In college course schedules, ‘TBA’ commonly stands for “To Be Announced.” This designation signifies that specific details regarding the course, such as the meeting time, location, or even the instructor, are not yet finalized at the time of schedule publication. For example, a student might see “Lecture: TBA” on their course registration, indicating that the lecture hall and time slot will be determined and communicated later by the academic department.
The use of this abbreviation allows institutions to release preliminary schedules, enabling students to begin planning their semesters. It accommodates situations where logistical arrangements are still in progress, staffing decisions are pending, or classroom assignments are not yet complete. Historically, this practice has streamlined the scheduling process, offering flexibility to departments while providing students with advance notice of course offerings. This also allows the instructor to prepare materials adequately for their courses.
