this term is used similarly, but not nearly as often, and it is considered much more informal than it is in the US. For instance, US universities will sometimes use the word "class" in official blog posts and news releases, but UK universities rarely do. In general, the word "class" is reserved for high school/pre-baccalaureate lectures in both the US and the UK.

Students will often use the term "coursework" to refer to the things they must accomplish to earn their degree or pass a class/ lecture in both the US and the UK.

There is a further meaning of this term that has nothing to do with lectures or majors or courses at all in the United States. When someone says that they are in the "University of Chicago Class of 2016," they mean that they graduated/earned their degree from the University of Chicago in the year 2016. In a previous post on Harvard’s early action admissions, we used the term "Harvard College Class of 2021." This meant that the statistics matched the students who will graduate from Harvard in the year 2021. This particular usage of the word "class" is not common in the UK.

Disambiguation: "Hono(u)rs," "Concentration" and "Minor"

"Honours" (UK) and "minor" (US) are closely related but also vastly different.

In the US, a  minor is a student’s declared secondary field of study or specialization. Minors and majors differ in that the former is subordinate to the latter. As with a major, the college or university in question lays out a framework of required classes a student must complete to earn the minor. This also varies greatly among schools.

For example, a student can be majoring in Religious Studies and earning a minor in Creative Writing at the same time. This means that a student will take a certain, but smaller, number of lectures in the subject of Creative Writing. The number and type of these courses is always far less than the major subject, and is either determined by the department offering the lectures or is agreed upon between department and student.

In the UK, the term "Honours" means the quality with which student has completed their primary (and sometimes secondary) course of study. While there are degrees of honours in degrees awarded by UK universities, most undergraduate degrees will use the term "honours" before the subject. However, earning honours in two subjects can mean that the student had either

• Two subjects in which they completed an equal amount of coursework, or
• A primary subject and a secondary subject that comprised at least 33% of the graduate’s coursework.

The term can also be used to indicate that a student completed a project with a high degree of quality or innovation.

"Honors" in the US means that a student was either enrolled in an honors program (which will have its own coursework requirements aside from the core courses for their major), or that they earned some kind of special distinction. It generally does not refer to the specific subjects they studied.

"Concentration" is where things can get truly confusing. A concentration is somewhere between a major and a minor in US parlance. Generally, this term refers to the kinds of classes/courses a student focuses on within their primary field of study.

For example, a Colorado State student majoring in mathematics in the US might be taking several classes in numerical analysis and computing. In this case, they would earn a B.S. degree in Mathematics with a concentration (or "emphasis") in Applied Mathematics. Similarly, an East London University student might enter a course in Psychology with a "focus," or "track" in Positive Psychology. Other terms for this include "path of study (UK)."

We know that the U.S. application system can be confusing, so feel free to use Wend's Q&A feature to ask our team of counselors any specific questions you may have!

• Synonyms: course (UK), course of study (UK, sometimes the US), degree course (France)]  ↩
• Related terms: concentration, minor, track (US), program  ↩
• Synonyms: major (US), program(me) ↩ 4.Related terms: class, lecture, series, subject, coursework ↩
• Related terms: course, lecture, examination, cohort (used in both US and UK graduate education) ↩

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Basic Steps of Course Development

The following information provides you with an overview of the major steps that are a part of the Course Development Process and a guide to some of the resources on this site:

This step helps set the parameters for the development of the course because it specifies what students should specifically be able to do as the result of their taking this course. It is often best to use “action verbs” to state what you want students to learn because they are based on observable actions or products. See the material on Writing Measurable Coures Objectives in the Course Design section of our Teaching Guides for more information.

This step involves a survey of alternative teaching strategies for helping students meet the goals of the course through the activities that you provide. A starting point for getting some ideas for teaching approaches can be found here in our Teaching Guides.

The section of this site on Assessment and Feedback includes information on different types of assignments you might assign students and strategies for providing good feedback.

Teaching and especially learning can take place in many different places and at different times of the day/week, and it is useful to try to vary where and when students experience learning and to build that idea into course development. Learning can occur within the classroom, in the community, in a science lab or clinical setting, in the library, in front of a computer at home or on campus, alone or in an actual or virtual group.

There are many tools available out there to assist in the enhancement of teaching and learning and the list grows longer each year. A challenge is in finding ways to refine the use of the ones available so they work for your class and your students, as well as to take advantage of newer ones as they come available. Fairly standard technologies include chalkboards/whiteboards, projectors, bulletin boards, slides, films and video. Add to these the thousands of resources and tools available through the internet. CTL offers frequent training and workshops on the technology available for teaching here at UNC Charlotte. Check out the Calendar of Events for more details.

Students often need to know a set of content before they can learn other types of content, or they have to master certain tasks or skills before they can move onto more complicated learning experiences. This developmental approach to teaching and learning suggests that a key task is to make certain that students encounter learning activities in a logical progression from simple to more complex. The material on writing learning objectives, particularly module/unit level objectives, included in the course design section of tthis site is one way to examine developmental processes.

A course is a continuous process (rather than a product) that leads to an enhancement of teaching and learning experiences, if time and effort is given to reflecting on and assessing the results of that process. The goal is to examine information that indicates the extent to which the teaching and learning practices led to the learning outcomes desired by the teacher (and perhaps the student) and why they “worked” or “did not work”. This last step involves consideration of a whole range of issues, including assumptions about teaching and learning, as well as issues related to the results of the decisions made at each of the previous steps. See the section on assessment and feedback for more information.

Additional Resources

Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction (Northern Illinois University) This instructional design framework shows nine steps to systematically prepare and deliver lessons and activities.

Designed by Freepik Free vector art via www.vecteezy.com

Created by the Great Schools Partnership , the GLOSSARY OF EDUCATION REFORM is a comprehensive online resource that describes widely used school-improvement terms, concepts, and strategies for journalists, parents, and community members. | Learn more »

Core Course of Study

Also called core curriculum , core course of study refers to a series or selection of courses that all students are required to complete before they can move on to the next level in their education or earn a diploma. In high schools, a core course of study will typically include specified classes in the four “core” subject areas—English language arts, math, science, and social studies—during each of the four standard years of high school. Since elementary and middle schools generally offer students a predetermined academic program with fewer optional courses, the term core course of study nearly always refers to requirements in high school programs.

In some schools, the core course of study may also entail additional credit requirements in specified subject areas, such as the arts, computer science, health, physical education, and world languages, but not all schools may define their core courses of study in this way. A core course of study typically does not include electives —optional courses that students choose to take and that may or may not satisfy credit requirements for graduation.

The general educational purpose of a core course of study is to ensure that all students take and complete courses that are considered to be academically and culturally essential—i.e., the courses that teach students the foundational knowledge and skills they will need in college, careers, and adult life. Yet depending on the structure of the academic program in a particular school, the core course of study may be different for some students. For example, some schools offer distinct academic programs in parallel with their regular academic programs—such as International Baccalaureate or theme-based academies , among many other possible options—and students enrolled in these programs will likely have to satisfy different requirements to complete the program or earn a diploma.

Credits are awarded when students complete a course with a passing grade. Therefore, increasing subject-area credit requirements effectively increases course requirements. This is why states may attempt to influence the quality or effectiveness of academic programs by modifying state-mandated credit requirements: schools may offer a wide variety of math courses and academic tracks, but they all offer courses in the subject area of math. Still, there is a nuanced distinction between core academic courses and credit requirements: some history courses, for example, may be elective in a school while others are considered part of the core course of study. To complete the core course of study and satisfy a school’s graduation requirements, then, students will need to pass the required history courses , not just earn a specified number of history credits .

For decades, high schools have typically used some form of graduation requirements to ensure that students complete a specified selection of courses before they are awarded a diploma. States have also passed legislation that determined minimum credit requirements in a selection of subject areas for public high schools, although districts and schools can elect to increase those requirements. To this day, graduation requirements still vary considerably from state to state and school to school, both in terms of (1) the total number of courses or credits required in each subject and (2) the kinds of courses or learning experiences required.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, however, graduation requirements—including mandatory courses and other learning experiences, such computer-literacy or community-service requirements—became objects of reform. Growing calls to improve academic achievement and student preparation led states, districts, and schools to increase course and credit requirements as a mechanism for elevating academic expectations and improving education results. For example, many states moved to require that all public high school students complete four “years” (or credits) in English, and to increase credit requirements for math, science, or social studies from two years (a formerly common requirement) to three or four years. Some states even now require students to complete specific courses, not just specific credit requirements—for example, students may be required to complete four “years” of math up to and including courses deemed to be at an “Algebra II” level or above. Schools also used the core course of study, and any attendant graduation requirements, as a way to improve the academic achievement, attainment, and preparation of more students, while also mitigating learning loss , learning gaps , achievement gaps , and opportunity gaps .

Pedagogically and philosophically, the core course of study, as a reform strategy, is related to concepts such as access , equity , high expectations , and rigor . The basic rationale is that increasing requirements in the “core” subjects will not only improve student learning and skill acquisition, but it will give graduates more educational and career options because they will graduate better educated and prepared. The core course of study, as a reform strategy, is also related to learning standards (i.e., the general educational intent is similar), but course requirements are distinct from standards: a core course of study establishes minimum course requirements, while standards establish minimum learning requirements. Many learning standards may be addressed or taught in a course, but standards are not specific to certain courses (although they are typically organized by subject area and grade level). Learning standards describe knowledge and skill expectations, but those standards can be met either within or outside of a course.

Some education leaders question whether it is sufficient or useful to simply require students to take more courses, when such requirements do not guarantee that students will actually learn more in certain subject area or graduate better prepared for adult life. Since courses may be more challenging or less challenging, and since students may learn a lot or not learn much in any given course, many educators argue that states, districts, and schools should require students to meet learning standards, not just complete courses, because standards describe the specific knowledge and skills students are expected to acquire. For example, reform strategies such as proficiency-based learning require students to demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and skills outlined in learning standards before they can pass a course, move on to the next grade level, or graduate. If schools have a core course of study in place, students may take more courses, but they may also be able to pass those courses with low grades and without having acquired the knowledge and skills described in learning standards.

Less commonly, core courses of study, learning standards, and other attempts to standardize what gets taught in schools may be perceived by some parents or public figures as a form of “forced curriculum ”—i.e., an attempt to control what gets taught to students. In most cases, such criticism mirrors larger political debates and ideological fault lines in the United States, such as whether and how schools should teach the science of evolution (a highly politicized topic). While core courses of study and learning standards are, in fact, overt attempts to standardize education and ensure that students learn certain foundational knowledge and skills, the majority of educators do not see ominous or ideological intent behind these strategies.

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What Is Course? Definition, Types, & Key Elements

July 13, 2023

What is course?

A course is a set of lessons or classes that a student can attend to become educated on a particular topic or learn a specific skill. This is course meaning is in an educational context. The purpose of a course is for a teacher who has expertise about something to share that expertise with others. 

An example of course is Job Killing by Dan Klein . 

How to pronounce course: kors

Course synonym: Class, program, curriculum, studies

The meaning of course is a sequence of events, such as a sequence of classes. 

Why are courses important for education?

Courses are important for education because they provide students with a structured game plan for accomplishing learning objectives. Trying to learn a new skill, such as a digital marketing , without following a course can be challenging because you don’t have the necessary knowledge about the topic to know where you should start and which order of topics is best for achieving a suitable understanding of the subject. Courses allow education to be provided and received in an efficient format because they utilize experts to present the material in a logical order to optimize student comprehension.

Some common course definitions related to education are:

• What is an academic course? An academic course refers to any structured learning environment that takes place in a school, such as a high school, college, or university of higher education.
• What is course in college? A course in college is a class that a student completes as part of a degree or diploma program from a community college, liberal arts college, or technical school. College courses can also be taken without pursuing a formal degree if a student just wants to learn more about a specific subject. 
• What is course in university? A course in university is a class that a student completes as part of a degree or diploma program from a large academic institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate level programs. University courses typically have general education requirements and core courses pertaining to the chosen major that a student must complete in order to graduate from their chosen course of study. 
• What is a course of study? A course of study is a student's chosen area of specialty that consists of the series of courses they must complete before graduating from their current level of education. Some examples of common courses of study include General Education, Computer Science, or English Language Studies.
• What is course catalog? A course catalog is a collection of courses a learner can select from to meet their specific learning goals and interests. 
• What is course schedule? Course schedule is the calendar that shows when the various course content, like lecture dates, class meeting dates, homework due dates, and assessment dates, occur. 
• What is a required course? A required course is a class that a student must complete as part of their chosen course of study. It is mandatory for the student to successfully complete the class if they wish to graduate from the program. For example, a student pursuing a Marketing degree taking an affiliate marketing course because it's a requirement of the degree program. 
• What is an elective course? An elective course is a class that is not part of the core aspect of the program. Instead, elective courses are classes a student can choose based on their unique interests that meet the academic credit requirements of their overall program. For example, an international student pursuing a Business degree that goes to China to study Ecommerce  supply chains for a semester. 
• What is a crash course? A crash course is a class that provides intensive instruction and information within a short period to quickly prepare a student for an upcoming event, such as learning a new skill before starting a new job. 

What is the difference between a course and a program?

The difference between a course and a program is that a course is a specific class a student must complete as part of their particular degree program while a program is the overall degree program itself and its requirements for students to graduate. 

What is the difference between a course and a class?

The difference between a course and a class is that a course is a series of classes learners must go through to complete a student learning objective, while a class is just a single meeting of the overall course, usually lasting around an hour in the university setting. Students must attend many classes in order to complete a course, as classes are smaller units that make up an overall course. Class is often used in the place of course in modern conversation. For example, you may hear, “Who is the teacher of your accounting class?”.

What is the difference between a course of study and a degree?

The difference between a course of study and a degree is that a course of study is a learner’s chosen area of specialty, while a degree is the academic award they receive for completing all the requirements of their course of study.

What are the different types of courses available?

• Lecture course
• Seminar course
• Discussion section course
• Studio course
• Training course
• Online course

1. What is a lecture course?

A lecture course is usually a large-scale class in an auditorium-style room where a professor speaks and uses visuals like slideshows and videos to present topics while students take notes. Lecture courses in major universities can accommodate 300+ students. These lecture students are typically assessed with quizes and exams. 

2. What is a seminar course?

A seminar course is a discussion-oriented college course where students are encouraged to think critically about course topics and exchange ideas with classmates and the instructor. Seminars typically base assessment on class participation, assignments, and group projects or presentations, rather than traditional exams. 

3. What is a discussion section course?

A discussion section course is usually a smaller component of a lecture course where students break into small groups for interactive dialogue. It’s common for teaching assistants to lead discussion sections and they are equipped to help other students achieve a better comprehension of course material.

4. What is a lab course?

A lab course is class that allows students to apply key concepts of their course of study or a lecture class in a hands-on setting. Lab courses are typical of STEM majors, like biology or anatomy. They introduce students to procedures, tools and relevant methodologies that they would perform once they enter the workforce in their field. 

5. What is a studio course?

A studio course is for artistic disciplines like photography or dance, where students practice their art forms in a hands-on setting with peers and supervision from a skilled instructor. Studio courses allow students to receive constructive criticism to improve their craft. 

6. What is an independent study course?

An independent study course is when a student pursues a self-scheduled curriculum of their own devising. A student usually must first submit a proposal to receive approval and are then guided and assessed by a relevant member of the school faculty.

7. What is a training course?

Training course meaning is a series of lessons that are designed to teach you the skills and knowledge to successfully complete a particular job or activity. After completing a training course, you should be able to perform the functions you were taught in the course in the real world. Examples of training courses include CPR/first aid training, welding training, or body massage certification. 

8. What is an online course?

An online course is an education program that is presented and completed over the Internet. Online courses can be part of a degree program at an accredited university like Harvard University or just standalone training by an Internet instructor. Online courses typically consist of a combination of aspects like video recordings, interactive live training through video conference apps, digital materials like PDF guide sheets, and assignments to verify comprehension of the material. The purpose of an online course is to make education more convenient and accessible for students. 

Where can you take online courses?

You can take online courses from colleges, universities, online learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy , or from instructors' who self host their courses on their own platform. 

What is Course Hero?

Course Hero is an online learning platform where you can access course-specific study materials like study guides, practice exams, videos, and class notes that have been uploaded by previous students and educators. You can either pay a subscription to access these study materials or upload learning materials from courses you have taken to obtain access.

What are 5 key elements of a well-designed course?

• 1 Defines course goals and objectives - Student learning outcomes should be clearly communicated prior to the start of the course. 
• 2 Leverages high quality learning materials - The course should utilize learning materials that fit within the context of the course. Learning materials should provide up-to-date information and be easily accessible to students. 
• 3 Taught by professional instructor with expertise on course subject - The teacher(s) of the course should have expert level knowledge on the course material to clearly communicate course concepts and accurately respond to student questions.
• 4 Contains accountability component - In order to ensure students are keeping up with the course information and retaining concepts, there should be something to keep students accountable, such as assignments, assessments, or check-ins. Students should be able to demonstrate what they are taking away from the course learning experience.
• 5 Incorporates community aspect - It’s well documented that group collaboration has major benefits on a student’s learning outcome. It forces active learning, which helps students to solidify their understanding of new concepts through critical thinking and discussion. A community aspect can be especially beneficial for an online class so that stduents can interact with classmates because it enables the sharing of ideas and common questions. 

What does course mean outside the context of education?

Course as a noun :

• The action of moving along a path from one point to another. Example: The airplane is on course to its destination. 
• The physical plane an object moves across. Example: The ball travels along the golf course. 
• The progression of a normal action. Example: The sickness is running its course on him. 
• A food dish or set of food dishes served together. Example: Tonight I will be enjoying a 3 course meal consisting of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. 

Course as a verb :

• A liquid moving with ease on or through a surface. Example: Blood is coursing through our veins. 
• To move swiftly through or over an area. Example: Yesterday he coursed through the park on his skateboard in just 10 minutes. 

Common phrases using course :

• Course of action - Course of action meaning is the way in which a situation is dealt with. Example: His wisest course of action is to retake the class so that he learns the material. 
• Of course - Used to give a confirmation. Example: Of course she knows about SEO , she does local lead generation after all. 
• In due course - When something is done at the appropriate time. Example: I will scale my online business in due course. 

Course is a word that has many applications in the English language. However, the use of course in an educational context is likely the most common use of the word, when not considering everyday phrases containing course, such as “of course.” Educational courses are so popular because they enable people to expand their skill set and achieve a more prosperous life. For example, this local lead generation course can teach you how to make between $500 to $3,000 in passive income each month from your computer. Local lead generation is a business model that entails building websites to attract customers for local businesses. Although it can be challenging for you to set up these websites on your own, a course can efficiently teach you the skills to start making money online from local lead generation.  

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Meaning of course in English

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course noun ( CLASSES )

• I did a course in creative writing.
• Julie has signed up for courses on English and French this year .
• There are still some vacancies for students in science and engineering courses.
• The course comprises a class book , a practice book and an audio tape .
• She's been offered a place on the nursing course.
• academic year
• access course
• Advanced Placement
• asynchronous
• foundation course
• immersion course
• on a course
• open admissions
• the national curriculum
• work placement

course noun ( SPORTS AREA )

• He spends every weekend out on the golf course.
• We walked the course the horses would have to run later .
• The race was cancelled because the course was waterlogged .
• He ran the course in less than an hour .
• Flags mark the course the cyclists will be taking.
• 18-yard box
• backstretch
• ground staff
• off his/her line idiom
• out of bounds idiom

course noun ( DEVELOPMENT )

• action They are considering legal action.
• course of action They have not yet decided on a particular course of action.
• measure Measures are in place to prevent flooding.
• step These simple steps will ensure that infections are not spread.
• Once we have committed to this course of action there is no going back.
• We came up against a lot of problems in the course of building our extension .
• In the course of history , love has driven men and women to strange extremes .
• I was grateful for his letter which hastened the course of the enquiry .
• He has been accused of obstructing the course of justice .
• a means to an end idiom
• methodological
• methodologically
• standard operating procedure
• stylistically

course noun ( DIRECTION )

• All attempts at diplomacy have broken down and the two states now appear to be on a collision course.
• He drove in an erratic course down the road .
• Some of the frontier between Germany and Poland follows the course of the river Oder
• The ship held its course.
• Most parents try to steer a middle course between imposing very strict discipline and letting their kids run wild .
• against the current
• circumduction
• cross-country
• direction of travel
• multidirectional
• the right/wrong/other way around idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

course noun ( MEAL )

• If you make the main course, I'll make a dessert .
• I've only eaten one course and I'm already full .
• By the time the fourth course was served , I was stuffed to the gills .
• The average cost of a full three-course meal - appetizer , main course and dessert - including tip and a modest wine is about $25.
• I had salmon for my main course.
• accompaniment
• afternoon tea
• amuse-bouche
• English breakfast
• finger buffet
• plat du jour
• ploughman's lunch
• postprandial

course noun ( MEDICAL TREATMENT )

• blister pack
• chemotherapy
• patent medicine
• pharmaceutical
• prescription
• unmedicated
• wonder drug

course noun ( LAYER )

• agglomerate
• prestressed
• unreinforced
• wattle and daub
• weatherboarding

course noun ( BLOOD )

• be dripping with something idiom
• brim with something
• reinjection

course | American Dictionary

Course noun [c] ( direction ), course noun [c] ( development ), course noun [c] ( classes ), course noun [c] ( sports area ), course noun [c] ( meal ), course | business english, examples of course, collocations with course.

These are words often used in combination with course .

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Translations of course

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balancing act

a difficult situation in which someone has to try to give equal amounts of importance, time, attention, etc. to two or more different things at the same time

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• course (CLASSES)
• course (SPORTS AREA)
• course (DEVELOPMENT)
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• course (DIRECTION)
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What is a Syllabus?

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A syllabus is your guide to a course and what will be expected of you over the course of the quarter. Generally it will include course policies, rules and regulations, required texts, and a schedule of assignments. A syllabus can tell you nearly everything you need to know about how a course will be run and what will be expected of you.

Where can I find syllabi?

Check  the Syllabus archive.  You can search by quarter and by department--if looking for previous syllabi, you can use ExploreCourses to see when the course was last taught.

ExploreCourses  (not SimpleEnroll) has links to syllabi for many courses. Click on the blue Schedule link to see if there are Additional Resources for that course.

In addition, some courses have  course websites  that act as a syllabus, particularly the introductory courses in Math and CS. You can also contact the instructor and/or  the SSO  (Student Services Officer) in an academic department/school to inquire about the availability of a syllabus, or ask to see a previous syllabus.

Many instructors will hand out physical copies of their syllabus on the first day of class. If you are joining the course later than the first day, be sure to ask if there are any handouts (like the syllabus) you might have missed.

Heads-up! Syllabi are always subject to change, especially if a different instructor is teaching a course. However, even looking at a previous year's syllabus can give you valuable information as you are  evaluating a course .

Hang on to your syllabus and refer to it throughout the quarter. Some like to say that a syllabus is essentially a contract between the professor and the student, detailing both what you can expect of this course and what will be expected of you.

How to Read a Syllabus

A syllabus is a very valuable tool, underused by many students. All professors will write and use their syllabi differently. Sometimes syllabus information may be spread over several links in  Canvas,  or on a course website. 

Regardless of the form, here are some items you will want to consider:

What type of course is this? Problem set and exam-based? Reading and discussion with papers? A  variable-unit class with a variable workload  should explain the difference in the syllabus.

Deadlines & Policies

A syllabus provides important information about what is expected from students taking the course.  It details the course requirements, your assignments and their deadlines, participation and attendance expectations, and how your grade is calculated.  When are the exams and major assignments due? Are assignments due in class or electronically by a certain time?  What is the late policy?   Be sure to check all the deadlines for all your courses to see whether you are committing yourself to four midterms in the same week or two problem sets on the same day every week (and reconsider, if you are).

Your decision to take the course implies that you have read and understood the syllabus, and that you will accept the requirements and the grading policies spelled out there.  So be sure to read the syllabus carefully before making your enrollment decision!

Continued Guidance

During the quarter, the syllabus continues to guide you. The syllabus reflects the way the class is organized. The titles for each class meeting will often identify the main themes of that class, and may help you focus your reading for that day in order to prepare for class, as well as guide your studying for exams.

First-Year Alert

In high school, the daily schedule typically listed the homework that you would do  after  each class. In college, a syllabus generally lists the preparation that you need to do  before  that day’s class.

As always, if you have any questions, you are more than welcome to bring them to your Academic Advisor!

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Unveiling the Worth of Education through Course by Course Credential Evaluation

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In a rapidly globalizing world, the pursuit of education transcends borders, and students from diverse backgrounds seek opportunities to continue their academic journey in international institutions. For those aspiring to study in the United States, the process of credential evaluation is of paramount importance.

Among the various best credential evaluation services the course-by-course credential evaluation stands out as a comprehensive and meticulous approach, offering a detailed breakdown of academic achievements. This blog will delve deeper into what a course-by-course evaluation entails, its significance in various scenarios, and why ERES is the go-to choice for this critical evaluation process.

What Is Course-by-Course Evaluation?

A course-by-course credential evaluation is an in-depth assessment that dissects an individual's academic accomplishments from their home country's educational institution. It provides a detailed analysis of each course's equivalency to the American education system. The evaluation includes a comprehensive breakdown of course titles, credit hours, grades, and cumulative GPA, enabling American institutions and employers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the applicant's academic background. Unlike a general document-by-document evaluation, which simply provides an overview of the academic degree, the course-by-course transcript evaluation delves deeper, highlighting the specific courses completed, their content, and the level of learning achieved. This thorough evaluation ensures that academic achievements are accurately compared and appropriately recognized in the United States.

When to Get Course-by-Course Evaluation

A course-by-course credential evaluation becomes necessary in various scenarios:

Admission to US Educational Institutions

Many American universities and colleges require international students to submit a course-by-course transcript evaluation as part of their application for admission. This evaluation allows institutions to assess the applicant’s academic background in detail, aiding the admissions decision-making process.

Credit Transfer and Academic Placement

Students aiming to transfer credits earned at an international institution to a US university or college may require a course-by-course evaluation. This evaluation assists American institutions in determining the equivalency of previous coursework, streamlining the credit transfer and academic placement process.

Professional Licensing and Employment

In certain professions, such as nursing, engineering, or teaching, candidates with international education may need to undergo a course-by-course transcript evaluation for professional licensing or employment purposes. This evaluation verifies the candidate’s academic qualifications and ensures they meet the educational requirements of the profession.

Immigration and Visa Applications

Individuals applying for immigration or visa purposes may be required to provide a course-by-course evaluation of their educational credentials. This evaluation demonstrates the applicant’s academic background and assists immigration authorities in assessing their qualifications.

Why Choose ERES for Course-by-Course Credential Evaluation

Selecting ERES for your course-by-course credential evaluation offers numerous advantages:

Expertise and Precision:

ERES boasts a team of highly qualified evaluators with extensive knowledge of international education systems. We conduct thorough evaluations, ensuring accurate recognition of your academic achievements.

Comprehensive Analysis:

With our course-by-course evaluation from ERES, you receive a detailed breakdown of your academic accomplishments, providing clarity to American institutions, employers, and licensing bodies. 

Reliable and Trusted:

ERES is a recognized and trusted credential evaluation service with a strong reputation for reliable evaluations. Our reports are widely accepted by educational institutions, employers, and government agencies in the United States.

Personalized Support:

We understand that each student’s journey is unique. You will receive personalized support at ERES throughout the evaluation process, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience.

Quick Turnaround Time:

We value your time and aim to provide timely evaluations. Our efficient processes ensure you receive your course-by-course evaluation promptly, allowing you to proceed with your academic or career plans without delay.

Other Credential Evaluation Options

Aside from the course-by-course credential evaluation, other evaluation options are available for individuals seeking to have their academic credentials assessed for recognition in the United States. These options cater to different needs and purposes, and it's essential to understand each one's scope and application:

Document-by-Document Evaluation:

It is important to understand the difference between document-by-document & course-by-course evaluation . Document by document provides an overview of academic credentials without a specific course breakdown, suitable for general employment or immigration purposes.

General Evaluation or Statement of Equivalency:

Offers a broader assessment of academic qualifications compared to the US education system, facilitating general recognition and admission.

Professional Evaluation:

Specialized for regulated professions like medicine or engineering, ensuring compliance with specific US professional requirements.

Educational Statement:

Simple report providing basic educational details, ideal for certain immigration or employment purposes.

Expert Opinion or Advisory Evaluation:

Offers personalized guidance on academic credentials and potential pathways in the US for better planning.

Unlock Your Academic Potential with ERES

Seize the opportunity to unveil the full potential of your education. Whether you're applying for admission, seeking professional licensing, or pursuing employment in the United States, let ERES be your trusted partner in achieving your dreams. Contact us today to take the first step towards a brighter future and embrace a future enriched by the boundless opportunities that await you on a global stage.

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What to Know About Coursera

Coursera users can earn professional certificates or even college degrees online..

U.S. News & World Report Education takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

Popular Coursera Courses

Provider : Yale University

Cost : Free; $49 to receive certificate after completing the course

Skill Level : Beginner

Provider : University of Michigan

Cost : $49 per month after free trial

Provider : Stanford University

Cost : Free; $79 to receive certificate after completing the course

Coursera is an online learning platform offering self-paced guided projects and on-demand courses on a variety of subjects. The platform partners with universities and companies, including Amazon Web Services, Google and IBM, to provide courses. Users can earn digital certificates to share on their resumes or with their LinkedIn networks.

In addition to completing individual courses, users can receive professional certificates and bachelor’s or master’s degrees online through the platform. Coursera also offers MasterTrack certificates, which split portions of master’s degree programs into online modules. If a user is accepted into a full master’s program, MasterTrack work can count toward his or her degree.

Users can enroll in guided projects to gain hands-on experience in a subject, such as building a data science web app or creating JavaScript animations. Another option for Coursera users is signing up for a specialization, in which they complete a series of courses and projects on a topic, such as supply chain management or search engine optimization.

The company offers more than 4,300 courses, more than 450 specializations, more than 440 projects, more than 30 certificates and 20 degrees, according to its website.

Coursera is based in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Explore Coursera here .

Coursera Cost and Pricing

Users can access materials for more than 1,600 free Coursera courses and opt to pay for certificates upon completion. Many courses also can be audited for free, but auditors may not be able to submit some assignments or receive grades for their work.

Prices for courses with certificates start at about $49. Coursera users can apply for financial aid if they need help paying for certificates.

Guided projects, which include a certificate upon completion, are priced starting at $9.99. They are advertised as a smaller time commitment, taking two hours or less.

Specializations and professional certificates each start at about $49 per month. Some specializations are available as subscriptions, allowing users to pay monthly until they finish all the courses in the specialization instead of making a one-time upfront payment.

Coursera’s online degrees use all-in pricing, which means the price includes all the courses or credit hours required to complete the degree, and they begin at about $9,000. Prices for MasterTrack certificates start at $2,000. Degrees and MasterTrack certificates can be paid for in installments.

In February 2020, the platform began rolling out a subscription service called Coursera Plus . A $399 annual fee gives Coursera Plus subscribers unlimited access to most courses on the site, which could be valuable to users who plan to take several courses during the year.

MasterTrack certificates, degrees and some professional certificates are not part of Coursera Plus. See what’s included in a Coursera Plus subscription here .

Coursera for Business , which is designed for workforce training and development, provides two plan options: The Team plan, priced at $400 per user, per year, “for teams and smaller organizations,” and the custom-priced Enterprise plan for larger organizations.

The platform also offers Coursera for Government and Coursera for Campus plans. Qualified government and college communities can receive temporary free access to many courses through Coursera’s Workforce Recovery Initiative and Campus Response Initiative , both new for 2020.

Through the Coursera Together initiative, all users through the end of 2020 can access a collection of free courses, some which include certificates.

Coursera Top Courses and Free Courses

Looking for more course options?

Coursera Refund Policy

Refund terms differ among the platform’s offerings. Coursera does not issue refunds on guided projects or payments made on month-to-month subscriptions, according to the website’s terms of use.

Full refunds are available on individual courses until 14 days after payment or until the user earns a course certificate, whichever happens first. If you preenroll and pay for a course, you are eligible for a refund until you earn a course certificate or until 14 days after the course begins, whichever happens first.

If you signed up for a free trial of Coursera, you will need to cancel before the trial period ends to avoid a charge. Coursera will not issue refunds for payments made after the free trial.

If you complete a course during your free trial, the company may charge you for a one-month subscription to get your certificate.

Coursera offers a full refund on a one-time, paid enrollment in a specialization until 14 days after your payment or until you earn a certificate, whichever happens first. If you preenroll and pay for a specialization, you can receive a full refund until 14 days after the first course in the specialization begins or until you’ve earned your first certificate for a course in the specialization, whichever happens first. Users who earn their first course certificate in a specialization within 14 days are ineligible for a refund.

Shorter refund periods may apply to certain courses and specializations.

Coursera Plus subscribers can request a full refund within 14 days of paying for the service. Any certificates earned during that 14-day period will be revoked if you request a refund during that time, though.

Refund policies for degrees and MasterTrack certificates are established by the university partners offering the programs, not by Coursera.

Is Coursera Worth It?

It could be worth it if you need the convenience of online education or job training.

“We live in a world where lifelong learning has become a necessity,” says Betty Vandenbosch, chief content officer at Coursera. “To adapt to the ever-changing landscape, people will need to continually up or reskill to thrive in their careers, and online learning provides instant access to top-quality content in high-demand fields.”

Since mid-March, more than 18 million people have joined Coursera – a 388% increase from the same period last year, according to Vandenbosch.

Whether courses offered through Coursera are accredited is determined by the college or university accepting the credit, not by Coursera. But just as a MasterTrack certificate can count toward a degree should a user be accepted into a full master’s program, some Coursera courses can help users gain admission to schools or count toward degrees.

“For instance, admission to the University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Science in electrical engineering is completely performance-based,” Vandenbosch says. “Anyone who completes a ‘pathway specialization’ with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can earn admission into the degree program.”

If you complete the Google IT Support Professional Certificate through Coursera and are admitted to a degree program, you can earn credit toward the University of London’s online Bachelor of Science in computer science or the University of North Texas’ Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree .

Before you enroll, checking out some reputable third-party reviews could be a good idea. Coursera has a D- grade from the Better Business Bureau, which cited the company’s failure to respond to a number of complaints as the reason for the grade. Based on customer reviews, Coursera received an overall Trustpilot rating of 2 stars out of 5.

Coursera Professional Certificates

Coursera vs. udemy.

A major distinction between Coursera and Udemy is that some Coursera courses are affiliated with universities and users can earn degrees through the platform, but Udemy courses are not accredited and are created by individuals. Through its online community, Udemy offers people the chance to earn money by developing and teaching courses.

Udemy has an extensive library of courses covering a range of topics. Users can purchase individual courses to meet their needs and interests, but Udemy does not offer subscriptions or study tracks similar to Coursera’s specializations.

Coursera vs. edX

Like Coursera, edX provides courses affiliated with colleges and universities, and edX users can earn degrees through the platform.

In addition to professional certificates, edX offers MicroBachelors programs, which come with “real, transferable college credit from one of edX’s university credit partners,” according to the platform’s website, as well as MicroMasters programs, which edX says can help users earn degrees faster should a university accept their MicroMasters certificates for credit.

Both Coursera and edX connect users with subjects ranging from music theory to the history of ancient civilizations to data science.

Coursera vs. Udacity

The variety of Udacity’s course offerings is narrower than Coursera’s, as the former focuses on skill-based professional training without arts and humanities courses.

Many Udacity courses center on science and technology. The platform partners with “leading technology companies to learn how technology is transforming industries and teach the critical tech skills that companies are looking for in their workforce,” according to its website.

Udacity offers Nanodegree programs, in which students complete courses and projects to develop job-relevant skills. Users who earn a Nanodegree can show employers their resulting portfolio demonstrating these skills, but Udacity is not accredited and doesn’t award degrees, according to its website. However, Udacity partnered with Georgia Tech and AT&T to offer an online master’s degree in computer science.

Google and MIT RAISE collaborate on a free generative AI course for educators

The course will help teachers save time, personalize instruction, and enhance lessons with generative ai tools..

Google and MIT RAISE , part of MIT Open Learning, announced today a free Generative AI for Educators course. The online, two-hour, self-paced course is designed to help middle and high school teachers use generative AI tools to personalize instruction to meet student needs, develop creative lessons and activities, and save time on administrative tasks. Teachers who complete the course will earn a certificate that can be presented to their district for professional development credit. The course combines Google and MIT RAISE’s technological expertise and shared commitment to promoting useful and responsible AI education. Teachers and administrators can access the course on the Grow with Google website .

“MIT RAISE believes knowledge of generative AI is a key factor in creating a more equitable future for education,” says Cynthia Breazeal, director of MIT RAISE and dean for digital learning at MIT Open Learning. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Google to offer the Generative AI for Educators course — providing middle and high school teachers with no-cost AI training. This course empowers educators to confidently integrate AI into their teaching, creating richer and more accessible learning experiences for all students.”

Breazeal and Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, wrote the following blog post about the new course.

Think back on your favorite teachers. Maybe they made complex subjects seem simple and teaching seem effortless. But the truth is, teachers spend countless hours preparing engaging lesson plans, thoughtful assessments and creative class materials.

AI can be a valuable assistant to teachers in these moments. That’s why Grow with Google, in collaboration with MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education), is launching a no-cost Generative AI for Educators course , designed to help teachers build essential AI skills, it’s part of a shared commitment to promoting useful and responsible AI education.

In just two hours of self-paced study, teachers can learn how to use generative AI tools to help:

Create engaging lesson plans and materials. For example with generative AI, they can input their specific lesson plan and tailor it to student interests like explaining science using sports analogies. Tailor instruction for different abilities. Imagine a teacher who has 25 or 30 kids in their classroom. With generative AI, that teacher can easily modify the same lesson for different reading levels in their class. Save time on everyday tasks like drafting emails and other correspondence. For instance, if a student is out sick teachers can create summaries of that day’s lessons to help make sure the student doesn’t fall behind. At the end of the course, teachers will earn a certificate that they can present to their district for professional development (PD) credit, depending on district and state requirements.

School districts across the country will offer this Generative AI for Educators course, including Albuquerque Public Schools, Anaheim Union High School District, Chicago Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and Sun Prairie Area School District in Wisconsin.

Whether you’re a Superintendent interested in offering PD credit for your district, or you’re a teacher interested in enrolling in the course, learn more at grow.google/GenAIforEducators .

Breazeal and Gevelber’s blog post was originally published at blog.google .

Open Learning newsletter

Online marketing for beginners: 10 paid and free courses to start with

In today’s digital marketplace, personalization is king. Hubspot’s The State of Marketing 2024 report underscores this, revealing that 75% of marketers credit personalized experiences with boosting sales and customer loyalty. This strategic focus is reshaping companies’ online narratives, directly influencing a return on investment (ROI) and growth trajectories.

The digital realm demands a deep understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and keeping up with technological trends and advancements. For those carving out a career in digital or online marketing, you’re in an era where science meets creativity. 

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA

Dr. Jonah Berger, a Wharton School professor at the University of Pennsylvania and bestselling author of books like Magic Words and The Catalyst , views the right digital marketing course as a critical piece in the puzzle of success.

“If you already have your product, a class can teach you how to get it to the right customers,” he asserts. Berger emphasizes the versatility of digital marketing education, noting that it can guide entrepreneurs in everything from product design to startup selection.

He advises prospective students to first identify their needs and desired outcomes before choosing a course. “The more that courses help you address a particular tactical need you have, the better off you’re going to be,” he explains. He encourages focusing on “modern marketing” trends such as customer centricity, highlighting the shift towards prioritizing the customer’s perspective over the product or service.

For Berger, truly successful digital marketing lies in “the marriage of data science and behavioral science.” He stresses the importance of understanding customer decision-making while leveraging data for deeper insights. This approach is paramount in a landscape dominated by search engines, social media, and omni-channel marketing strategies.

For those interested in working in the online marketing industry, taking a course can be an effective way to build a solid foundation. Fortune compiled a list of both free and paid online marketing courses you can take on your home computer to help you add the skill to your digital toolbox. 

5 free online marketing courses

Enrolling in a free course can give you the necessary skills to get started without breaking the bank. These five free online courses teach digital marketing at an introductory level. Each varies on program length but offers generalized coursework. The list is in alphabetical order.

1. CareerFoundry: Digital Marketing Program

This one is for people who don’t have a lot of time but still want to dip their toes in the digital marketing waters. To figure out if digital marketing is right for you, CareerFoundry can send you a free five-day short course to your email inbox. Each lesson takes around 15 minutes, offering barebones instruction to the world of digital marketing and making a career change. It’s worth noting that the content you receive is the beginning lessons of a much more robust, four to seven-month long, $6,900 immersive, should you want to opt for the paid version. 

2. Google: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

This 40-hour course, offered by one of the most popular search engine companies, teaches digital marketing at an entry-level . The 24-module class, accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University, contains hands-on exercises.

Tutorials include topics like making it easy to find a business on the internet and reaching customers through email and video. After passing each tutorial, the course offers one final assessment, and after taking and passing that, you will receive a sharable award to add to your LinkedIn profile.

3. Meta: Blueprint

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, offers 36 free courses in its Blueprint program . The program aims to give learners fast, self-guided digital marketing walkthroughs and training on sites like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Topics range from bringing your business online and establishing marketing goals to attracting an audience and making creative Instagram Stories. 

4. Simplilearn: Digital Marketing Strategy

This free course by Simplilearn consists of seven main modules, each containing a self-paced string of video lessons. It aims to provide learners with an introduction to the digital marketing landscape. 

In two hours, you will learn about customer segmentation and persona, plus you’ll learn how to conduct market research and create a marketing calendar. After each chapter, there is a knowledge check, and after completing the class, you will receive a certificate of completion. According to the site, more than 25,000 people have enrolled in this course.

5. Udemy: Marketing on Instagram 

This introductory course from Three Sixty Academy , offered on the Udemy platform, teaches learners the fundamentals of Instagram marketing and how to increase your follower base and maximize ROI. The course consists of nine tutorials over the course of 40 minutes. According to the site, more than 30,000 students have enrolled in this course. 

5 paid online marketing courses

Taking paid courses can be an effective way to learn marketing concepts and practical applications. By paying for a course, you can access comprehensive content and detailed explanations in a structured learning environment. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and improve your skills. Courses are listed in alphabetical order.

1. Coursera: Introduction to Digital Marketing

Coursera has a beginner-level course that lasts for around nine hours and is taught by Steve Fritzenkotter, a continuing education instructor from the University of California, Irvine. The course covers everything from search engine marketing and two-way communication with customers to storytelling and reputation management. 

According to the site, it’s free to start, but after a seven-day trial period, you’ll be required to pay $49 monthly. The subscription gives you access to all of the lectures, assignments, knowledge checks, discussion forums, and even a certification of completion. Lastly, the course has more than 10,500 enrollees. 

2. eCornell: Assessing Opportunities in Paid Digital Media

eCornell’s online paid media course covers the basics of search engine marketing, email marketing, and video marketing through a paid lens. The course tackles topics like social media and mobile ads and will guide you through the process of drafting a paid media marketing plan. 

This two-week, fully online, instructor-led course is targeted towards marketing managers who want to understand the role digital marketing plays in an organization. The course is priced at $1,199 and is part of eCornell’s Digital Marketing program, which is priced at $3,699 and includes four courses. After completing the entire program, you will have earned a certificate.

3. Harvard Business School: Digital Marketing Strategy

Harvard Business School Online’s digital marketing course is seven weeks long, self-paced, and contains six modules. The key concepts taught are the evolution of marketing, different approaches to budget allocation, and customer engagement techniques like storytelling and personalization. 

The featured exercises include building a practice budget, calculating a customer’s lifetime value, and advising a real-life company on its marketing plan. The course costs $1,750, and the application is free, but you must be at least 18 years old to apply. 

4. LinkedIn Learning: Advance as a Digital Marketing Specialist

LinkedIn Learning’s digital marketing career path is a comprehensive program with nine courses. Each one is more than ten hours long and is designed to teach learners how to create effective customer touchpoints, develop content strategies, and gain expertise in SEO and analytics. Upon completing the program, students receive a certificate that can be added to their LinkedIn profile.

The lectures are delivered by industry experts Brad Batesole, who teaches part-time at California State University Northridge, and Marta Dapena-Baron, a former marketing lecturer at the University of Michigan and Cornell University.

To access this course path, users must subscribe to the service. The subscription costs $379.88 per seat per year, with a two-seat minimum requirement for teams.

5. Udemy: The Complete Digital Marketing Course—12 Courses in 1 

This $199.99 course offered by Udemy teaches students how to master digital marketing strategy and the fundamentals of social media, SEO, YouTube, email, X (formerly Twitter), Quora, and Facebook marketing. Taught in 17 languages over 22.5 hours of videos and articles, it also teaches you copywriting, making a website, and performing market research. 

According to the site, the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it caters to three target audiences: individuals who wish to enhance their skills for job opportunities, website owners looking to boost their traffic and sales, and pre-launch business owners who are unsure where to begin.

Things to consider before enrolling in an online marketing course

If there’s one takeaway from this article, it’s that there are a lot of options in terms of the kinds of courses you can take. An overwhelming number of options can lead to analysis paralysis, so it’s important to remember that while some courses might sound great, they might not give you the exact results you’re looking for. 

Before spending your hard-earned cash or wasting your time with any marketing course, consider these factors:

• Hands-on practice : According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education ,  the term “hands-on approach” refers to guided instruction through experience. “It’s one thing to hear somebody say something. It can be quite another to make sure you can apply that thing,” Berger says. “It’s important to learn from others, but you need to make sure you can apply those learnings as well.” 
• Reviews : Berger says that word of mouth is another powerful tool in determining what you should spend your money and time on. “When I am making a tough decision, I turn to others—either looking at reviews online or talking with people offline—to understand what other people think and help make better decisions.” Sites like Udemy and Simplilearn provide ratings on the front pages of courses. 

So, what is the best online marketing course to take?

The best online marketing course is the one that best suits your needs. While you can scroll through thousands of TikTok and YouTube videos to pick up key information, a structured course can give you the backbone you need to improve your digital marketing skills. 

Whether you want to learn for free or for money, there’s an option for everyone. But if you’re still on the fence about taking an online marketing course, hear Berger’s advice: 

“Marketing touches almost everything we do—we all have a customer. Brand managers sell products, B2B companies sell services, leaders sell ideas, doctors convince patients to take medicine, lawyers try to convince their clients to take action, and employees try to convince their bosses.”

He explains that whether we interface with our customers, spouses, or children, we aim to understand them and meet them where they are. “It’s about understanding who you’re interacting with and delivering them value.” If that sounds interesting to you, then digital marketing could be a good career path. 

Fortune outlined the path you need to take to become a digital marketer , and we also compiled a list of 16 entrepreneurial classes you can take online now .

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CUET UG 2024: Course Wise Expected Cut-Offs Of DU, Jamia Millia Islamia And BHU

Curated By : Education and Careers Desk

Local News Desk

Last Updated: April 16, 2024, 17:00 IST

Delhi, India

The expected cut-off for the Lady Shri Ram College for Women is 97-99 percentile for the BA course.

The cut-off scores will be issued based on the average marks, availability of seats, overall performance of the students and previous years' cut-offs.

Common University Entrance Test for Undergraduates ( CUET UG) courses are scheduled to be conducted from May 15 to May 31. The registration window for the exam has not been closed by the National Testing Agency. The results will be tentatively announced on June 30. It will be available at  https://cuetug.ntaonline. in/ . Based on the scorecard, the candidates will be able to secure admission to undergraduate courses at renowned institutions like Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University and many others. After the release of results, the colleges and universities are expected to release their cut-off based on which the candidates will be able to secure admission in their preferred courses.

The cut-off scores will be issued based on the average marks, availability of seats, overall performance of the students and previous years’ cut-offs. The upcoming CUET 2024-25 academic year for undergraduate courses is expected to be challenging. Last year, a staggering number of over 22,000 students achieved a perfect 100 percentile. Hence, it is speculated that the cut-offs of this year will be higher for some universities.

Let us take a look at the expected cut-offs of Delhi Universities, Jamia Millia Islamia and BHU.

There are a total of 91 colleges affiliated with the University of Delhi. They are spread across North Campus, South Campus and Off Campus. It comprises some of India’s best colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The expected cut-off for the Lady Shri Ram College for Women is 97-99 percentile for BA, 90-92 for BA ( Hons), 92-94 for B.Sc, 99-100 for B.Sc ( Hons) and B.Com courses. Miranda House goes a little higher to 99-100 for BA, B.Sc and B.Com whereas 98-100 for BA ( Hons) and B.Sc ( Hons) courses.

The expected cut-offs of other Delhi University colleges are-:

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

BA (Hons) 90-92

B.Sc (Hons) 99-100

BCom 99-100

Miranda House

BA (Hons) 98-100

B.Sc (Hons) 98-100

Hindu College

BA (Hons) 96-98

B.Sc (Hons) 96-98

Kirori Mal College

Hansraj College

BA 98.5-99.5

St. Stephen’s College

B.Sc (Hons) 98-99

For Jamia Millia Islamia the expected cut-off for BA English ( Hons) is between 65-80 whereas for BHU is above 170. For BA Economics ( Hons) for Jamia and BHU is 70-80 and above 170 respectively. The general category cutoff (overall) of CUET UG 2023 at Jamia Millia Islamia was 32.29 – 135.13 marks.

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Course Delivery

State Fire Training (SFT) offers courses that can be categorized into two distinct groups: the California Fire Service Training & Education System (CFSTES), which is closely associated with certification, and the Fire Service Training and Education Program (FSTEP), which does not offer certification pathways.

Course Request Form (PDF)

Course Requests and Scheduling

• Complete the  Request for Course Scheduling   form (either PDF or MS Word)
• Verify that your class criterion meets the prerequisites found in the course plan. This is important because some classes require site accreditation, while other classes may require a student to instructor ratio.
• Submit. All requests shall be emailed to the Course Scheduler at  [email protected] .

Approval will not be granted after the fact; approval must be obtained before beginning the class. More information can be found in the  SFT Procedures Manual (PDF)  Section 5.1: Course Delivery.

Tips for Scheduling a Course

• Download and use the current  Requests for Course Scheduling  form; older forms delay your request. 
• Verify that the listed instructor(s) are approved to teach the class. This can be done by looking them up in the on-line  Registered Instructor Database .
• Fill-in the name of the "Training Facility" even if it is the same as the sponsor.
• Urgent requests must be discussed first with the Course Scheduler. Approval will only be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Class Changes/Cancellations The Registered Instructor or the host agency, shall notify SFT in writing of any changes or cancellations in course delivery. Class changes or class cancellations can be emailed to the Course Scheduler at:  [email protected] . When emailing to request a change/cancellation please include the class approval number, in addition to the old class information (i.e. dates, instructor, location) as well as the new changes that need to be applied.

Courses with Less than Five (5) Students

All courses with less than 5 students must be approved by SFT prior to delivery. More information can be found on the  Course Enrollment Reminder bulletin .

Course Return Forms

• Course Returns Instructions (PDF)
• Course Roster Template (Excel)

The Registered Instructor, in conjunction with the host agency, shall:

• Verify student eligibility and prerequisites for course enrollment
• Ensure the maximum student limit for the course is not exceeded
• Ensure the appropriate instructor-to-student ratio
• Ensure the safety of all students participating in the course
• Ensure that absenteeism and tardiness does not exceed 10% of the required course attendance hours

Returning A Course

Instructors collect student roster information by using the SFT  Course Roster Template (Excel)  and submit it through the  SFT User Portal External Link .

Course credit will only be awarded to participants being reported with their assigned State Fire Training Identification Number (SFT ID) and the email address related to the SFT account. Instructors are required to return completed courses within fifteen days of the approved course end date. Once SFT staff electronically processes the course, students will receive an automated email with instructions on how to access their diploma(s) through their personal SFT User Portal account. New student accounts will also receive a welcome email with account activation instructions – in some cases, this email notification may be flagged as spam; therefore, remind new users to check their spam folder.

Course Feedback

Class evaluations can now be completed on-line via the  Class Evaluation Form (PDF) . Students will be required to list the class approval code, instructor name, date and course name therefore it is important to share this information with students prior to the course completion. 

Although class feedback is submitted directly to State Fire Training, Primary and Senior instructors of record may request to review submitted class feedback via the  Class Feedback Request Web Form  from within the  SFT User Portal External Link . Requests may take up to 2 weeks to process and will be delivered in PDF format via email. Instructors who wish to see feedback on a regular basis are encouraged to instead provide their own class feedback survey.