Learning & studying strategies for courses & classes in specific subjects

Sites with resources for many different types of courses

The Khan Academy
A free site with thousands of videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance and history."  Also contains practice exercises, mainly in high school level math.

MITOpenCourseware (Massachussetts Institute of Technology)
Contains practice exams and assignments, lecture notes, recorded lectures, and other resources for many different disciplines, from chemistry to history to math to linguistics!  Great for practice materials or just another, highly reputable, perspective on the information in your course.

Spark Notes
Free online study guides for background information in several disciplines including the sciences, math, history, economics, psychology, literature and film. Contains practice test questions in math and the sciences.

Accounting

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A Guide For Students Studying Accounting (California State University, Northridge)
Tips for reading the textbook, solving problems, and writing exams.

Accounting Terms Defined (Best Accounting Software)

Actuarial Science

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Actuarial Exams (Be an Actuary)
Tips on how to succeed in the professional actuarial exams, particularly the multiple choice sections.  Also applicable to ACMA 210 and possibly other ACMA classes.  This site was suggested by an SFU ACMA Faculty member.

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

Anthropology

Anthropology Study Skills Guide (Education Corner) - Extensive information on how to read and write in this discipline.

Biology

Advice from Successful Students: Biology Strategies

Study Tips for Biology Classes (Butte College)
Covers what to do before class, during class or lab, and after class, as well as how to study for memory-based tests and concept-based tests.

The Biology Project (University of Arizona)
Resources for several areas of biology, including tutorials and practice problem sets.

Studying Biology (Bryn Mawr College)
Long list of links to resources, with many split up by areas of biology.

Business

Business Presentations
A SFU Library page that links to resources to help you conduct a successful presentation in Business or any other discipline.

A Guide For Students Studying Accounting (California State University, Northridge)
Tips for reading the textbook, solving problems, and writing exams.

Accounting Terms Defined (Best Accounting Software)

Exam tips for Business Law courses (Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University) - Includes the "IPAC Method" for answering case questions and tips for open book exams.

Chemistry

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General Chemistry Online (Frostburg State University)
Check out the Exam Survival Guide: 10 Ways to Pass Your Next Exam, General tips on how to answer questions on measurement, matter and molarity, plus chemistry practice exams. Also see the Tutorial index:  A helpful selection of tutorials and quizzes on measurement, matter, atoms & ions, compounds, chemical change, and gases

Chemistry Links (Commodity.com) - Numerous resources, from an online periodic table, to a chemistry dictionary, to lab safety information, to chemistry games.

Online Periodic Table (Chemical Elements.com)
Quick periodic table reference at your fingertips

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

For tips specific to Organic Chemistry, check out one student's success story (from masterorganicchemistry.com).

Cognitive Science

Brain and Cognitive Science from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Lots of practice exams, lecture notes, multimedia content etc. from Cognitive Science courses.

Computing Science

How to Study Computer Science (AI Horizon)
Covers programming languages, design, algorithms, data structures and basic theory.

Contemporary Arts (FPA)

Music and Theater Arts from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Lots of practice exams, lecture notes, multimedia content etc. from music and theatre courses.

Criminology

Exam tips for Law courses (Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University) - Includes the "IPAC Method" for answering case questions and tips for open book exams.

Earth Sciences

Some Geology Stuff (University of Oregon)
Links to pages on several earth science topics.

Economics

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Study Tips for Economics Courses (University of Texas at Austin) - Tips about learning from graphs, as well as note-taking, reading, and exams.

How to Pass Introductory Micro and Macro Economics (University of Guelph) - Detailed suggestions from a student that also apply to more advanced Economics courses.

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

Engineering

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How to Study Math, Science & Engineering (California State Polytechnic University)
An engineering professor gives detailed guidelines on how to be successful in Engineering .

An Engineering Student Survival Guide (North Carolina State University)
A chemical engineering professor who is also an expert on learning styles addresses common challenges in engineering from a learning styles perspective.

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

English

Literary Analysis Papers:  A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - A guide outlining a process for reading and analyzing literature such as poetry.

The Writing Process: Guidelines for Critical Reading (Hunter College) - Instructions for how to read literature/ fiction, followed by instructions for reading non-fiction such as textbooks.

Foreign languages

Strategies for Learning a Foreign Language (Longwood University) - Includes strategies for building vocabulary, learning grammar, and building reading, writing and speaking skills.

Writing in a Foreign Language (Marquette University)
General tips on this difficult skill.

Gender Studies

Womens and Gender Studies from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Practice exams, assignments, lecture notes etc. from women's and gender studies courses.

Geography

How to Read Topographical Maps (Paradise Valley Community College) - The title says it all!

History

What to Expect when you Choose to Study History at University (Historical Association)
The particular challenges of that discipline, and how to deal with them.

Linguistics

Linguistics and Philosophy from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Lots of practice exams, assignments, lecture notes etc. from linguistics courses.

Math

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Includes resources on reading math texts, taking math tests, note-taking for math, overcoming math anxiety, and more.

Math Study Skills: High School vs. College (Mission College)
A chart showing ways in which students must adapt themselves to the expectations of university-level math.

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

Mathwords
"An interactive math dictionary with enough math words, math terms, math formulas, pictures, diagrams, tables, and examples to satisfy your inner math geek."

Math Tutoring Videos (Just Math Tutoring)
Pages and pages of free online videos, showing math tutor "Patrick JMT" solving calculus, algebra, and trigonometry problems.

Philosophy

 

Physics

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How to Study Physics (Brainscape)
Five key strategies to studying physics effectively and what to focus on if you fall behind.

Physexams.com -Many practice questions and answers, broken up by the specific area of physics, as well as lessons and solved examples of key concepts.

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

Political Science

Political Science from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Lots of practice exams, assignments, lecture notes, etc. from political science courses.

Psychology

Study Tips for Psychology (and other courses) (University of Illinois)
Two professors give good general advice for reading and test-based courses.

How to Read (and Understand) a Psychology Journal Article (About.com)
The advice here is applicable to research-based articles in disciplines other than psychology as well.

Coping with multiple choice questions (University of Toronto)
Gives strategies for multiple choice exams, with particular reference to exams for Introductory Psychology.

Sociology

"How should I prepare for my Sociology Test?" (Sociology Source) - An article written by a Sociology professor.

Statistics

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Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics
Contains supplementary resources, including videos and case studies, to help you understand your STAT courses.  This site was suggested by an SFU STAT Faculty member

Numeracy and Quantitative Reasoning Tutorials (University of Guelph)
If you need to brush up on various aspects of math, search the repository for lessons.

Urban Studies

Urban Studies and Planning from MITOpenCourseware (MIT)
Sample assignments, lecture notes, etc. from urban studies courses.

World Literature

Literary Analysis Papers:  A Short Guide to Close Reading for Literary Analysis (University of Wisconsin-Madison) - A guide outlining a process for reading and analyzing literature such as poetry.

The Writing Process: Guidelines for Critical Reading (Hunter College) - Instructions for how to read literature/ fiction, followed by instructions for reading non-fiction such as textbooks.

Writing in specific disciplines

For resources on writing in specific disciplines, see the Student Learning Commons' Writing for university: Disciplines guide.