Most colleges and universities provide many different colleges degrees for their students. There are also many different ways to take or engage in course work that qualifies as credits toward the colleges degrees. There is what is called Guided Independent Studies. This would be courses that the student and faculty member create and complete together, by working on a one-to-one basis. The student communicates regularly with their faculty mentor in-person, online or by telephone. There are also study groups for particular course work that students can join.
There are college degrees that require students to engage in programs or topics of study that include intensive weekend seminars that allow for a more in depth exploration of the course subjects in a group setting. There may also be guest lecturers invited to the college or university who will be speaking to a specific course or a topic that is covered in a course. Many times the instructor will advise or require their students to attend. There are college degrees that have courses that require lab and research time, like in the sciences. Many art classes for art degrees require that there be studio time and gallery time. Art students take several trips to Cities, galleries and museums to study there topics.
Cross Registration is still yet another option to students that are attending one college or university degree program but need to take a class that conflicts with the time of another class or perhaps a work schedule that is offered at other colleges and universities in the surrounding area. These colleges and universities of course must meet the students educational needs and satisfy the degree program requirements of the home college or university.