College Courses By The Type

While there are many benefits to attending College Courses rather than taking the university route, some of the most often mentioned include small class sizes, a balance between theory and practice of that theory and the opportunity to test out knowledge prior to graduation through an experience in the field.

At Centennial College, students — no matter their program of study — may attend three types of college courses: lectures, practical application courses and off-campus experiences. Let's take a closer look at all three.

Lectures: These college courses are designed to offer students insight into topics in their field by learning theory. However, unlike university courses even college courses that focus on the instructor lecturing at students offer opportunity for class discussions. That's because class sizes are small and a collaborative approach is encouraged. During lecture college courses, students may also learn by way of case studies, guest speakers and presentations. For example, in the Pharmacy Technician program, the college course called Community Practice Theory has a theoretical lecture base but also gives students the opportunity to complete a mandatory observation exercise in a community pharmacy practice setting. Opportunities in this college course are also provided for the development of proficiency through weekly quizzes, tests, simulations case studies and group exercises.

Practical Application: These college courses are extremely beneficial to students as they allow them to take theory and apply it in a controlled environment. Centennial College's college courses all have an aspect of practical application, which is further enhanced by the fact that facilities are built to accommodate this type of training. For example, students may work on case studies that encourage them to employ current research in the field and what they have learned in their college courses to come up with a solution to a real-life problem. Another example of a practical college course is lab work. This is especially applicable to courses within the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, which employ labs that are fully equipped for students to conduct experiments and test theory. Centennial College's practical college courses also use simulated environments to allow students hands-on application. For example, all college courses in the School of Transportation are carried out from Ashtonbee Campus, which not only houses mock auto mechanic shop facilities with real cars but also an airplane hangar for students of aviation programs. Another example of simulated environments that enhance college courses at Centennial College are the classrooms within Morningside Camps, the school's most technologically advanced location. They include a simulated massage therapy lab, hospital rooms, a spa and more.

Off-Campus: These college courses are available for a range of programs across all Schools of Study at Centennial College. They see students actually working in the field for a specific amount of time, applying what they have learned and gaining new insight from seasoned professionals. Depending on the program, this field college course may be paid or unpaid. It may also be completed during the school year or in between years of study. Students who partake in these work placement college courses are able to include the experience on their resumes, which puts them ahead of the competition.