Types of Courses

The Seattle Colleges offer many different types of eLearning courses, ranging from courses offered exclusively online to correspondence courses.

Online Courses
Coursework for online courses is generally completed over the Internet, within a quarterly timeframe. You will be given textbook reading and lesson assignments. Online study groups, student discussion forums, and contact with your instructor via email will enhance your learning experience. Some courses may require limited on-campus visits; please check the individual course description.

Washington Online Courses (WAOL)
Washington Online is a cooperative effort of Washington State's community and technical colleges to deliver coordinated online instruction. A team of faculty members representing several community colleges develops Washington Online courses. You will register and earn credit through Seattle Colleges, though the instructor may be a faculty member at another Washington State college.

Self-Paced Courses
Self-Paced courses are conducted online. The coursework is self-paced and students have up to 6 months to complete. These courses are ideal for students who need a late start course or who have an irregular schedule.

Teleweb Courses
Online instruction is combined with weekly programs broadcast on cable television. Each course includes a professionally produced television series hosted by one of our faculty, who personalizes the course content for local students. Each course also has an online component to enhance student understanding and participation.

Interactive Multi-site Courses (ITV)
ITV courses are broadcast to and from Seattle colleges (or around the world) via two-way live interactive teleconferencing. Students from different campuses see and interact with one another and their instructor in specially designed classrooms. Instructors may visit each participating Seattle college.

Hybrid Courses
Hybrid online courses provide students with the scheduling flexibility of fewer campus visits while covering the same materials as an equivalent class held entirely on campus. Hybrid online classes usually have at least one on-campus meeting per week combined with a "virtual classroom" website incorporating regular communications with the instructor and other students (through a bulletin board discussion), online content and lessons, and interactive Web-based activities. These courses often use on-campus exams as assessment tools.