course vs way of life

course and way of life both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
course	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
way of life	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, way of life is a hyponym of course; that is, way of life is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than course:

Other hyponyms of course include blind alley, collision course, path, way.

course (noun)	way of life (noun)
a mode of action	a course of conduct
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
facility consisting of a circumscribed area of land or water laid out for a sport
(construction) a layer of masonry
part of a meal served at one time
a connected series of events or actions or developments
a body of students who are taught together
general line of orientation
a line or route along which something travels or moves

course (adverb)	way of life (adverb)
as might be expected