Undergraduate Credit Definition

Credit Hour Context

Federal Definition of the Credit Hour (34 CFR 600.2 effective July 1, 2011). 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 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; or
2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in item 1 above for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The National Center for Education Statistics and common practice in higher education define a credit hour as 50 minutes of faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for 1 semester hour of credit. One week of the 15 weeks is typically reserved for final examinations. This equates to 700 instructional contact minutes per credit hour and 1400 out-of-class contact minutes per credit hour over the 14-week instructional period. Courses greater than a one-hour equivalency increase proportionately.

SACSCOC Context

Federal regulations delegate responsibility for enforcing the credit hour to the accrediting agencies. SACSCOC FR 4.9 requires that “the institution has policies and procedures for determining the credit hours awarded for courses and programs that conform to commonly accepted practices in higher education and to Commission policy."

Definition of the Undergraduate Credit Hour
Washington and Lee University

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC TERMS
The undergraduate calendar consists of two 13-week terms (Fall and Winter) and one 4-week term (Spring), with the final week in Fall and Winter terms reserved for examinations.

DEFINITION OF A CREDIT HOUR

A “credit hour” is defined as the 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:

(a) Fall and Winter Terms:

1. One hour of in-class instructional time per week for 12 weeks and a minimum of two hours per week of out-of-class work for the same period. Week 13 of the term is typically reserved for exams and may include both in- and out-of-class contact time. For the purposes of this section, an “hour” is defined as 60 minutes:

• in-class instructional time = 1 hour x 12 weeks = 12 contact hours (720 contact minutes);
• out-of-class work = at least 2 hours x 12 weeks = 24 contact hours (1440 contact minutes);
• total = 36 contact hours (2160 contact minutes), exclusive of the 13th week exam period;
• courses that are greater than one credit hour are valued in proportion to equivalent in- and out-of-class contact time;
• example: a 3-credit hour course will meet for 3 hours (180 minutes) each week for 12 weeks and includes a minimum of 6 hours per week of out-of-class work for the same period. Week 13 of the term is excluded from the instructional totals and typically includes an exam period.

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in “section (a).i.” of this definition for other academic activities as established by the faculty, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, supervised undergraduate research, and other academic and experiential work leading to the award of credit hours. Total contact time for these courses is at least 36 hours per credit per term and includes any combination of both in- and out-of-class contact time to that end.

(b) Spring Term: the Spring Term is to be educationally intensive, with in- and out-of-class instructional activities intended to engage students fully in a concentrated learning experience that, in its credit hour equivalency, parallels the expectations of the Fall and Winter terms but in a shortened timeframe.

1. Two (2) to 3 hours of in-class instructional time per week for 4 weeks and a minimum of 6.75 - 6 hours per week of out-of-class work for the same period. For the purpose of this section, an hour is defined as 60 minutes.

• in-class instructional time ranges from: 2.25 hours x 4 weeks = 9 contact hours; to, 3 hours x 4 weeks = 12 contact hours for each credit hour;
• out-of-class work ranges from: 6.75 hours x 4 weeks = 27 hours; to, 6 hours x 4 weeks = 24 hours (for each credit hour);
• total = 36 contact hours;
• courses that are greater than one hour are valued in proportion to equivalent in- and out-of-class contact time;
• range of in- and out-of-class work provides flexibility appropriate to the intensive nature of the Spring Term experience. Total contact time for each Spring Term credit is 36 contact hours regardless of the in- and out-of-class proportions;
• example 1: a 4-credit hour course will meet for 9 hours each week for 4 weeks and includes a minimum of 27 hours of out-of-class work per week for the same period; alternatively, a 4-credit hour course that meets for 12 hours each week for 4 weeks includes a minimum of 24 hours of out-of-class work per week for the same period.
• example 2: a 3-credit hour course will meet for 9 hours each week for 4 weeks and includes a minimum of 18 hours of out-of-class work per week for the same period; alternatively, a 3-credit hour course that meets for 12 hours each week for 4 weeks includes a minimum of 15 hours of out-of-class work per week for the same period.

2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in “section (b).i.” of this definition for other academic activities as established by the faculty, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, supervised undergraduate research, and other academic and experiential work leading to the award of credit hours. Total contact time for these courses is at least 36 hours per credit hour per term and includes any combination of both in- and out-of-class contact time to that end.

(c) Alternative delivery - all terms

1. Classes that do not have the required face-to-face contact time (for example, hybrid or online courses) meet the credit hour standard if they meet one of the following criteria:

1. the course covers the same material in the same depth as a face-to-face version of the same course;
2. the course has been evaluated by the department and the Courses and Degrees Committee for content and rigor, and the department, the Courses and Degrees Committee, and Faculty have approved the credit to be awarded. Approval must be documented.