How do AIU students find time for coursework?
Life is busy, but it is possible to pursue a degree with some planning and time management. Below, you’ll see how three types of busy lifestyles make it work.
The Part-Timer
You may work part time, but you have a life that moves at a full-time pace. Since you are constantly shifting gears, AIU’s learning tools are the perfect fit for your start-and-stop lifestyle.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7 a.m. | The day begins with breakfast and an intellipath® assessment. This adaptive learning platform allows you to skip over what you already know so you can focus on what you need to learn. |
| 8 a.m. | Participate in a live chat with an instructor and classmates |
| 9 a.m. | Start part-time job |
| 1 p.m. | Break time isn’t very long but begin doing some research and take notes for a paper that’s due next week. |
| 3 p.m. | Work is over. You can use the AIU Mobile App to see the latest assignments and updates from your instructor while on the go. |
| 6 p.m. | While waiting for dinner to come out of the oven, you have a quick conversation with your instructor via AIU’s instant messenger. |
| 7 p.m. | Visit AIU’s Learning Lab, which provides tips on how to write your next paper. |
| 8 p.m. | Tomorrow, you can explore career services resources and work on your resume and interview tips. You rework your resume in preparation. |
| 9 p.m. | Finish your paper and submit assignments to meet the week’s deadline. |
Classes start July 30, 2025
The Full-Timer
If you are committing to full-time student life, it is important to create a routine to help you stay disciplined. AIU provides you with tools, like intellipath®, so you can plan your studies and stay engaged with your instructors.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | The alarm goes off and it’s time to start the day. This multitasking master fires up the computer to listen to a lecture while getting ready for work. |
| 7 a.m. | Breakfast time |
| 8 a.m. | Commute to work. Before enrolling at AIU, listening to music helped pass the commute time. Now you can listen to a lecture, or if you’re not driving, email an instructor from your smartphone. |
| 12 p.m. | Lunchtime is a virtual meeting of the minds. From your computer, AIU’s chat feature allows you to discuss a group project with classmates all over the country. |
| 5 p.m. | While waiting for dinner to come out of the oven, you have a quick conversation with your instructor via AIU’s instant messenger. |
| 7 p.m. | Dedicated students deserve a break. You take one by having dinner with your family. |
| 8 p.m. | From the comfort of your home, you can use AIU’s virtual library to do research for a paper and chat with classmates on a discussion board. |
| 11 p.m. | Lights out on another busy, yet productive day. Sure, it was packed, but you were able to balance it all in a way that fits your life best. |
The Military Servicemember
The military servicemember puts the active in active duty. Although you dedicate daytime to serving your country, you devote nighttime to your education. Make sure to explore our resources for military personnel, including the MOS Pledge.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0400 | Since you have to be in formation for PT at 0600, you wake up early to work on a school project. You review the assignment and dictate thoughts into your smartphone’s voice recorder. |
| 0600 | Today is squad PT followed by a day at the range. |
| 0800 | The busy day ahead requires a good breakfast. While eating in the mess hall, you pull out your laptop and hop onto a discussion board to start a dialog on your latest project. |
| 0900 | Duty calls and you head to the range for most of the day. |
| 1200 | Chow time isn’t long. You open an e-book to catch up on reading for class. |
| 1800 | You’re back from the range, so you clean your weapons and turn them into the arms room. Before being released, you log in and view a video tutorial from class instead of watching TV. |
| 1900 | Now that you have been released, it’s time for a virtual meeting with classmates to discuss a group project. Afterward, you work on the assignment and incorporate feedback from your classmates. |
| 2200 | Final duty for the night - submit an assignment to be graded. |
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These are hypothetical student scenarios who represent traits common across AIU's student body.
REQ2069164 9/2024