Intensive courses, or those taught outside the traditional semester or quarter-length format, are becoming common on college and university campuses. These institutions are faced with increasing numbers of non-traditional aged students who often have difficulty taking classes during regularly scheduled times. To serve these adult learners, many schools began offering time-shortened courses in the regular semester, summer sessions, weekend colleges and intersessions. In a recent survey, data drawn from 424 colleges and universities found that 217 were using accelerated courses and programs (Nixon, 1996). Though there is limited evidence that a college course must meet several times a week for 10 to 15 weeks in order to produce an educationally valuable experience, many faculty and college administrators have concerns about time-shortened courses. While students generally favor an intense format, faculty often believe these courses substitute academic rigor and genuine learning for student convenience (Scott, 1991).