* College Catalog: This is a comprehensive guide to the entire college or university. It provides a much broader overview, including:
* Academic programs: Descriptions of all majors, minors, concentrations, and certificates offered.
* Course descriptions: Detailed explanations of the subject matter, prerequisites, and learning objectives for *all* courses the college offers, not just those offered in a specific semester.
* Faculty listings: Information about professors and instructors.
* Academic policies: Rules and regulations governing student conduct, academic standing, grading, etc.
* Admissions requirements: Details about applying to the college.
* Financial aid information: Explanations of scholarships, loans, and grants.
* Student services: Description of available support services like counseling, health services, and career services.
* Campus information: Maps, facilities, and other institutional details.
* Schedule of Classes Booklet (or online equivalent): This document lists the courses *actually being offered* during a specific semester or term. It includes:
* Course numbers and titles: A list of courses offered in that specific term.
* Instructor names: The professor teaching each section of a course.
* Meeting times and locations: Days, times, and room numbers for classes.
* Sections: Different sections of the same course may be offered at various times and by different instructors.
* Course capacity: How many students can enroll in each section.
* Prerequisites: (Sometimes, but not always) listed in brief form.
In short: the catalog is a permanent record of the college's overall offerings and policies, while the schedule of classes is a temporary document showing what courses are available in a particular semester. You use the catalog to plan your long-term academic path, and the schedule of classes to register for courses for a specific term.