What's the workload of a typical college class?

[Shadow Conception]

In freshman year of high school, I mean, typically we'd have pages from a textbook assigned in math, in-depth question sheets on Romeo and Juliet, giant packets for bio, and etc. And then we'd also have to study constantly for quizzes, tests, exams and stuff. Most of the time, my homework took me anywhere from 2-4 hours.

How does college homework differ?

 

[Ns1]

what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

 

[purbeast0]

highschool was a completely joke compared to college. my senior year of highschool i was taking 3 ap classes, and i would have homework like 2 nights out of the whole week. i would find time in school to do the work.

college on the otherhand, you have to do a lot more "learning" on your own, and if you don't, you are screwed. freshman year i learned that you cant put stuff off to the last day like you could do no problem in highschool.

 

[ViviTheMage]

High school was a lot of busy work...college is more papers, and exams....gotta study for those if you want to get good grades though.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

My rule of thumb was always an hour per credit but, I often exceeded that.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
My rule of thumb was always an hour per credit but, I often exceeded that.

a day/week/month/year???

WTF is with the vague posts today.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

That's the path I took....and I ended up with an EE degree. So that tells you.....

In all seriousness though....high school is a joke when you compare it to college.

 

[bonkers325]

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

do this if you want to be a mediocre student. if you have any aspirations at all, you'll do everything with moderation.

expect to spend an hour on homework for every credit you are taking.

 

[Vehemence]

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

Pretty much.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: bonkers325

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

do this if you want to be a mediocre student. if you have any aspirations at all, you'll do everything with moderation.

expect to spend an hour on homework for every credit you are taking.

really depends on your intelligence er, "style of learning"

you have guys that can do homework hours upon hours on end and never get it, and you got guys who can cram and do fine

that said, I would do a little bit more work on your core classes (accounting for me) and follow the above guideline for your GE's

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: bonkers325

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

do this if you want to be a mediocre student. if you have any aspirations at all, you'll do everything with moderation.

expect to spend an hour on homework for every credit you are taking.

really depends on your intelligence er, "style of learning"

you have guys that can do homework hours upon hours on end and never get it, and you got guys who can cram and do fine

Also, you have people that study their ass off....get all A's....but still know jack about what they studied. They just collapse in the real world.

 

[darkxshade]

The typical workload for a freshman is about about 3 beers a day and a joint every other day followed by 3 hours of an FPS of your choice.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
The typical workload for a freshman is about about 3 beers a day and a joint every other day followed by 3 hours of an FPS of your choice.

lol

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
The typical workload for a freshman is about about 3 beers a day and a joint every other day followed by 3 hours of an FPS of your choice.

Ah man....so many wasted hours on CS!!!!!

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The typical college workload seems to be about 3-4 bowls for every hour of homework. That may have just been my school though...

 

[mundane]

It varies by course. Most of my mandatory Liberal Arts courses Ns1 nailed with his description. Math and science tended to require 1-6 hours per week. CS courses varied, but one in particular peaked @ 30 / week during a crunch; typical was 6-10 hours.

 

[Drakkon]

For anything like psyc/sociology/human studies multiple by 2 times credit hour
For anything business related multiply by 3 times the number of credit hours
For anything English related multiply by 3 unless you suck as BSing then multiply by 5
For anything math/science related figure multiply by 4 per credit hour
Anything else multiply by 3 time number of remaining credit hours
Sum together and that is how long you should be studying (according to your professors and the university)
Divide the sum for all the classes by 2 for reality sake - that is how long you should probably spend each week studying and on homework.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: mundane
It varies by course. Most of my mandatory Liberal Arts courses Ns1 nailed with his description. Math and science tended to require 1-6 hours per week. CS courses varied, but one in particular peaked @ 30 / week during a crunch; typical was 6-10 hours.

I remember my data structure class. That turned into a 40 hr a week full time job. I learned nothing from it. It was just me spinning my wheel for 8 hrs a day. It was at that point I said FU Computer Engineering...I am an EE now...and I amazingly enough ended up with a C in that class even though i learned absolutely nothing.

 

[udneekgnim]

skipped all posts in between opening post so this might have already been mentioned

but college workload depends on a person's major

 

[Deeko]

I had more "work" to do in high school, but seeing as I had already done more work during the course of things I then spent a lot less time studying.


I didn't really think college was that much more work than high school - just work in in a different way.

 

[PrinceofWands]

It depends a lot on you (how smart, study habits, reading speed, etc) and a lot on what you're taking (quantum physics or business admin), and also where you go (community college or Reed).

The general suggestion from colleges is one hour of study outside of class per credit per week at a minimum. That's often higher for labs, and definitely higher at rigorous institutions.

Here's a typical workload for a low-midrange school for a 5 credit class on the quarter system (ie you have 11 weeks)...multiply this by 3-4 for the full workload:

Objective Exams: Primarily this is a writing class, synthesis essays are the major source of evaluation. Two or three objective exams will be given as a way for you and the instructor to check retention of the course material. These exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and short essay questions.

Short Essays: This writing is a way for you to analyze theories, research, and concepts ? as well as to express your thoughts, feelings, and critical insights concerning Abnormal Psychology and prepare for class discussion. Short Synthesis essays will be written about the concepts and theories addressed in the course textbooks and classroom presentation. They must include a thesis statement with support using the assigned weekly readings, including analysis of specific concepts or theories, personal experiences or observations, speculations, as well as applications and explorations that are outlined in lecture and reading assignments for the week. These writings should not be confused with personal "Diary Type" information about self. The instructor will give specific questions and/or assignments for your Short Synthesis Essays. These entries are your preparation for classroom discussion and reveals to the instructor that you are critically engaging the readings. Short Essays must be a minimum of two (2) word-processed pages, and you are strongly encouraged to write more. One Short Essay per week is required unless otherwise assigned, late Essays will receive less or no credit. Number and date each entry, if an assigned entry, title it. The instructor will read these Essays and return them to you promptly.

Research Paper: One 12 to 15 page research essay will be developed during the quarter with a Paper completed paper due in the last week of class. More than a report of research on a specific topic, your paper must have a point of view. That is, you are to develop a perspective (an argument) on a particular abnormal psychological issue, theory, or disorder; and investigate the available research to support this. Thesis Statement Example: Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personality) is an erroneous diagnosis that originates in the patient as a result of the suggestions made by the psychiatric professionals providing treatment. As well, you will include connections to related literature and/or film. Additionally, make sure to address the research of opposing perspectives. A timeline with due dates will be handed out in the first week of instruction. In the final week of instruction you will be asked to present the findings of your research to the class - Additional information and guidance will be provided. Get started right away. (Also required: Annotated bibliography and First draft.)

Texts/Readings: 1-2 textbooks (average 200-600 pages), about 1/2 - 2/3 of which are covered. 2-4 additional books (usually under 200 pages). Any number of handouts, journal articles, etc.

 

[esun]

For math/science/engineering courses, college homework is weekly, while high school homework is usually daily. That means you'll likely spend many hours the day before cranking out homework solutions. Nobody really studies except before exams, which are 2-3 times per semester (and in some rare cases up to 5 times).

For english/philosophy/history and other paper-writing courses, you just have to pay attention in lecture (you're also supposed to do the reading, but I never did it myself) and write papers a few times in the semester.

Generally, on a daily basis, the workload is much less than that of high school. The work, however, will be harder, and some days can be much worse than high school.

 

[ric1287]

less work, but the work is usually harder.

In my 3 years I've realized I can apply myself 100% to get an A or do the absolute bare minimum and get a B or C. Guess which I choose

 

[Insomniator]

Originally posted by: Ns1
what homework?

cram 24-48 hours before tests

do papers the night before

drink/party/etc all other days

This is exactly what I did, IT degree at Rutgers, 3.9 GPA, finished this summer.

Really depends on the school, field and student. IT at Rutgers was a complete joke, as are most fields here. Roommate however did dental and studied his ass off much of the time. Even with that workload, you still drink/smoke/party at least 3 nights a week.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: esun
For math/science/engineering courses, college homework is weekly, while high school homework is usually daily. That means you'll likely spend many hours the day before cranking out homework solutions. Nobody really studies except before exams, which are 2-3 times per semester (and in some rare cases up to 5 times).

For english/philosophy/history and other paper-writing courses, you just have to pay attention in lecture (you're also supposed to do the reading, but I never did it myself) and write papers a few times in the semester.

Generally, on a daily basis, the workload is much less than that of high school. The work, however, will be harder, and some days can be much worse than high school.

Patently untrue. You would have flunked out of school if you'd tried that, even at my community college. I've taken a lot of math and science so I could earn additional teaching endorsements, even though I'm a history major with poli-sci minor. The workloads for the two are different, but on a class by class basis the history and poli-sci took far more time. Not harder, just more time consuming. Reading 3-8 assigned texts, tons of papers (some up to 40 pages), dozens of additional sources required on every paper, etc.

The more I hear this the more I think it must be entirely school dependent. Perhaps schools which focus on science/engineering hire all fluff teachers for social sciences and humanities, because it seems to be a commonly held belief by those that attended them. In a liberal arts school, however, I've found that they are equal, or if anything the math/sciences are easier (or at least less time consuming).