How it works
CS Flex is an innovative way to get your degree. It removes many of the time barriers that are part of a standard college semester. Progress through a course is based on mastery instead of the calendar.
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Module Delivery
- Each course is separated into modules.
- Each module has an overview that explains what the module is about and outlines the objectives. It has learning materials including videos, activities, and other resources. It has one or more challenge activities that determine whether the material in the module has been mastered.
- As you successfully complete one module, the next module opens up. This way you can move from module to module to complete the course.
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Acceleration
- You can move through the course as fast as you are able to complete the modules. If you already understand the topics or if you pick them up quickly you will be able to move forward at an accelerated pace.
- Once you complete a course, you can begin the next course. There is no need to wait for the next semester.
- This allows you to complete your degree as fast as your own schedule permits. You are no longer limited by the university calendar.
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Rapid Feedback
- The CS Flex faculty are committed to giving you high-quality, rapid feedback.
- When you turn in a solution you can expect a score and feedback within 1-2 business days. You will know right away how you are doing and if any corrections are needed.
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Mastery
- Progress is based on mastery. Each module has one or more challenge activities. Once you get 80% or higher on the challenge activities you have demonstrated mastery.
- These challenge activities come in many varieties. They may be a program, an exam, a paper, or some other type of project.
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Flexible Entry
- You can register and begin a course at a variety of times throughout the semester. When you are ready to begin a course, contact the academic coach to find out when you can get started. Usually, you can begin right away.
- Prerequisites still apply so any prerequisite course will need to be successfully completed before starting.
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Flexible Exit
- Students will be starting courses at different times and progressing at their own pace. This means students will be finishing courses at different times.
- Some will complete a course before the semester ends. When this happens, a grade will be posted and you can move on to the next course or take a break.
- Sometimes course work will extend past the end of the semester. This may happen when you start later in a semester or when you take longer to complete some of the modules. When this happens you will receive a D- for the course. Then you will be able to continue working on the course until all the modules are complete or until you have used all the extensions available.
Sometimes even a temporary D- will impact scholarships and financial aid. Please contact the academic coach or the financial aid office to find out if this option will work for you. - Once you complete the course, your grade will be updated to reflect the work you completed.
- If you are unable to successfully complete the course during the following semester, the D- will remain. When this happens you can register to retake the course. It is recommended that you meet with the academic coach to understand how this will impact your transcript and how best to proceed.
- If a student is no longer participating in the course at the end of the semester, a grade of E will be recorded and the student will need to register for another section of the course.
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Due Dates
- Due dates are based on when you start the course. The schedule spreads the module due dates across 12 weeks. This provides some acceleration as the standard semester is 15 weeks.
- Each module has a single due date. Although most modules have multiple things to turn in, having a single due date allows you to spread the work out throughout the module in a way that works for you. You can turn solutions in throughout the module.
- As you turn in solutions, instructors will provide high-quality, rapid feedback. This will let you know if you are ready to move on or if it is best to spend a little more time on the module. This is based on mastery.
- If you receive 80% or more on the challenge activities, you are ready to move on and the next module will be opened.
- If the score is less than 80%, more time is needed. "If at some point, you do not reach mastery on a challenge activity, a track adjustment may be made if you have not exceeded the maximum eight track shifts. You will be able to redo and resubmit the challenge activity to demonstrate mastery. Your final score for the challenge activity will be the average of both scores. Each track shift used to demonstrate mastery counts toward the maximum of eight.
- This schedule allows you to spend more time when needed. It lets you truly master each topic before moving on.