What kind of academic experiences will this so-called "average" student have? The average undergraduate student takes five classes a semester and is in class about 15 hours a week. If he or she takes a class that has a laboratory, this will require two or three more hours. Many introductory undergraduate classes are given in large lectures of 100 or more students. However, many of these classes will have small discussion groups of 15 to 20 students that meet once a week. In these smaller groups, a teaching assistant will lead a discussion to help clarify points in the lectures. Other kinds of classes, for example, language classes will be much smaller so that students can practice language.