What You Need to Know about Accelerated Online Courses
As an online student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, you can choose between accelerated 8-week courses and traditional 16-week courses when building your schedule.
By providing 8-week courses, the University gives you the opportunity to start classes sooner and complete your degree faster.
Benefits of Accelerated Courses
A traditional semester lasts 16 weeks. In the fall and spring, UL Lafayette offers both regular courses and accelerated 8-week courses, split into Term A and Term B.
This structure allows you to focus on fewer courses at a time. For instance, you could take one 3-credit class in Term A and another in Term B to maintain a half-time, 6-credit course load without juggling them all at once.
What to Expect
An accelerated course covers the same material as a 16-week course, but in half the time. That means you'll need to dedicated more hours each week to keep pace.
Health Services Administration graduate Sarah Beard says the accelerated format made earning her degree possible while working full time and caring for her family.
“The eight-week courses were one of the main factors I was drawn to,” she says. “Being full-time can feel like a lot to keep up with, but I was able to do two classes each eight weeks and still maintain full-time status. It just makes the workload more manageable.”
Because these courses move quickly, you should be mindful of your schedule. Talk to your advisor before scheduling more than two accelerated courses at a time and about how to balance accelerated courses with traditional 16-week courses.
How to Succeed
- Start strong. Log in to Moodle the first day of class. Look for any announcements, review the syllabus, and note all weekly deadlines.
- Stay connected. Check your University email and Moodle every day to stay on top of course announcements and interact with classmates.
- Speak up early. If you don't understand something, whether it's the course layout, your instructor's expectations, or a particular assignment, ask right away. In an 8-week course, there's no time to wait and see.
- Use your resources. If you're struggling, tap into 24/7 live online tutoring.
What to Know about Financial Aid
Even as an online student, you can apply for financial aid. Make sure you understand the enrollment requirements tied to your financial aid package before registering. Knowing how many courses you need to take to maintain eligibility can help you plan your semester without surprises.
If you receive Pell grants or loans, it's important to schedule your A-term and B-term courses at the same time. This ensures your aid is applied to the entire semester, not just one term.
Have questions about your aid? Email faonline@louisiana.edu. Include your ULID and the semester you’re asking about so the financial aid team can respond quickly and accurately.
If you encounter hurdles at any point as your time as a UL Lafayette online student, reach out to our Online Student Support Team. They can help answer questions or direct you to the right resources.
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