If you are wondering how to manage a heavy online course workload, estimate the hours you need for each course, list all deadlines on one calendar, prioritize work by grade value, group similar tasks together, and reduce the load when necessary.
Online course workload management is difficult due to the small weekly tasks that make up an online course. This article will serve as your management guide.
Continue reading to learn about an hour audit table, a sample weekly schedule, and available task delegation options when you are overloaded and don’t know how to stay organized in online classes.
Key Takeaways on How to Manage a Heavy Online Course
- Look at workload in terms of hours per week, not the number of courses.
- When you have a calendar containing all the deadlines, you will see which weeks are your heaviest weeks early.
- A grade and credit value determine the allocation of your effort.
- Grouping tasks by type eliminates time lost switching between courses.
- Seek professional academic assistance when required.
What Counts as a Heavy Online Course Workload?
A workload is considered heavy when the courses require more hours in a week than you can reasonably provide. Those hours are hidden in these recurring tasks in online classes:
- Recorded lectures and readings
- The discussion posts and required responses.
- Weekly quizzes and auto-graded homework.
- Group project check-ins
In addition, there is no fixed class time for asynchronous courses. There are no hours reserved on your calendar for them unless you make some time for them.
The College Credit Hour was developed from the Carnegie Unit, an early 20th-century time-based standard. Based on this, your actual load is measured in hours, not the number of courses.
So, if you are overwhelmed with heavy workload management in your online class, below are some practical steps that you can consider to follow to make things easier.
Step 1: Audit Your Real Weekly Hours
Federal rules (34 CFR 600.2) establish a minimum standard for a credit hour, which is the total of one hour of instruction and two hours of independent student work per week for an average of 15 weeks.
Use that as your floor:
- List each course, the number of credits, and the weekly tasks for each course.
- Estimate your actual hours/course. If possible, use the actual time from last week.
- Add up total hours and compare with free time (after work/family time).
| Course | Credits | Federal minimum (15-week term) | Your real estimate |
| Course A | 3 | 9 hrs/week | ___ |
| Course B | 4 | 12 hrs/week | ___ |
| Course C | 3 | 9 hrs/week | ___ |
| Total | 10 | 30 hrs/week | ___ |
Now, your “real total” minus your “free hours” is the issue addressed by the next steps.
Adjust Your Estimate by Course Type
The federal minimum is the bottom line. But some courses routinely require more. For example:
- Writing Intensive Courses: Add hours for drafts, revisions, and citations.
- Math on adaptive platforms: ALEKS will continually recommend topics until mastery is demonstrated. In Pearson MyLab and WebAssign, it is often possible to try multiple times. Time spent on homework varies depending on how quickly you learn each topic.
- Science with virtual labs: Labster simulations and lab reports provide a second weekly workload.
- Courses in nursing or health: Practicum hours or clinical hours add on to coursework. See why online nursing classes are so difficult.
For these courses, you may use your own time for the first two weeks instead of the federal minimum.
Example: Reading Your Audit
A student enrolls in three courses (10 credits), of which one is a math course in ALEKS:
- Federal minimum: 30 hours/week
- With a math course adjusted, real estimate: 33 hrs/week
- Work and family hours: 34 hours/week
- Gap: 7 hours/week
How it is closed by the subsequent steps:
- Time is reduced on low-stakes work with Triage (Step 3).
- Batching (Step 4) reduces the time taken to switch between courses.
- If there are a few hours left in the gap after two weeks, then that will not be resolved by scheduling. The transfer of 1 course (3 credits) to another term will subtract approximately 9 hours per week. This occurs after add/drop, which is a withdrawal. See Check Financial Aid First.
Step 2: Build One Semester Map from Every Syllabus
The weekly average is what you get from your audit. Peaks are indicated on a semester map.
- Download all Week 1 syllabi.
- If your school allows it, you can sync your course calendars from Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, or D2L Brightspace to Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook.
- Include exam/major project dates.
- Mark off any week that has three or more of the big deadlines. These are your collision weeks!
Create a map prior to the end of the add/drop period when section changes are possible. Store it in one tool that you review each day. Our list of the best study tools and apps for online learning can help you choose one.
How to Stay Organized Across Multiple Online Classes
The more courses you take, the more challenging it becomes to be organized in an online class. Follow one system for each:
- One folder for each course and subfolders for each week.
- One of the rules for naming files is BIO101_Week3_LabReport.
- Each course will have one shared task list.
- LMS alerts turned on for announcements and grades only.
Step 3: Triage Across Multiple Online Courses
Understanding how to manage multiple online courses involves taking on the responsibility of putting in different levels of effort into the various tasks. Rank work based on three filters:
- Grade weight: A 30% final project needs more time than a 2% quiz.
- Credit value: A 4-credit course has a greater impact on the GPA than a 1-credit course.
- Course stakes: Courses that have a minimum grade requirement, such as major prerequisites, are given priority.
Next, prioritize tasks by categories:
- Tier 1: Exams and major projects get your best hours.
- Tier 2: Weekly graded work is completed independently without over-polishing.
- Tier 3: Ungraded or optional work waits until Tiers 1 and 2 are done.
Step 4: Batch Recurring Online Tasks
The change in course equals a new LMS page, new instructions, and lost focus. Batching allows you to group together courses by the same task type:
- View all lecture videos in a single block.
- Put all initial discussion posts in one block.
- Record all responses in a subsequent block. Instructors often set reply deadlines a few days after first posts in Canvas and Blackboard discussions.
- Administer short blocks of quizzes at the time of peak alertness.
A Sample Weekly Study Schedule for Multiple Online Courses
If you are wondering how to balance online classes and work, the best study schedule for online college students follows their own due dates. This online learning study schedule fits three courses with mid-week discussion deadlines:
| Day | Batch (all courses) |
| Monday | Readings and lecture videos |
| Tuesday | Initial discussion posts |
| Wednesday | Tier 1 work: project or exam prep |
| Thursday | Discussion replies and peer reviews |
| Friday | Quizzes and graded homework |
| Saturday | Tier 1 work, continued |
| Sunday | Buffer day: unfinished tasks only |
Change days to suit deadlines but retain the buffer day.
Step 5: Prepare for Heavy Weeks in Advance
Semester map warns you about collision weeks in advance. Two weeks prior to each one:
- Begin project drafts that are due for that week.
- Complete the week’s readings ahead of time.
- Inform your employer and/or family of the dates.
- Try to stay away from additional shifts or travel.
How Do You Catch Up When You’re Already Behind?
Falling behind in one course drags down the others. Do these in this particular order:
- Distinguish between past and future work.
- Review the late policy for each syllabus. Some teachers will take late assignments and charge a late fee. Others accept none.
- Send the teacher an e-mail before the next deadline. Write the task missed and suggest a new date.
- Schedule office hours if the delay was due to a concept.
- Prioritize future projects. A late assignment is typically a less expensive error than missing an assignment.
For deadlines that have already passed, see what to do if you missed an online class deadline.
How to Handle 8-Week Accelerated Online Courses
Many online learning programs divide each semester into two 8-week sessions; some programs use the terms Session A and Session B. Names may vary from school to school.
An 8-week course has the same credit as a 15-week course, but in roughly half the time. The weekly load is approximately doubled: a three-credit course requires 17 hours per week, as opposed to 9. Here are some tips:
- Stagger, don’t stack: Taking two courses in Session A and two in Session B halves your weekly load compared with taking all four in one session.
- Separate heavy courses: Place a math or lab course in a session different from a writing-intensive course.
- Begin before day one: Accelerated classes may have orientation, introductions, and first assignments in week one. If the course starts early, read the syllabus and mark the deadlines on your semester calendar before the course begins.
- See previous deadlines: Withdrawal dates for 8-week courses typically occur earlier than those for 15-week courses. Refer to the registrar’s calendar for each session.
How Many Online Classes Are Too Many?
There is no magic number that will suit everyone. Compare your Step 1 total to your free hours. If the total is higher, you have too many classes for your current schedule.
Consider two cutback thresholds:
- Most undergraduate aid requires full-time (12) credits per semester.
- 6 credits is usually half-time for undergraduates, the minimum for federal student loans.
If you’re going from 12 credits to 9 credits, you will be taking off approximately 9 hours of weekly work.
What Changing Your Enrollment Status Can Affect
If you plan on taking courses below 12 credits, make sure you know what your enrollment status means, Here are some tips for time management for online students:
- Pell Grant: Awards are determined by enrollment intensity, meaning that lower enrollment tends to result in lower awards. Ask when your school recalculates Pell.
- Scholarships: Full-time enrollment is often a requirement for many institutional scholarships. Pay attention to the conditions as you drop.
- F-1 international students: You must keep a full course of study, and federal rules count only one online course (3 credits) per term toward it (8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(G)). Talk to your DSO (Designated School Official) first.
- Federal loans: If you are a student who has taken out a federal loan, the 6-month grace period begins once you are under half-time. Repayment commences on the end date.
- GI Bill: Your rate of pursuit can change your monthly housing allowance. Failing a course may also result in a VA debt. Please consult your School Certifying Official before changing the load.
When Should You Reduce Your Course Load?
If you can’t schedule your audit gap, decrease the load. Common US college options include:
- Drop at Add/Drop: Shows as “W” on transcript.
- Incomplete (“I”) grade: Allows completion of remaining work after the end of the term. Policies vary, but most require that you’ve completed the majority of the course. Requires instructor permission and is typically transformed into an F when not completed on time.
- Withdrawal (“W”): The deadline is determined by the registrar’s office. A “W” does not impact your GPA.
- Lighter next term: Make an appointment with your academic advisor to plan it.
Check Financial Aid First
A withdrawal may impact Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Federal Student Aid recipients. Courses that are withdrawn are typically considered attempted but not completed credits. Contact your financial aid office prior to withdrawal.
Ask About Accommodations
If a disability affects your workload, contact your school’s Office of Disability Services. Colleges must provide reasonable accommodations to students who are qualified under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
How to Plan a Manageable Course Mix for Next Term
The easiest heavy load to handle is the one you avoid at registration.
- Mix it up: Take one math, lab, or writing-heavy course with lighter courses. Do not take two lab courses or two writing-intensive courses in the same term.
- Before enrolling, check the workload: Request a current syllabus from the department or instructor. Review weekly recurring tasks and perform a Step 1 audit on them.
- Plan ahead: Check prerequisites with academic advisors to avoid repeating courses.
- Take a course in a different term: You can take one course in a summer or winter term instead of a fall or spring term. Make sure this course is accepted as part of your degree and is eligible for financial aid.
- Sync up with your calendar: If you think you’ll be busy at work or home during a term, take fewer credits that term.
- Take professional support: Seek take my online class for me services from expert professionals for strategic task delegation and free up your highly packed schedule.
Conclusion
When considering whether to take more online classes, begin with numbers and not willpower. Track time, plan deadlines, prioritize tasks by grade value, and cluster similar tasks. If there is a gap, then use formal mechanisms at college to ease the burden. This week, set up the audit and the map before your next collision week!
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours per week should I expect for an online course?
Expect 3 hours of out-of-classwork per credit for a 15-credit semester. The same course will require approximately double in an 8-week accelerated term. Writing-intensive, math, and lab courses may require more.
What’s the best way to organize multiple online courses?
Establish one day of the week to review. Review all courses for news, grades posted, and the next 2 weeks of deadlines. Change your list of tasks before you begin new tasks.
How do I stay motivated during a heavy online course load?
Make progress visible. Mark off completed work or deadlines within the semester map. Make weekly targets, instead of term targets, making sure that every week is a win.
What should I do if my online course load becomes unmanageable?
Consult with your academic advisor prior to the withdrawal deadline. Take your hours audit for Step 1. Your advisor can make the correct repair suggestion in record time with real numbers!
