Class Formats | South Suburban College

Classes are offered in a variety of formats. These are sometimes called modes of delivery or course delivery methods. SSC offers options for learning in-person, online, or a combination of both in-person and online. Each method offers students a unique experience and you can select the format that works best for your individual preferences.

Below is information to help you understand the types of formats offered and how to identify what’s best for you when you’re building your class schedule.

Compare Class Formats

	% Of Classes In-Person/On Campus	Scheduled Class Times	Same Location as Instructor	Choice of How to Attend Class	Suitable for Remote Students	Distance Learning Fee	Tuition Rate
FULLY ON-CAMPUS
In-Person	100%	X	X				Based on Residency
FULLY ONLINE
Virtual (Synchronous)	0%	X			X	X	In-District
Online (Asynchronous)	0%				X	X	In-District
COMBINATION OF IN-PERSON AND ONLINE
Flex	0-100% Your Choice!	X	Your Choice!	X	X	X	Based on Residency
Blended	25-75%	X	X			X	Based on Residency

Class Format Details

In-Person

Traditional courses are standard in-person courses where the instructor and students gather face-to-face in an on-campus classroom at a scheduled time. Courses with labs may meet for a longer amount of time. All lectures and exams will be in person and on campus.

Blended

Courses with a mixture of both in-person and online formats are “Blended.” There is a scheduled class time, but you’ll spend some days in the classroom, and some days in an online learning space. Blended courses are at least 25% in person, but the exact percentage will vary from course to course. Students can expect that at least 1/4 of the course contact hours are synchronous.

Flex

Courses with a mixture of both in-person and virtual formats in the “Learn Anywhere” format are Flex courses. They are taught from an on-site classroom at a scheduled time and students can attend live in-person or via live webcast technology. Students have the choice how they would like to attend.

Virtual

In the “Virtual Instruction” format, the instructor and students meet face-to-face via a live video call at a scheduled time. Classes are synchronous, meaning the classes take place in real-time with the instructor and students interacting at the same time but in different locations.

Online

Online classes require no time on campus. Activities are asynchronous, meaning there is no scheduled class meeting time, but there are still due dates for assignments and assessments. Students can expect 100% of the course contact hours to be online.