college quarter system questions?

Question

my university is on the semester system and I was curious how the quarter system works.

1. Do they graduate early, since they are taking so many units? Or is the graduation unit requirement higher?
2. Do they take less classes per quarter? (our average is four classes per semester)
3. Do you think the quality of education suffers, as everything is "rushed?" or is just alot of material not covered in class, and it is alot more self-studying?

anything else to help me understand? thanks =)

Answer 1

I went all through college on the quarter system, but since becoming a faculty member, have only taught on semester system.

No, you don't graduate any earlier with quarter system. A normal load was 4 classes, but every school I've taught at had an average of 5 - still, that would be more, shorter classes. The requirements are just adjusted to fit with the 4-year program.

There are some things which can't be done easily in ten weeks, such as major field research projects, but I never really felt that I was missing anything. Certainly the quality doesn't suffer. Some outstanding schools are on the quarter system. I think you are probably right that you are expected to do more on your own. Basically, what usually happens is that in the semester system, there are some courses which barely manage to fit in enough material and some for which the professor has to stretch to find enough to cover an entire semester. The first type of course in a quarter system may be expanded to cover two courses, and the second type would work better in a quarter, rather than a semester.

Answer 2

we dont graduate early (most colleges on the quarter system get out early June or end of May) and we dont take less classes per quarter. Most students take about 4 per quarter and we do have a higher unit requirement.

I dont think the quality of education suffers at all. I think the quality of education is pretty much the same as what you will find at a school on the semester system but at a faster pace.

Answer 3

While a semester is usually 15 weeks, a quarter is normally ten weeks, so that when transfering quarter hours to a semester institution, they usually transfer at the exchange rate of three quarter credits equal to two semester credits.

Three quarters of English 101 three quarters at ten weeks each, equals 30 weeks. Two semesters of English 101 at 15 weeks each equals 30 weeks.

The number of credit-hours usually has to do with the number of hours of class time in a week are scheduled. So either way, two semesters of English three hours a week will give you six credits; three quarters of English three hours a week will give you nine credits but they both work out to thirty weeks a year, thus the exchange rate for quarter hours for semester hours.

Answer 4

It relies upon on what device the faculty makes use of. At my college, there are purely semesters and a pupil can sign in for the initiating of any semester. some colleges use 1 / 4 device. you will ought to study each and every individual college to make certain in case you are able to start on the different quarter as properly fall.