Course Schedule Types

Cortland Course Section Instructional Types

Some of the following course types may be cross-walked to specific SUNY instructional types.

Activity (A): describes a course where there is participation or performance of a physical activity. Faculty instruction is provided, and instructional content is focused on the performance of the activity.
Co-Operative Education (C): Formally recognized as an academic program integrating classroom learning and productive paid work experiences in a field related to a student’s academic and career goals. Co-op provides students with progressive learning experiences integrating theory and practice and serves as a partnership among students, educational institutions, and employers. This type of education is directly tied to a career and is always paid.
Lecture (L): describes instruction where new material is presented by the instructor(s) with or without some discussion, but discussion is not the primary purpose of the meeting.
Seminar (F): describes instruction where a relatively small group of students are presented with some new material and students are asked to prepare and present material for further discussion.
Recitation/Discussion (R): describes instruction where a subset of students from a larger lecture section meet to review, discuss or be tested on material previously presented in the lecture; presentation of new material is not the purpose of this meeting.
Research (H): Mentored, self-directed work that enables students to make an original, intellectual, or creative contribution to the discipline by exploring an issue of interest to them and communicating the results to others. The projects involve inquiry, design, investigation, discovery, and application. (SUNY Attribute)
Laboratory (B): describes instruction where a group of individuals under supervision are presented new material in a setting with facilities, instruments or equipment specific to the purpose of the meeting.
Independent Study (I): describes instruction where a student works with minimal instruction or direction (e.g., music practice study, independent research, etc.).
Studio (E): describes instruction where outside preparation by the student is expected and where equipment/facilities specific to the instruction is often required.
Field Work / Practicum (K): describes instruction in a supervised clinical/medical, social work, or school setting where students have an opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired.
Observation (M): describes instruction where students observe, evaluate, and apply assessment techniques.
Student Teaching (J): describes a supervised learning experience where a student applies knowledge and techniques gained in the classroom in a formal school setting.
Internship (N): describes instruction in a mentored setting where students have an opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge they have acquired in a field directly related to the program of study.
Workshop (W): described an intensive non-credit experience where instructional content is specific to a group need, often concentrating on the development of specific skills to fulfill specific professional or occupational requirements.

The following section types are inactive/retired, and should not be used in current course sections:

Distance Education (D)
Programmed Instruction (Q)
Self-Paced (S)

Specialized SUNY Course Section Type Attributes

Service Learning (SLRN): A teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Students are not paid for service learning but section is credit bearing.
Research/Fieldwork (RSRC): Mentored, self-directed work that enables students to make an original, intellectual, or creative contribution to the discipline by exploring an issue of interest to them and communicating the results to others. The projects involve inquiry, design, investigation, discovery, and application.
Leadership (LEAD): An attribute used to describe a course section whose content has been specifically designed to develop or strengthen the student’s capacity to lead effectively.
Entrepreneurship (ENT): Students in an entrepreneurship program develop a broad-based entrepreneurial skill relevant to any organization – start-up, established, and for and not-for-profit – in an industry. Entrepreneurship involves consistently thinking and acting in ways designed to uncover new opportunities that are then applied to provide value.
Honors (HNRS): Honors courses are offered to students enrolled in Honors programs and colleges. Because Honors courses are often taught in a seminar format, class size is usually small. Honors courses vary widely insofar as they span the academic disciplines; however, they often incorporate learning outcomes that focus on developing effective skills in research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and written and oral communication--skills that are essential for creating sophisticated scholarly works.
Writing Intensive (WRIT): A course section attribute to describe when the majority or entirety of the requirements for successful completion of the section involve the student’s completing multi-page writing assignments such as journal entries, reports, essays, research papers, etc. At Cortland, WRIT courses have additional, specific requirements.
Community Service (CSVC): Volunteerism and community service performed by students for community benefit. This service is not necessarily tied to learning outcomes or a particular program of study. This may include structured projects (days of service), smaller group projects, fund-raising events, or individual volunteerism, which is acknowledged by the campus.
Civic Engagement (CVEG): A teaching and learning focus on educating students as citizens. Classes or programs include meaningful civic education and activities for social good. Classes and projects have components of reflection and engagement.