8-Week-FAQ

PJC Is empowering students to Focus on Success with a unique approach of shortening most courses from 16 weeks to 8 weeks. Fall and Spring semesters will include two 8-week terms: Fall 1 and 2 and Spring 1 and 2.

Students will take two or three eight-week classes in each term of the fall and in the spring semesters.

Though only taking two to three classes at one time, you can be in classes as a full-time student and qualify for financial aid.

You focus on just two or three courses during each of those eight-week terms and finish them before moving on to the next term.

Because of this:

  • You won't feel overwhelmed with 4-7 different courses and their assignments and deadlines;
  • You won't feel the traditional 10-week burnout.
  • You won't have time to get bored with a subject or forget an assignment.
  • You'll have a quality course experience, not quantity. Work smarter, not harder!

To qualify for financial aid and scholarships, students will register for both Fall 1 and 2 or Spring 1 and 2 at the same time. Students will also need to buy all books and course materials at the beginning of the semester for both terms. Payment plans may be set up.

For more info, contact:

Admissions
admissions@parisjc.edu
903-782-0425


Advising and Counseling 
advising@parisjc.edu
903-782-0426

Frequently Asked Questions

Allows students to become full-time, while still only concentrating on two to three courses at once.

Full-time students may maintain their current course work, but have less stress and avoid the 10-week burnout period many students experience in a 16-week course.

Financial aid is awarded based on how many credits you take each semester. To be eligible, students should register for both 8-week terms in a given semester at the same time. A student should register for Fall 1 and 2, for instance, to receive a full-time credit loan.

 

 

In the fall and spring semesters, be sure to register for both 8-week terms (for instance, Fall 1 and 2) at the same time. That way, you stay on track to complete your program, and ensure you have the correct credit load to maintain financial aid eligibility. Also, avoid registering for sequenced courses in the same semester (for instance, do not register for English 1301 in Fall 1 term and English 1302 in Fall 2 term - instead, do 1301 in the fall and 1302 in the spring).

Expect to spend the amount of total class time in an 8-week course as in a traditional 16-week course. This may come in the form of more online work and/or longer individual class meeting times.

Instructors have redesigned course assignments and assessments so you may learn the same material more efficiently, with a reasonable amount of take-home work. Your workload may feel more manageable, because you only need to concentrate on fewer courses at one time.

Balance courses to ensure you do not have both reading and math intensive courses at the same time (example: don't take a math and chemistry class in one 8-week term; spread them out between terms).

Yes. However, talk to your advisor about how many 8-week courses and 16-week courses you can take at one time.