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Class / Prof Expectations

randomuser
edited September 2008 in General
What do you think is a reasonable work load for a class?

I have a 300 level class right now and the outline says I should be spending 10-12 hours a week, on this one three credit class.

I understand there should be some difference between upper and lower division...but 10-12 hours a week? Is it just me or does that seem unreasonable?

Comments

  • randomuser
    edited September 2008
    FYI, if anyone wants a real GPA Booster take SOC 358 via DE taught by Travers. This was the EASIEST four credit class I have taken in my university life. As long as you can write essays, this class was the shit. I've taken and done worse in three credit classes and spent more time working / studying in them then I did in this class.
  • Iran1988
    edited September 2008
    Depends on the subject...

    Im taking both Math and Chem right now (Along with CMNS and Eng) and I would say that I expect a huge work load from the first two, and not even half as much from the latter 2.
  • randomuser
    edited September 2008
    Im talking about an arts class with no quantitative content. Even then I wouldnt spend more than 5 hours a week or so on science classes I had taken. When I did I would do an hour a day each week day so I could keep things memorized.

    Either way...taking a full course load, if 10-12 hours is the norm, do they realistically expect me to take 50-60 hours of studytime a week...?

    I'm just curious how they decide on what merit some classes are four credits and some are three credits...besides the obvious three hours in class time a week / four hours in class time a week.

    The distinction becomes blurred in DE classes, then how are you figuring out if its 3 or 4 credits?
  • primexx
    edited September 2008
    they always say you need to work x hours a week, do you actually? the answer for most people is probably 'rarely'.
  • randomuser
    edited September 2008
    thats true, but ive never had something in the guide actually suggest this much time, ive had ones that said 5-6 hours a week but never this high

    and if the instructor says it should be this much time, for a three credit course, what is the criteria for choosing 3 vs 4 credits?
  • xxk1nky
    edited September 2008
    Yikes, 10-12 hours a week? Seems a bit much, doesn't it? Is this the course that you're writing a 500-page paper for!?

    PS. I love Ann Travers! She's an awesome Sociology prof. I think she's gonna start teaching [in lecture] again next semester. Can't wait!
  • randomuser
    edited September 2008
    oh it was actually 500 word, only catch was it was due first week

    but no its a different class, which i imagine ill be spending no more than 2-3 hours a week for, when you work full time there is just no possible way you can devote 10-12 hours for one class
  • Kevin M.Kevin M.
    edited September 2008
    I think the recommended amount that you should spend on a specific class is very subjective and also vary's according to individual strengths and interests. For example, some people love doing calculus problems all the time so they even do extra ones whereas some people do the minimum. Arts classes are pretty easy from what I've seen though...maybe there is a lot of reading?
  • Shi2
    edited September 2008
    My ancient philosophy class has too much reading for me. I think it was around 80 pages from 1st to 2nd week.
  • 1ftw1ftw
    edited September 2008
    communications classes are worse.
  • randomuser
    edited September 2008
    80 pages? i had a course where i was doing up to 150 a week, to be fair it was four credits though
  • DaNoobie
    edited September 2008
    reading is optional in philosophy imho
  • Makall
    edited September 2008
    The philosophy book I had wasn't even a textbook. It was just a giant collection of publications by famous philosophers so reading it was pointless since most of it made no sense. Just study the in-class notes.

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