How Do I Know How Long My College Class Is?

I'm curious about college class durations because I'm thinking about scheduling my day. How do I find out the length of typical college classes? Is there a standard duration, or does it vary a lot?

The length of college classes can vary quite a bit depending on the type of class, the credit hours, and the college's scheduling system. However, there are some general patterns you can expect.

Many colleges use a "block" scheduling system where classes tend to last 50-75 minutes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and 75-90 minutes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some colleges may also have one-day-a-week classes that span for a longer period, typically between 2-3 hours, usually in the evenings.

Regarding lab classes or studio classes (like art, music, and some sciences), these typically meet once a week for a longer time period due to the hands-on nature of the work, usually around three hours. Alternatively, they may have classroom sessions during roughly the time frames listed above, and an additional, longer session for experiments, studio time, and so on.

Colleges often publish their class schedules, including the starting and ending times, well before the semester begins. You should be able to find this information by accessing the course catalog on your college’s website, or its student information system, often found under your student login. Additionally, the syllabus provided by the instructor during the first class session will generally include the class duration.

While this is a general guide, you should definitely check the schedules of the individual schools you're considering, as there can be variations between colleges. Good luck with your transition to college!