Is it better to register for classes meeting 2 days a week or 3 days a week? From a 2 day class, one can get extra time for an exam. As for the 3-day class, one can grasp on the material faster since they are meeting 3 days a week and they have an extra day of meeting the professor. What do you think?
A course contains the same number of contact hours whether scheduled for two days or three per week. I would choose two days versus three on the basis of preferred faculty, better time of day, where one class fits within you overall schedule, and so on. Having taught two day classes versus three class days per week, I saw minimal differences beyond class content divided in half instead of thirds. In a two day per week class, I allotted the same amount of time for tests, presentations and such whether the class met two days or three. taught 30 minutes extra on the days two day classes met. Thus, testing time is the same…classes that meet twice weekly don’t have extra test times. As far as office hours, faculty establish office hours that fit their schedules for their different routine such as faculty or committee meetings, research, supervising students in field activities. There are also classes that meet for three hours in the evening. So, the decision rests with you and how you choose to balance classes.
The specific times and locations of individual classes are based on size and availability of classrooms, (some classes are scheduled on the same days and times for year) availability of faculty to meet at particular hours, lab space, availability of specialized expensive equipment, etc. Schedules for classes follow routines to facilitate getting all classes scheduled by time, space, and available faculty without needing to reinvent the wheel each semester. .