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FCC Course Related Definitions

The following definitions are intended to clarify course related terms at Frederick Community College. For further information please see the Academic Standards Policy.

 

 

Term Definition
Academic Plan Refers to the designation given to a degree, area of concentration, or certificate in the FCC student registration system (Peoplesoft).
Academic session Refers to the specified time period in which a course will run within a term; with a defined start and end date, as well as refund and withdraw dates specific to the “session” (represented by 13W, 10A, 10B etc.  in the class schedule.
Class Refers to a specific section of a course in which a student may enroll.
Class meeting Refers to the individual class session(s) within a course section held at the specified date, day, and time.
Companion site Refers to the Learning Management System website (i.e. Blackboard) associated with every course. A companion site must include, at a minimum a syllabus, college resources, and course evaluations.
Course Refers to a unit of study identified in the Academic catalog or student registration system (Peoplesoft) catalog, that is defined by a specific title, course number, and description, and for which credit may or may not be awarded.
Format Refers to the delivery method for a particular course section (i.e., in-person, hybrid, online, structured remote).
Program Refers to the set of courses required in a program of study offered by the College (i.e., degree, area of concentration, certificate, letter of recognition).  
Semester Refers to a period into which the academic year is divided; FCC more often uses “term”.
Session Refers to the defined period of time within a term during which a class is running. Session start and end dates are listed in the Credit Schedule.
Term Refers to an alternate word choice for semester.
 

Course Categories
Concentration Course Refers to a subject matter course taken to fulfill program learning requirements outside of General Education Core and elective courses in an area of concentration.
Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) Course  Refers to a course offered for short term, non-credit workforce training instruction, instructional programs designed to support lifelong learning and personal interest, those offered for basic reading and math skills, High School completion programs for adults, and courses for non-native English speakers seeking to improve their language skills.
Credit Course  Refers to a course in which students can earn college credit.  
Departmental Requirement  Refers to a subject matter course taken to fulfill program learning requirements outside of General Education Core and elective courses in a degree or certificate program. 
Developmental Course Refers to a course that prepares students for credit level courses. Developmental courses do not earn college credit. 
Developmental Supplement  Refers to a developmental course that is embedded in a credit course.
Elective Course Refers to a course that students elect to take as part of their degree/certificate program, which may or may not count toward graduation requirements.  
General Education Core Course Refers to a course required as part of the set of general education courses that must be completed in order to earn a degree. Based on the program, there may be specific general education core courses required.
Independent Study Refers to a course which permits students to follow individual interests beyond the limits of a more formalized course. For transfer purposes, an independent study should not replicate a preexisting course. When a student needs to take an existing course that is not being offered, a section with a cap of one should be made available to the student in lieu of an independent study.
 

Course Format Options
In-Person Refers to a course where primary instruction takes place in a campus learning environment. In-Person classes may have learning materials and assessments that students must access online.
Hybrid Course Refers to a course that combines in-person format with online and/or structured remote format. Hybrid courses must meet on campus or have synchronous virtual meetings for all class sessions listed in Peoplesoft.
Online Course Refers to a course taught entirely online. Electronic technologies facilitate Instructor-student communication. In addition, online courses require at least one assessment to be authenticated, as outlined in the syllabus. For additional online course options, see the Ways to Earn Credit section of the catalog.
Structured Remote Course Refers to a course taught online that features regularly scheduled synchronous (meaning the course meets at the same time each week) virtual meetings. Attendance in virtual meetings is expected. All real-time virtual sessions must be recorded and made available for students with captions.
Web Enhanced (WE) This course will meet on campus in an in-person environment. There will be additional mandatory online activities. Students are expected to attend all class sessions. All College health and safety protocols should be observed while on campus.
 

Credit for Prior Learning
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Refers to the evaluation of prior college-level learning or experience-based learning. Student’s work experiences, workplace training, professional licensure and certifications, military training and service, life experiences, credits earned by standardized testing, and volunteering and community service activities can be evaluated for PLA credits awards. For additional information please refer to the Prior Learning Website.
 

Field Experience, Clinicals, and Internships
Apprenticeship Refers to partnerships between employers and Frederick Community College. Participating employers pay for FCC tuition and provide a tiered salary structure for on-the-job training. FCC provides formal coursework related to the field appropriate certificate or degree. For additional information please refer to the Apprenticeship Website.
Clinical Experience Refers to a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a medical clinic or hospital setting. Clinical placements are directly related to a student’s program of study and provide students with an opportunity to earn academic credit while practicing patient care.
Internship/Externship/Practicum Refers to a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional-workplace setting.  Internship, externship, and practicum placements are directly related to a student's program of study and may provide students with an opportunity to earn academic credit, as well as to develop professional skills and competencies. For additional information on Internships specifically, please refer to the Internship Website.