How are classes structured in US universities?

Question

In Russia, we are divided into groups of 20-25 people who are always together for seminars. A group might be divided in two for laboratory work. Several groups may together attend a lecture.  Do you have a similar structure in US? I have heard several people on youtube mention that in US you may have one class with one group of people and then have a different class with totally different people the same day? Is that the case? 
Do you have seminars and lectures?

Answer 1

Don W is right. Students choose their own classes, although they have specific requirements to meet. A typical first year students might have English composition, a math class (level determined by their previous courses- some will by in calculus or physics while others are in advanced algebra), a history class, a psychology or sociology class and a foreign language. They may not have any of the same people in two of these classes, although that depends on the size of the school. Where Don W is wrong is that all classes are NOT lectures. English composition classes typically have no more than 25-30 students, and the students spend most of their time writing, helping each other revising, and doing activities related to writing. Classes in the US involve a lot of group work, group projects and oral presentations. Some advanced classes are in seminars, where there may be only 8-12 students, and most of the class consists of discussion among the students and with the professor. 

Our system is based very much on individual choice, and development of critical thinking skills. 



BTW, I was in Russia last year and spoke at several universities. I was surprised at the very traditional configurations of the classrooms, with auditorium seating in rows. It was very hard to conduct my workshops with teachers, which revolve around groupwork and discussion. 

Answer 2

We have a similar structure in U.S. law schools, first year at least. There are "cohorts" of about 25 students each that have all of their classes together. Your cohort would be alone in the writing seminar, and combined with one or more sections for larger lectures. That is, cohort 1 might take contracts with cohort 5, torts with cohort two and four, etc. It's nice because there's a small group of people you get to know really well; we formed study groups (and personal friendships) mostly from our initial cohort. Even after the group was broken up by the second year, most of my law school friends were from my cohort. 



But for undergraduate (and after the first year of law school) you just choose whatever classes you want. There are typically several sections of every class, so even if you're taking the exact same pre-med schedule as, say, your freshman roommate (Bio 1, Calculus 1, Chemistry 1, English composition, and Spanish, for example) chances are you won't share a single class at a medium or large university. There might be ten or more sections of each of those classes (even more for English composition, which typically every freshman is required to take) even at a medium-sized university, and thirty or more at a large one.



You often can be in the same section of a class as another person if you make an effort to, but it's pretty complicated to work out since there are so many moving pieces: trying to get well-known (and avoid infamous) professors; trying to avoid 8:00 AM lectures, trying to avoid any classes on Friday, etc. Less popular classes (e.g. Latin instead of Spanish) have only one or two sections, even in a large university, so one's schedule tends to revolve around them.



If you are in an honors program or similar, there will be fewer honors sections to choose from, so you're more likely to share classes with people.

Answer 3

Most students travel through their courses independently of each other, and indeed may run into totally different classmates in each course.



With that said, sometimes schools have special programs, such as "Honors Program", where students will be together in several classes, such as seminars.



Most classes are lectures.  Science and technical courses may also have a lab together with the classroom work.  There may be seminars available, particularly for students in their final year of college.

Answer 4

Let me cut to the chase in this thread.  Adding a few answers, along with a few of the OP's usual endless updates, it should go something like this:  



Respondent 1: In the US, students sign up for classes on an individual basis. They are not assigned to a class as a group. Some people will be in a few of your classes, especially those who share your major.



Update 1 by Comrade I'm: Why not in a group?  Is that not stupid?  How do students find their way to class by themselves?  How?  Why?  What a waste?



Respondent 2: In the US, young adults are capable of finding their own way to class.



Update 2 by Comrade I'm: Who makes the rules for this?  In Russia, all classmates are assigned by Ministry of Education!  The ministry says all must hold hands while walking between classes; what if US student gets lost?  Who will find him?  



Respondent 3:  In the US, students are taught to think on their own.  Not only can they find their own way to class, but they can also walk across campus to the library or cafeteria after dark.



Update 3 by Comrade I'm:  Thinking on your own?  Library?  Cafeteria?  Food?  What fluff you have to pay for in the US!  Russian students have no library, cafeteria, or food. Instead all students get free performance enhancing drugs left over from Sochi Olympics.  American college students pay a fortune for luxuries like food.