Students taking accelerated courses must absorb new material much more quickly than with traditional classes.
In a traditional college setting, accelerated classes offer a number of advantages to college students and professors alike. Accelerated classes are classes that cover the same amount of material as a traditional semester-long class, but do so in a much shorter period of time. These classes can last anywhere from a few weeks to just one week, depending on the nature of the course and the time slots available.
Quick Course Completion
One of the primary advantages of accelerated classes in a traditional college setting is that students can complete courses much more quickly and move on to the next course of study. Depending upon the length of the course and the other courses that the student may be taking, students may be able to fit several of these additional accelerated programs into one semester. For instance, students at Tulsa Community College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, can take traditional classes in a Monday-Wednesday-Friday or Tuesday-Thursday format throughout the week and then take an accelerated Friday-Saturday course for eight weeks. Students can also take all-day, weeklong accelerated courses during scheduled college breaks such as in the intervening period between the fall and spring semesters.
Saving Money
Although students generally pay for college courses on a per credit hour basis, taking accelerated college courses can save money over the long haul. Tuition costs may be essentially the same because the credit hours remain the same for the degree program as a whole, but taking accelerated courses in a traditional college setting can help to eliminate cost of living expenses. Students having to pay for room and board, along with other fees associated with living on campus, may find it advantageous to take accelerated classes in order to complete their degree quickly, move off campus and begin working in their chosen career field. While they may still have to pay rent or a mortgage payment, car payments and other expenses, having a degree in hand more quickly increases earning potential in both the short- and long-term. This allows students to begin paying off college loans sooner and accumulate surplus funds much sooner as well.
Retention of Course Material
One of the primary problems with traditional college courses is that they are spread out over a 15- or 16-week schedule. Students generally attend class 1, 2 or 3 days a week and the material in the course is disseminated very slowly over this four-month span of time. In some instances, this can hinder student learning. Students are rarely able to devote the needed effort and concentration for those courses that they are taking because they are usually taking several other classes at the same time. With an accelerated course, students can concentrate almost exclusively on that course (depending on what other courses are also being taken) and absorb the material much more quickly. This can be a disadvantage to those students who do not learn quickly, but many students will adapt when faced with the dilemma of needing to learn fast. Accelerated courses give students the opportunity to quickly learn what is necessary for the course, study the material and take their examinations, before pushing the material to the back of their mind for later reference. Because many students "cram" when studying rather than plan for long-term retention, accelerated classes can prove to be the ultimate cramming solution.
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