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course : a number of lectures or other matter dealing with a subject — Webster See also Oxford, OneLook, Free Dictionary, Wiktionary, InfoPlease, Word Reference, Urban Dictionary

Encyclopedia

Course , in higher education in Canada and the United States, 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. It is usually an individual subject. Students may receive a grade and academic credit after completion of the course.

In the United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore, as well as parts of Canada, a course is the entire programme of studies required to complete a university degree, and the word “unit” or “module” would be used to refer to an academic course as it is referred to in North America.

In between the two, in South Africa, a course officially is the collection of all courses (in the American sense, these are often called “modules”) over a year or semester, though the American usage is common. 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 in American universities are usually on a time constraint. Some courses are only a few weeks long, one semester long, last an academic year (two semesters), and even three semesters long. A course is usually specific to the students’ major and is instructed by a professor. For example, if a person is taking an organic chemistry course, then the professor would teach the students organic chemistry and how it applies to their life and or major. Courses can also be referred to as “electives”. An elective is usually not a required course, but there are a certain number of non-specific electives that are required for certain majors. — Wikipedia

Britannica, Columbia (Infoplease)