Three Colleges Unlike All the Others
By: Daniel Kane
Lots of people perform better when allowed to focus on one task at a time.
Generally, these people would rather face a single, highly challenging task than two or three simpler ones.
It should be no surprise that these same folks almost always adapt well to a one-course-at-a-time calendar, particularly if they are enrolled in a degree program while juggling family, professional, and/or other responsibilities. For that reason, online degree programs are often offered in a one-course-at-a-time format.
But, you might be surprised to learn that three traditional colleges offer the same structure. One is Colorado College, a highly selective institution which adopted what it calls the Block Plan in 1970. The Block plan divides the academic year into eight terms, each three and a half weeks long. Depending on the material to be covered, students may take a single course for one block, two blocks, or more.
Cornell College in Iowa, not to be confused with the university of the same name in New York State, features what it calls the one-course-at-a-time academic calendar, which also utilizes eight terms of three and a half weeks.
Tusculum College's "focused calendar" also divides each semester into four terms of three and one half weeks, with a four day vacation at the conclusion of each. Students may also take one-course-at-a-time during one or more of three optional summer terms.
Colorado College, Cornell, and Tusculum have many differences. Colorado College is the most selective, and draws more students from greater distances than do Cornell and Tusculum. Tusculum is significantly less expensive than the others. Colorado Springs, Mt. Vernon, and Greeneville are as different as can be, and the campus environments at the three institutions feature substantial, obvious differences. What is the same at the three colleges is their belief that a one-course-at-a-time calendar provides students with multiple advantages which include the freedom to take field trips without worrying about schedule conflicts, the opportunity to focus on and gain the most in-depth knowledge of a subject, and the time to extend class discussions or laboratory based projects at will.
If you like the idea of taking one course at a time and the advantages of a block plan appeal to you, you should check out one or more of these unique colleges.
Article Source: http://www.ezarticles.info
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