Seminar vs. Course — What's the Difference?

Often interactive and discussion-based.

An educational program on a particular subject.

A meeting for discussion or training.

Often part of a degree or certificate program.

Usually does not include exams or formal assessments.

Aimed at comprehensive learning.

May be part of academic or professional development.

Includes lectures, materials, exams, and sometimes practical sessions.

A session led by experts focusing on a specific topic.

Usually has a fixed schedule and syllabus.

A seminar is a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is requested to participate.

Development in a particular way; progress

A course of study for a small group of students in a college or graduate school, often entailing research under the guidance of a professor.

Movement in time; duration

The group of students in such a course.

The direction of continuing movement

A scheduled meeting of such a group.

The route or path taken by something that moves, such as a stream or vehicle.

A meeting for an exchange of ideas; a conference.

A designated route or area on which a race is held

A class held for advanced studies in which students meet regularly to discuss original research, under the guidance of a professor.

See golf course.

A meeting held for the exchange of useful information by members of a common business community.

A mode of action or behavior

A group of students engaged, under the guidance of an instructor, in original research in a particular line of study, and in the exposition of the results by theses, lectures, etc.; - formerly called also seminary, now seldom used in this sense.

A typical, natural, or customary manner of proceeding or developing

Any meeting for an exchange of ideas

A systematic or orderly succession; a sequence

A course offered for a small group of advanced students

A continuous layer of building material, such as brick or tile, on a wall or roof of a building.

A complete body of prescribed studies constituting a curriculum

A unit of such a curriculum

A part of a meal served as a unit at one time

(Nautical) The lowest sail on a mast of a square-rigged ship.

A point on the compass, especially the one toward which a vehicle, such as a ship, is moving.

(Music) A string or set of two or more closely-spaced and usually identically-tuned strings, as on a lute.

To move swiftly through or over; traverse

To hunt (game) with hounds.

To set (hounds) to chase game.

To proceed or move swiftly in a certain direction or along a course

To hunt game with hounds.

A sequence of events.

A normal or customary sequence.

A programme, a chosen manner of proceeding.

Any ordered process or sequence of steps.

A learning programme, whether a single class or (UK) a major area of study.

A treatment plan.

A stage of a meal.

The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.

A path that something or someone moves along.

The itinerary of a race.

A racecourse.

The path taken by a flow of water; a watercourse.

(sports) The trajectory of a ball, frisbee etc.

(golf) A golf course.

(nautical) The direction of movement of a vessel at any given moment.

(navigation) The intended passage of voyage, such as a boat, ship, airplane, spaceship, etc.

The drive usually frequented by Europeans at an Indian station.

(nautical) The lowest square sail in a fully rigged mast, often named according to the mast.

Menses.

A row or file of objects.

(masonry) A row of bricks or blocks.

(roofing) A row of material that forms the roofing, waterproofing or flashing system.

(textiles) In weft knitting, a single row of loops connecting the loops of the preceding and following rows.

(music) One or more strings on some musical instruments (such as the guitar, lute or vihuela): if multiple, then closely spaced, tuned in unison or octaves and intended to played together.

(transitive) To run through or over.

(transitive) To pursue by tracking or estimating the course taken by one's prey; to follow or chase after.

(transitive) To cause to chase after or pursue game.

The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage.

The ground or path traversed; track; way.

Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance.

Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line, or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses; a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a race.

Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress; procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of an argument.

Customary or established sequence of events; recurrence of events according to natural laws.

Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct; behavior.

A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a course of lectures on chemistry.

The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.

That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments.

A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height throughout the face or faces of a building.

The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the fore course, main course, etc.

The menses.

To run, hunt, or chase after; to follow hard upon; to pursue.

To cause to chase after or pursue game; as, to course greyhounds after deer.

To run through or over.

To run as in a race, or in hunting; to pursue the sport of coursing; as, the sportsmen coursed over the flats of Lancashire.

Education imparted in a series of lessons or class meetings;

A connected series of events or actions or developments;

Facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport;

A mode of action;

A line or route along which something travels or moves;

General line of orientation;

Part of a meal served at one time;

(construction) a layer of masonry;

Move swiftly through or over;

Move along, of liquids;

Hunt with hounds;

As might be expected;

Yes, seminars are usually designed to be interactive, encouraging active participation and discussion among attendees.

Typically, seminars do not offer academic credits, focusing more on personal and professional development.

In seminars, participants are expected to engage actively, whereas in courses, the learning may be more passive.

Seminars are often held in conference rooms, educational institutions, or online platforms.

A seminar primarily focuses on specific topics or issues, allowing for in-depth discussion.

Courses often involve lectures, assignments, exams, and sometimes practical labs or workshops.

Seminars typically do not lead to formal qualifications but can be important for professional development.

Courses can last from several weeks to several years, depending on the educational level and subject.

While not always mandatory, some seminars may require or benefit from prior knowledge of the topic.

Yes, courses generally follow a structured syllabus that outlines the curriculum, assessments, and learning outcomes.