Meaning & use
course of study
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableformal
The set of subjects or classes that a student follows to earn a degree or qualification.
Grammar: Countable: a course of study, several courses of study. Often used in formal or academic writing.
Patterns
- a course of study in something
- pursue a course of study
- complete a course of study
She chose a course of study in engineering.
The university offers a flexible course of study for working adults.
He completed his course of study in three years.
nouncountableformal
A program of education or training, especially one leading to a particular qualification.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'in' to specify the subject: a course of study in law.
Patterns
- a course of study in something
- a course of study at a place
The course of study at this college is designed for future teachers.
Students must follow a prescribed course of study in their first year.
This course of study leads to a diploma in nursing.
Word forms
| plural | courses of study |
|---|
Common combinations
- a course of study in
- He is pursuing a course of study in computer science.
- complete a course of study
- You must complete the course of study to graduate.
- pursue a course of study
- She decided to pursue a course of study in medicine.
- a rigorous course of study
- The program offers a rigorous course of study.
Synonyms and how they differ
- program
- A broader term for an organized set of activities or studies; 'course of study' is more formal and specific to education.
- curriculum
- Refers to the content and subjects taught in a school or program, not the individual student's plan.
- major
- The main subject a student specializes in; 'course of study' includes all subjects taken toward a degree.
Commonly confused: course of study or course?
course of study vs course
'Course' can mean a single class (e.g., a math course), while 'course of study' is the whole program of classes.
Practice
To become a doctor, you must complete a long ______ in medicine.
Choose one answer.
'Course of study' is the fixed phrase for a full program of education. 'Course' alone means a single class, and the other options are not standard English.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “course of study”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.