3.2 Program Format
Students enter the program as a cohort of students who progress together through 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 course. These cohort discussions are required and are part of the student’s grade for the class. Discussions will take place during the weeks before and after the campus seminar experience. This model enables students to benefit from both online and face-to-face interactions while maintaining the highest standards of academic quality. Online discussions and other learning activities will be led by the professor. On-campus interactions involve open dialogue in face-to-face seminar sessions led by expert faculty members as well as discussions and presentations led by students.
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.