Is an intersession class right for you?

The average time commitmentrequired for a class depends on the credit hours earned for that class. During a shortened term, students are expected to devote more time each week to the class in order to accomplish the same course outcomes. The time required each week depends on the length of the term:

2 credit hour class
(> 90 hours total) / 3 credit hour class
(> 135 hours total) / 4 credit hour class
(> 180 hours total)
1 week intersession / At least 90 hours per week, or 13 hours per day, including weekends / At least 135 hours per week, or 19 hours per day, including weekends / Not offered
2 week intersession / At least 45 hours per week, or 6.5 hours per day, including weekends / At least 67.5 hours per week, or 10 hours per day, including weekends / At least 90 hours per week, or 13 hours per day, including weekends
3 week intersession / At least 30 hours per week, or 4 hours per day, including weekends / At least 45 hours per week or 6 hours per day, including weekends / At least 60 hours per week, or 8.5 hours per day, including weekends

Note: these time commitments are estimates for an average student in an average class. The actual time a student needs to devote to a class depends on the student’s individual needs and the particular class’ structure.

Before students register for an intersession class, they should ask themselves:

  • Am I prepared for the time commitment and pace of the class?
  • Make a schedule for the 2 or 3 weeks of the course detailing, in 30 minute increments, all of your activities (work, travel time, kids, errands, class time, homework, etc.). Do you have the 6 – 13 hours per day (depending on intersession length) required for the course?
  • Consider “distractions” that are likely to come up during intersession. Are you moving? Changing jobs? Dealing with family or medical issues? Planning holiday activities? Classwork will be required every day, including weekends. Falling behind by even just one day might put you so far behind that you cannot catch up.
  • Am I prepared for the content of the course?
  • If the class has a pre-requisite, consider your familiarity with that material. Given the pace of the intersession class, you won’t have time to learn the background materialwhen it is needed in the course.
  • Have you taken similar classes in high school or college? If you did well in them, then you are likely to do well in the intersession course. If you struggled, then the intensity of an intersession class might not be a good fit for you.
  • Do you have any familiarity with the course content? The pace of the intersession might be difficult if the concepts are brand new for you. Then again, some students thrive when immersed in one class with the intensity of the intersession. Given your knowledge of your own learning style, do you think this structure will be a good fit for you?
  • Am I prepared for the delivery style of the course?
  • If the class is online: have you ever taken an online course before? Are you familiar with CNM Learn/Blackboard and any publisher software being used in the class? You will need to hit the ground running when the course starts; you won’t have time to spend learning to navigate the course before needing to learn the course material.
  • If the class is face-to-face: are you prepared to attend every class period in full, and do homework between class meetings? Course material often builds during the semester; during intersession, this happens quickly. Missing one hour of class, or failing to do homework one night, could impede your ability to understand the subsequent material, putting you even farther behind in the course.
  • Don’t assume the class is self-paced. Even online classes typically have strict schedules with deadlines. If you have concerns about the course schedule, talk to your instructor before the course starts, rather than waiting until there is a problem.
  • Do I have a back-up plan to handle technology problems?
  • Computers can crash, and internet access or power can go out. If that happens to you, do you have another way to access the class? If you plan to take an online class during the intersession, you will need access to CNM Learn every day, even if you have technical difficulties.
  • Am I fully committed to completing this course?
  • Intersession is short, and the deadlines for dropping intersession classes reflect that. Depending on the length of intersession, the last day to drop without a “W” being recorded on your transcript might be the first day of the class, and the last day to drop even with a “W” may be only a few days into the term. Make sure you understand the drop deadlines before registering for the class, and, if you have any concerns about the class when it begins, be sure to talk with your instructor about those concerns right away.