Course Modalities and Attributes at UCF

There are several types of courses offered at UCF, referred to as course “instructional modes” or “course modality.” The course description includes a modality field which will identify the type of course. In addition, “course attributes” indicate whether or not students will be expected to participate in regularly scheduled online meetings. 

Fully Online Modalities

WEB-BASED

Courses are online conducted via flexible, asynchronous Web-based instruction and collaboration using various technologies. Some courses may require minimal campus attendance or in-person/proctored examinations.

Possible Attributes

PAL

Distance Learning Fee assessed
Available to Campus-Based Students and UCF Online Students

VIDEO

Courses are online with extensive use of digital video, which may be supplemented by additional online activity, projects, or exams.

Possible Attributes

FLEXIBLE or LIVE
PAL

Distance Learning Fee assessed
Available to Campus-Based Students and UCF Online Students

Partially Online Modalities

MIXED MODE

Courses include both required classroom attendance and online instruction in a blended format. In-person classroom activities are more than 20% of the instructional time during the semester. 

Possible Attributes

FLEXIBLE or LIVE
PAL

No Distance Learning Fee assessed
Not available to UCF Online Students

LIMITED ATTENDANCE

Courses are primarily online in a blended format combining required in-person and online elements. In-person classroom activities may use up to 20% of the instructional time during the semester.

Possible Attributes

FLEXIBLE or LIVE
PAL
REAL

Not available to UCF Online Students
Distance Learning Fee assessed

Traditional Modality

IN-PERSON

Courses have required classroom attendance and meet on a regularly scheduled basis in-person. Students may encounter online, video, or adaptive elements as part of the instruction, thus requiring a computer.

Possible Attributes

PAL

No Distance Learning Fee assessed
Not available to UCF Online Students

UNDERSTANDING MODALITIES & ATTRIBUTES

ModalityPWMVRS
Flexible or Live Attribute 1
REAL Attribute 2
PAL Attribute 2
1 – Your M, V, or RS course will have have either the ‘Flexible’ or ‘Live’ attribute.

2 In addition to the ‘Flexible’ and ‘Live’ attribute, your course may also have the ‘REAL’ and/or ‘PAL” attribute. It is also possible that your course may not have either ‘PAL’ or ‘REAL’ attribute.

When using the class search feature in MyUCF, simply view the Class Details section of the course to see which attributes apply to the course.

What Are Course Attributes?

Course attributes add additional information to help students make the most informed decision when selecting classes. They describe how the course is delivered and how students will be expected to participate. Attributes are included in the course details returned by the class search tool in my.ucf.edu

FLEXIBLE

Course is delivered through asynchronous online instruction without regularly scheduled, live class meetings online.

Displayed in Class Detail as: Flexible, No video meetings

LIVE

Course is delivered through synchronous online instruction with regularly scheduled, live class meetings online.

Displayed in Class Detail as: Live scheduled meetings

PERSONALIZED ADAPTIVE LEARNING (PAL)

Course is delivered via an adaptive learning system that customizes content and assessments to create a personalized learning path for each student

Displayed in Class Detail as: Personalized Adaptive Learning

REAL

Course is delivered primarily through asynchronous online instruction with some required in-person, active learning meetings (primarily in the UCF College of Business).

Displayed in Class Detail as: REAL, Active learning

What Type of Student are You?

Campus-Based Students

A campus-based student is a student who has complete access to UCF campus-based services (including regional campuses) and pays full tuition and fees. Campus-based students may enroll in all modalities.

UCF Online Students

A UCF Online student is a strictly online student who pays reduced fees. UCF Online students do not attend courses on campus. Because UCF Online students do not pay the full fees, only select campus-based services are available.

UCF Online students may only enroll into online (W) and video streaming (V) courses.