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Fall 2020 Schedule of Classes FAQ

Last Updated: August 26, 2020 4:04:03 PM PDT
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To help you plan and register for your Fall 2020 classes, find answers below to frequently asked questions about the schedule.

Note: Answers to questions are subject to change.

Expand all

Expand section In-Person vs. Fully Remote vs. Hybrid

Are all courses in the Fall 2020 Schedule of Classes fully remote?

No, courses will be delivered three different ways:

  1. in-person,
  2. remote, and
  3. hybrid
How do I know if a course is in-person, fully remote or hybrid?

In-Person

Every class meeting time for the course will have an on-campus building and room. The enrollment capacity of in-person classes will also not exceed 50 students.

Example 1: In-person lecture course
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, In Person lecture course listing

Example 2: In-person course with a lecture and discussion component
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, In Person lecture and discussion course listing

Fully Remote

Every class meeting time for the course will have a building name RCLAS listed. Classes will not meet in person.

Example 1: Remote lecture course
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, Remote lecture course listing

Example 2: Remote course with a lecture and discussion component
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, Remote lecture and discussion course listing

Hybrid

Class meeting times for a course will have a combination of an on-campus building and room assignment AND the building name RCLAS listed.

Example 1: In-person lecture component and remote discussion component
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, In-person lecture component and remote discussion component

Example 2: Remote lecture component and in-person discussion component
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, Remote lecture component and in-person discussion component

Example 3: Course meets Tuesdays in-person and Thursdays remotely
Screen shot example - UCSD Schedule of Classes, Course meets Tuesdays in-person and Thursdays remotely

What does the building name RCLAS mean?

The building RCLAS means remote class.

If a class has the building name RCLAS, it is either a fully remote or hybrid class. A room number assigned to RCLAS is a system requirement to ensure double bookings do not occur.

What does in-person mean?

In-person courses will be delivered on campus with students and instructors physically present in the classroom. However, all course materials must also be provided asynchronously for students to access anytime online. For example, lectures are provided in real time in the classroom, recorded and posted on Canvas along with all assignments and other course materials.

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

What does hybrid mean?

Hybrid is a combination of in-person sessions and remote sessions. Some course components are delivered on campus while other course components are delivered remotely. For example, a lecture component of a course could be taught in-person, but the discussion component could be taught remotely. All course materials, including components offered in-person, will be provided remotely for students to access anytime.

*Note: If plan to take biology classes in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

If I register for a hybrid course, how do I know how it is going to be taught?
In general, the building and room on the course will indicate whether the class section is offered remotely or if you need to be on-campus. If you're still unsure, you can reach out to the department offering the course for more information.
What does remote mean?

The class meets online. Instruction and all course materials are provided remotely and asynchronously. Courses will use software such as Canvas and Zoom to deliver content.

*Note: If you plan to take biology classes in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

Do I need to attend my remote class during the days and times listed on the course?

No, you don't need to be present during the day(s) and time(s) listed on the course.  The instructor may encourage you to engage in live (synchronous) activities but course material will be provided (asynchronously) for you to access later.

*Note: If you plan to take biology classes in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

What do asynchronous and synchronous mean?

  • Synchronous means the course will be taught by the instructor during the meeting days and times specified in the Schedule of Classes. You need to be available during those days and times to learn.

  • Asynchronous is when an instructor does not require you to meet at the specific days and times stated in the Schedule of Classes to learn the material. The instructor will give you a timeframe of when you need to learn and complete the assignments, but you manage when you set aside time to do this.

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

Expand section Course Planning

Am I required to take in-person and hybrid courses?
No, but we encourage you to.
Can I register for all remote classes?
Yes.
What if there are not enough remote classes for me to enroll in?

All course material will be available remotely, regardless of whether the course is taught in-person, hybrid, or fully remote. You can register for an in-person or hybrid course if necessary.

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

I don't know what my situation is going to be like in the fall. Should I register for courses now or wait?

It is best to register for your classes now. Register for classes you are most likely to attend under your current situation, and only register for in-person classes if you plan to attend in-person.

If you are unable to come to campus, all course material will be available remotely to you, regardless of whether the course is taught in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

What if I register for in-person and hybrid classes but find out later that I am not able to come to campus? Should I register for other courses?

Register for courses you are most likely to attend under your current situation. Only register for in-person classes if you plan to attend in person.

Course material will be available remotely to you, regardless of whether the course is taught in-person, hybrid, or fully remote.

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

What if I don't plan to be on-campus in the fall but all of my classes are in-person or hybrid?

With the exception of the following courses that are in-person only, course material will be available remotely to you, regardless of whether the course is taught in-person, hybrid or fully remote.

List of in-person classes that require students to be on campus (list is subject to change):

  • MAE 148

  • MUS 132R

  • MUS 132V

  • MUS 232

  • SIO 60

  • SIO 101

  • SIOB 296

  • TDAC 101

  • TDDE 131

  • TDGE 5

  • TDGE 25

  • TDMV 1

  • TDMV 3

*Note: If you plan to take biology courses in the fall, please find more information about this question on the Division of Biological Sciences' website.

What if a class I need to make progress towards my degree is only offered in-person and I do not plan to be on campus in the fall?
Please reach out to your college academic advisor or department advisor for further guidance.
Are changes to the Schedule of Classes still being made?
Yes, the schedule is still subject to change.

Expand section Class Sizes and Waitlists

Why is there an enrollment capacity limit on in-person and hybrid classes? Can exceptions be made?
To strictly enforce social distancing in the classroom, the enrollment capacity of in-person and hybrid meetings will not exceed 50 students. No exceptions will be made.
How will waitlists be handled for in-person, hybrid and remote classes?
The waitlist process will remain the same. The only difference during the Fall 2020 quarter is that in-person and hybrid classes cannot exceed an enrollment limit of 50 students.
Will class sizes be larger for remote classes?
Not necessarily. Academic departments and programs make that decision based on the availability of resources to support remote instruction.
If classes are all filled up, will more classes be added?
In general, departments offer as many classes as possible and schedule adjustments occur all the way through the first day of instruction. However, this is a department decision and it depends on whether they have the appropriate resources to support instruction.

Expand section Grading

Will I be able to take Fall 2020 classes for P/NP (undergraduate) or S/U (graduate) like I did in Spring 2020?
No. An exception was only made during the Spring 2020 quarter to help make the sudden transition to remote learning less stressful. If academic policies like this change in Fall 2020, you will be notified.

If you have questions, contact: