What are the university programs and courses? University programs and courses are academic study programs offered by universities, colleges and other higher education institutions. These programs and courses are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a particular field of study or career. While the terms “university courses” and “university programs” are used interchangeably in many countries, in the USA university programs usually consist of a series of compulsory courses covering the basic concepts and principles of a field of study, as well as a selection. these are elective courses that allow students to specialize in a specific area of interest