Academic Credit Hour Definition
The University has adopted the following US Department of Education definition of a credit hour:
A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time.
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practical, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Contact Time:
• 1 credit hour (50-min unit) x 15 class periods = 750 minutes=12.5 hours of direct instruction per semester
• 2 credit hour (50-min unit) x 30 class periods = 1500 minutes=25 hours of direct instruction per semester
• 3 credit hour (50-min unit) x 45 class periods = 2250 minutes =37.5 hours of direct instruction per semester
• 4 credit hour (50-min unit) x 60 class periods = 3000 minutes = 50 hours of direct instruction per semester
*contact time based on 50 min classroom period (1 contact hour = 50 minutes)
** Based on academic calendar definition of a 15-week full term including finals week.
***In courses, such as those offered online, in which “seat time” does not apply, a credit hour may be measured by an equivalent amount of work, as demonstrated by student achievement.