# Setting up a new course space

https://help.circle.so/p/courses/course-setup/setting-up-a-new-course-space

Category: [Courses](https://help.circle.so/p/courses) › [Course setup](https://help.circle.so/p/courses/course-setup)

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_Last updated: July, 2026_

## About course spaces

Courses are dedicated spaces within the community, just like other space types such as posts and events. You can create a standalone course space within a space group or integrate it with other space types within a group to offer a more seamless learning experience. This flexibility allows you to structure courses to best fit your community’s needs.

There are three types of course spaces you can choose from:

- **Self-paced** : Choose this type if you wish to grant students immediate access to all course content upon enrollment, allowing them to learn at their own pace.

- **Structured** : If you prefer to gradually release course sections based on student enrollment, this course type is the way to go. With this option, you can drip course sections after certain days relative to each student’s enrollment date.

- **Scheduled:** This is an ideal course type when you want to set a predetermined schedule for releasing each section, so that sections drip on a specific date for all students.

## **Create a course space**

1. Hover over a space group, click the ➕ icon, and select **Create space**.

2. Select **Course** from the **Create a course** dialog and click **Next.**

3. Select your preferred course type and click **Next**.

1. Configure essential space details: 

2. Click **Create space.**

> ℹ️ **Note:** Course spaces are created in **draft** mode. Draft your course content in private, hit publish on individual lessons, and publish your course space from space settings only when ready.

📚 For more information about course space customization, see [**Customize course space settings.**](/p/courses/course-setup/customize-course-space-settings)

### Build courses with Circle AI

Circle AI can turn your existing content into a complete course, complete with modules, lessons, and quizzes. You can input a prompt describing your course structure and content, and Circle AI builds the course for you.

To access Circle AI:

1. Click the dropdown icon next to your community name (or logo) in the top-left corner.

2. Select **Circle AI** or **New chat**.

3. Enter your prompt into the chat.

📚 For a ready-to-use prompt template you can copy, update with your own course details, and paste into Circle AI, see [Build complete courses with Circle AI](https://community.circle.so/c/build-with-ai/build-complete-courses-with-circle-ai).

## **Customize course labels**

You can customize  **Lesson ** and  **Section ** headings in courses to better fit your content.

You can choose from the labels below to match your course structure: 

- **Sections** can be labeled as **Chapter, Level, Module, Part, Path, Phase, Section, Stage, Track, Unit,** or **Week,** or kept as the default label, **Section**.

- **Lessons** can be labeled as **Activity, Assignment, Challenge, Class, Day, Exercise, Lecture, Lesson, Session, Topic, Tutorial,** or **Workshop,** or kept as the default label, **Lesson**.

You can update these labels globally from the courses directory settings (click the **More actions (three dots)** icon in the right corner of the directory navigation bar and select **Options** ). Alternatively, you can customize them for individual courses by clicking the **More actions (three dots)** icon in the course dashboard, then selecting **Edit labels**.

## **It’s time to start building the course!**

📚 Check out the following article to learn more about building your course curriculum:

- [**Building a course curriculum**](/p/courses/course-setup/building-a-course-curriculum)

## **Circle community resources**

- [**Set up your course space**](https://community.circle.so/c/tutorials/set-up-your-course-space)

## **Relevant articles**

- [**Customize course space settings**](/p/courses/course-setup/customize-course-space-settings)

- [**Add links to the top of the spaces**](/p/basics/spaces/add-links-to-the-top-of-the-spaces)

- [**Create course content using the lesson editor**](/p/courses/course-setup/create-course-content-using-the-lesson-editor)

- [**Preview your course as a member**](/p/courses/course-setup/preview-your-course-as-a-member)

- [**Understanding course publication**](/p/courses/course-setup/understanding-course-publication)