Course structure

Graduate students

Undergraduate Students
Course structure varies depending on the content, the teaching style of the faculty member, and the number of students enrolled. Lower division undergraduate courses are often large-group lectures supplemented by small class discussion sections or laboratories. In a lecture class, which typically enrolls 40 - 150 students, the professor often follows a prepared outline. Films, slides or other visual aids may be used. During the lecture, it is important to take notes on information that is being emphasized since it will most likely be covered on examinations. While questions are usually encouraged, in a large class the professor may limit questions to topics directly related to that day's lecture. You may visit the professor during office hours for extra assistance. Upper division undergraduate courses in the social sciences and humanities tend to be small classes or seminars devoted almost entirely to discussion

Most undergraduate classes have a final examination at the end of the semester. Many also have mid-term examinations near the middle of the semester. Additional tests or quizzes may be given with greater frequency. Objective examinations are designed to measure students' knowledge of particular facts. Questions may require students to choose the most appropriate from a series of answers ("multiple choice"), to indicate whether a statement is correct ("true or false"), or to identify a term or passage of text ("identification"). Subjective examinations require that students write essays to demonstrate breadth and depth of knowledge on a given topic.

It is possible that your class may be taught by a teaching assistant (TA). Teaching assistants are graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in their field and are working toward either a master's degree or doctorate in one of NYU's graduate schools. Their responsibilities vary from department to department. Some TAs teach their own classes with departmental supervision; others assist faculty by lecturing on special topics, running recitation groups or laboratories, grading papers, or composing, proctoring, and grading exams.