Continuing Education Courses - Hybrid vs. Traditional

College has changed quite a bit from several decades ago, when the only courses available were those that took place in a traditional classroom. Granted, some schools had tele-courses, where the lectures were recorded and aired on a community channel at a certain time every week, but those were few and far between.

Luckily, college is an ever-evolving entity! Now, schools like Dean College offer a full range of options through our School of Continuing Studies, from online-only courses to traditional and hybrid options. When it comes time to choose between the latter two options (hybrid versus traditional), it helps to know exactly what each option consists of in order to choose the very best one for you and your schedule. So, let’s explore the wonderful world of hybrid versus traditional college course, and see what sparks your interest!

Hybrid Courses

Hybrid courses have a mixture of both in-person and online components. These courses meet in person at a specific time and day of the week for part of the semester, while the rest of the time is spent online, learning at your own pace while still meeting designated deadlines. Students turn in their assignments online and take advantage of the additional learning materials, such as readings, posted by their professors in their online classrooms. Hybrid courses are:

• Designed for students who can stay self-motivated throughout the online parts of the semester.
• Good for students who need to balance work, life, and school all at the same time.

Traditional Courses

A traditional course is exactly what everyone pictures when they think of college. These classes usually take place over the course of a semester, starting in September and ending in December. Students have to attend class in person at certain days and times of the week, and turn their papers and other assignments in during those class sessions. These courses are:

• Good for students who have some flexibility in their schedules and can attend classes in person.
• Ideal for people who need a professor in front of them all of the time in order to remain on schedule and stay accountable for themselves.
• Designed for students who like to interact with their professors and classmates in person.
• Sometimes held as night classes on one specific evening, freeing up the student’s time throughout the rest of the week.

Which Is Best for You?

The Dean College School of Continuing Studies offers a number of different program options in both of these formats. Students can earn a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree or a certificate in a specific subject through either traditional courses, hybrid courses or a mixture of both. Deciding which one will work best for you depends on your learning style, as well as your work and family schedules, and your ability to self-motivate. Some people find that hybrid courses work great, while others prefer to be in the classroom every week to stay motivated and accountable. Still others don’t mind either, so they sign up for a mix of both. It all comes down to finding which course style works best for you! Interested in learning more about all of Dean’s available options? Request more information, today.