3.2 Program Format
Students enter the program as a cohort of students who enroll together in the prescribed sequence of courses. Students are physically on campus three times per year—one week in the fall, one week in the spring, and one week in the summer. Seminar weeks will ordinarily occur in October, March, and June. Due to the time-compressed nature of the on-campus seminar experience, attendance is required at every session to receive credit for the course.
Students will be involved in online interactions related to each seminar. These cohort dialogues are required and are part of the student’s grade for each course. Dialogues will normally begin approximately six weeks before the scheduled face-to-face seminar. Follow-up online discussions are also required and will normally take place for six weeks after the seminar. This model enables students to benefit from both types of interactions while maintaining the highest standards of academic quality. Students participate in online discussions and other learning activities led by both the professor and fellow students. On-campus interactions involve open dialogue in face-to-face seminar sessions led by expert faculty members.
Using the mediated learning model described above, each course has three learning components:
- Pre-Seminar Component: During the course weeks prior to each seminar, students complete readings and other pre-seminar assignments. During this component of the course, students are required to participate for a minimum of three hours (per seminar) each week in online discussions led by the professor.
- Face-to-face Component: Seminars will be conducted on campus or at an approved extension site using an accelerated format. Each seminar will consist of 24 hours of face-to-face seminar instruction. Research seminars will engage students in critical reflection with the seminar content.
- Post-Seminar Component: During the course weeks following the face-to-face component of the seminar, students complete post-seminar readings and research. Students will also participate three hours each week in online discussions led by the professor or students in the cohort.