Academics
Types of Classes
Learn about the different types and styles of college courses, such as traditional, remote and hybrid.
Types of Classes
Traditional
Traditional courses are held face-to-face in a classroom with an instructor on scheduled days and times.Online
Classes conducted online through Canvas. 100% of teaching and learning occurs online without any face-to-face classroom, laboratory, clinical or field meeting time required.Remote
Remote courses consist of some or all class meetings held virtually on scheduled days and times and may include an online component.Hybrid
A hybrid course substitutes any portion of its face-to-face classroom, laboratory, clinical or field meeting time with an online component of teaching and learning.HyFlex
Class meetings will be a combination of traditional, online, and remote. Students are not required to attend traditional or remote class meetings. Students have the option to select how to receive instruction and may choose different types throughout the semester.Blended Flex
Class meetings are a combination of instructional modalities and vary by course. Students are provided some flexibility in selecting how they receive instruction, but all three types of classes are not available throughout the semester like the hyflex model. Students are not required to attend traditional class meetings on campus but may be required to attend remotely using Zoom.Traditional
Traditional courses are held face-to-face in a classroom with an instructor on scheduled days and times.Online
Classes conducted online through Canvas. 100% of teaching and learning occurs online without any face-to-face classroom, laboratory, clinical or field meeting time required.Remote
Remote courses consist of some or all class meetings held virtually on scheduled days and times and may include an online component.Hybrid
A hybrid course substitutes any portion of its face-to-face classroom, laboratory, clinical or field meeting time with an online component of teaching and learning.HyFlex
Class meetings will be a combination of traditional, online, and remote. Students are not required to attend traditional or remote class meetings. Students have the option to select how to receive instruction and may choose different types throughout the semester.Blended Flex
Class meetings are a combination of instructional modalities and vary by course. Students are provided some flexibility in selecting how they receive instruction, but all three types of classes are not available throughout the semester like the hyflex model. Students are not required to attend traditional class meetings on campus but may be required to attend remotely using Zoom.Course Information
Course Numbering System
All courses offered by Rend Lake College are identified by a prefix followed by a four-digit number (excluding Community Education). The purpose of such a numbering system is to facilitate record keeping and to provide an easy means of identifying various courses as to their degree of difficulty, general curriculum, etc.- The prefix indicates the broad subject area (i.e., mathematics).
- The first digit indicates the level.
- The second digit refers to the general curricular division.
- The last two digits indicate the sequential order within the program.
- Freshman-level courses generally begin with the digit “1” followed by three more digits.
- Most courses recommended for second-year studies begin with the digit “2” followed by three digits. The second digit may be interpreted thusly:
- Academic (Pre-Baccalaureate and Occupational) are traditional academic courses equivalent to the first two years (lower-division) of baccalaureate study and the academic courses in Occupational curricula.
- Technical / Applied (Pre-Baccalaureate / Occupational) courses are postsecondary technical or applied in nature. Although most were designed mainly for AAS degrees and occupational certificate programs, technical courses in certain fields (e.g., graphic arts, drafting, surveying, childcare) are acceptable in specific AA /AS degrees.
- Community Education non-credit courses.
- College Preparation courses are designed to remedy basic skill (i.e., reading, writing and arithmetic) deficiencies of high school graduates.
- General Studies courses are broad in nature and designed to meet individual student goals for personal improvement and self-understanding.
- Vocational Skills courses provide vocational skills training that is not part of occupational certificate or AAS degree programs.
- Adult Basic Education courses are designed to bring non-high school graduates to a competency of eighth-grade equivalency.
- Adult Secondary Education courses are designed to bring non-high school graduates to a competency of 12th-grade equivalency.
- English as a Second Language services are designed to help individuals who do not speak English as their native language develop English communication skills.
- The third digit in the four-digit sequence indicates prerequisites or degree of difficulty in an ascending order. In general, the fourth number will indicate first-semester work if it is an odd number and second-semester work if it is an even number.
Online Navigation Essentials - ONE 1500
Students must complete Online Navigation Essentials (ONE1500) to enroll in a course with an online component, such as an online or hybrid course. ONE 1500 is a self-paced, one-time online orientation with lessons and activities which provide necessary and essential skills for online learning. To learn more, please visit link below.Baccalaureate - Transfer Programs
Transfer programs at Rend Lake College are designed to provide students with the opportunity to complete the first two years of baccalaureate college programs. At the end of two years, credits from Rend Lake College may be transferred to a four-year institution without loss of time or credit.
Students who have not selected a four-year institution to attend after completion of the Associate in Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree, Associate in Fine Arts Degree or Associate in Engineering Science Degree can follow programs at RLC with assurance that most lower-division requirements will be met for most schools.
Students who already have selected a four-year institution to which they will be transferring should contact that school or consult that school’s catalog for any special information or recommendations regarding a particular program and its requirements. Assistance may be obtained from Rend Lake College’s advisement staff or from faculty advisors.
Requirements vary at different four-year institutions. To ensure articulation, the student should follow the sequence of courses recommended by the four-year institution. Also, the scheduling of classes may not be identical to the “ideal” programs suggested for varying reasons. Students are expected to arrange their actual schedule with the help of an advisor.
Career-Technical Programs
Career-Technical programs at Rend Lake College include those which lead to either an Associate in Applied Science Degree or an Occupational Certificate. To be effective, occupational programs of this nature must be job-oriented; therefore, these one- and two-year programs are designed to prepare students for entry into the working world immediately after successful completion of the required courses.
Program requirements in this section are for associate degree or occupational certificates from Rend Lake College only. These programs may not be geared for persons wishing to transfer credits to a four-year institution, although many of the courses and programs will transfer and have approved program articulation agreements in place. Students are encouraged to FOLLOW EXACTLY the desired program as indicated. However, students should consult with an advisor for any changes in scheduling which may be necessary due to scheduling conflicts, changes in program requirements, etc.
Course Numbering System
All courses offered by Rend Lake College are identified by a prefix followed by a four-digit number (excluding Community Education). The purpose of such a numbering system is to facilitate record keeping and to provide an easy means of identifying various courses as to their degree of difficulty, general curriculum, etc.- The prefix indicates the broad subject area (i.e., mathematics).
- The first digit indicates the level.
- The second digit refers to the general curricular division.
- The last two digits indicate the sequential order within the program.
- Freshman-level courses generally begin with the digit “1” followed by three more digits.
- Most courses recommended for second-year studies begin with the digit “2” followed by three digits. The second digit may be interpreted thusly:
- Academic (Pre-Baccalaureate and Occupational) are traditional academic courses equivalent to the first two years (lower-division) of baccalaureate study and the academic courses in Occupational curricula.
- Technical / Applied (Pre-Baccalaureate / Occupational) courses are postsecondary technical or applied in nature. Although most were designed mainly for AAS degrees and occupational certificate programs, technical courses in certain fields (e.g., graphic arts, drafting, surveying, childcare) are acceptable in specific AA /AS degrees.
- Community Education non-credit courses.
- College Preparation courses are designed to remedy basic skill (i.e., reading, writing and arithmetic) deficiencies of high school graduates.
- General Studies courses are broad in nature and designed to meet individual student goals for personal improvement and self-understanding.
- Vocational Skills courses provide vocational skills training that is not part of occupational certificate or AAS degree programs.
- Adult Basic Education courses are designed to bring non-high school graduates to a competency of eighth-grade equivalency.
- Adult Secondary Education courses are designed to bring non-high school graduates to a competency of 12th-grade equivalency.
- English as a Second Language services are designed to help individuals who do not speak English as their native language develop English communication skills.
- The third digit in the four-digit sequence indicates prerequisites or degree of difficulty in an ascending order. In general, the fourth number will indicate first-semester work if it is an odd number and second-semester work if it is an even number.
Online Navigation Essentials - ONE 1500
Students must complete Online Navigation Essentials (ONE1500) to enroll in a course with an online component, such as an online or hybrid course. ONE 1500 is a self-paced, one-time online orientation with lessons and activities which provide necessary and essential skills for online learning. To learn more, please visit link below.Baccalaureate - Transfer Programs
Transfer programs at Rend Lake College are designed to provide students with the opportunity to complete the first two years of baccalaureate college programs. At the end of two years, credits from Rend Lake College may be transferred to a four-year institution without loss of time or credit.
Students who have not selected a four-year institution to attend after completion of the Associate in Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree, Associate in Fine Arts Degree or Associate in Engineering Science Degree can follow programs at RLC with assurance that most lower-division requirements will be met for most schools.
Students who already have selected a four-year institution to which they will be transferring should contact that school or consult that school’s catalog for any special information or recommendations regarding a particular program and its requirements. Assistance may be obtained from Rend Lake College’s advisement staff or from faculty advisors.
Requirements vary at different four-year institutions. To ensure articulation, the student should follow the sequence of courses recommended by the four-year institution. Also, the scheduling of classes may not be identical to the “ideal” programs suggested for varying reasons. Students are expected to arrange their actual schedule with the help of an advisor.
Career-Technical Programs
Career-Technical programs at Rend Lake College include those which lead to either an Associate in Applied Science Degree or an Occupational Certificate. To be effective, occupational programs of this nature must be job-oriented; therefore, these one- and two-year programs are designed to prepare students for entry into the working world immediately after successful completion of the required courses.
Program requirements in this section are for associate degree or occupational certificates from Rend Lake College only. These programs may not be geared for persons wishing to transfer credits to a four-year institution, although many of the courses and programs will transfer and have approved program articulation agreements in place. Students are encouraged to FOLLOW EXACTLY the desired program as indicated. However, students should consult with an advisor for any changes in scheduling which may be necessary due to scheduling conflicts, changes in program requirements, etc.
