Concept
In higher education a course is a unit of teaching that typically lasts one academic term, is led by one or more instructors (teachers or professors), and has a fixed roster of students. A course usually covers an individual subject. Courses generally have a fixed program of sessions every week during the term, called lessons or classes. Students may receive a grade and academic credit after completion of the course. Courses can either be compulsory material or "elective". An elective is usually not a required course, but there are a certain number of non-specific electives that are required for certain majors. The entire collection of courses required to complete an academic degree is called a program (or programme) of studies. The term is used in various countries, such as Vietnam, Canada, Nigeria, and the United States. In India, the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore, as well as parts of Canada, the word "unit" or "module" would be used to refer to an academic course as used in North America and the rest of Europe. In the Philippines, a course can be an individual subject (usually referred to by faculty and school officials) or the entire programme (usually referred to by students and outsiders). Courses are made up of individual sessions, typically on a fixed weekly schedule. There are different formats of course in universities: the lecture course, where the instructor gives lectures with minimal interaction; the seminar, where students prepare and present their original written work for discussion and critique; the colloquium or reading course, where the instructor assigns readings for each session which are then discussed by the members; the tutorial course, where one or a small number of students work on a topic and meet with the instructor weekly for discussion and guidance. the Directed Individual Study course, where a student requests to create and title an area of study for themselves which is more concentrated and in-depth than a standard course.