Variety is the spice of education.

Sure, there are day classes, night classes, online and distance education. But Collin College offers students even more opportunities to finish a degree through a number of Weekend College formats.

Weekend College provides students with the opportunity to earn associate of arts, associate of arts in teaching and associate of science degrees while taking classes on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings or afternoons and Sunday afternoons.

“The reality is, for many of the Weekend College students, the traditional course offerings just don’t meet their needs,” said Sherry Schumann, Collin College’s associate vice president of distance and Weekend College. “Weekend College may just work better with their family or work situations.”

Courses are offered in Express Blocks (eight-week or three-weekend courses) and standard 16-week formats.

The Express Block option allows for a student to sign up for one course at a time and is held three days a week for a three-week block then the course ends. Students are considered full-time by taking one class per block.

Another option is the Extended Block in which a student takes a class all day Saturday for half a semester.

These blocks are beneficial because they begin and end in a concise time, according to Schumann, who adds that while students may be able to commit to an express block, for example, they might not be able to arrange their schedule to complete a 16-week course.

Additionally, Weekend College offers Maymester and Wintermester two-week classes or the opportunity to take classes on the weekend year round.

Currently, more than 100 Weekend College courses are offered each semester between Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

For more information about Weekend College, call 972.881.5801, e-mail weekendcollege@ccccd.edu or visit www.ccccd.edu/studentservices/weekend/index.html .