Introductory college courses typically cover remedial topics, which may be required for more advanced work. Other introductory courses aim to present an overview of the material, aiming to lay a basic foundation with the expectation that the students will not advance to more rigorous studies in that subject. Advanced college courses assume an understanding of remedial concepts, and cover material that is more complex and specific. In addition to textbooks, advanced college courses may incorporate current research studies on the subject, to give the students a more thorough understanding of the material.
The entry college classes are usually conducted in a lecture format, where the professor reads the relevant information during the class period, and students use a combination of class notes, text books, and study materials to learn the subject. Upper level college classes are often conducted in a seminar format, where the lecture is replaced by a discussion group, where the students and the professor interact during class and base their studies on the conversations with the professor and with their classmates.
A common distinction between introductory and advanced college classes is the class size. Introductory courses, especially remedial ones and lectures, usually have very large classes (sometimes, more than one hundred), while upper level classes are characterized by smaller groups (often 10 or 20). This is because there is a greater number of students who want and need to take entry level classes, as compared to the more specific upper level ones.
There is also a difference in the way students are graded in lower level and upper level classes. Students in introductory classes, especially remedial ones, are typically given a grade at the end of the semester, which is based on two exams (a midterm and a final) and, occasionally, homework assignments. Students in upper level classes are often graded on a wider array of factors, namely, class participation, several papers, and creative research.
While lower level classes are usually open to all students, upper level class are typically restricted by the department, to ensure that only students who major in that subject area have access to the more advanced courses. Furthermore, upper level classes may be closed to students who have not met the minimum requirements (or prerequisites) set by the department or the professor.