Semester Credit Hours Guidelines
Introduction
Credit hour is the unit by which an institution measures its course work. The number of
credit hours assigned to a course quantitatively reflects the outcomes expected, the mode
of instruction, the amount of time spent in class, and the amount of outside preparatory
work expected for the class.
Considerable variation exists from institution to institution and within a given institution.
A semester credit hour is the most commonly used system of measuring course work and
is usually based on at least a 14-17 week calendar. Further, a class hour varies from 45
to 60 minutes in various institutions. Many of the definitions refer to weekly student
class hours (WSCH). Most faculties adopt a consistent measure within guidelines for
their institution’s course offerings.
These consistencies have made it possible for accrediting groups to compare programs at
multiple institutions. They make the handling of transfer credit from institution to
institution reasonably systematic. They make it possible that institutions can issue
“transcripts that follow commonly accepted practices and accurately reflect a student’s
academic experience" as required by Criterion 5 of the North Central Association’s
Criteria for Accreditation (Adopted February 2001). Further, prospective students can
make meaningful comparisons between institutions and academic programs.
Additionally, federal and state reporting requirements can be analyzed, achieved, and
communicated.
Using the 16-week semester, the semester credit hour, and the 50-minute class hour,
Purdue University course offerings are measured under the following guidelines.
Credit Guidelines
One semester credit hour is assigned in the following ratio of component hours per week
devoted to the course of study:
Non-Laboratory Class Instruction
Lecture, Recitation -
Normally, one credit hour is associated with a class meeting for 50 minutes per
week for an entire semester (or the equivalent 750 semester-minutes, excluding
final exams). Another widely repeated standard states that each in-class hour of
college work should require two hours of preparation or other outside work.
Presentation –
1/2 credit hour is associated with a class meeting for 50 minutes per week for an
entire semester (or the equivalent 750 semester-minutes, excluding final exam).
Laboratory Class Instruction
Laboratory –
Normally, one credit hour is associated with a class meeting for 50 to 200 minutes
per week for an entire semester (or the equivalent 750 to 3,000 semester-minutes,
excluding final exam, in other meeting formats). Two semester credit hours could
be earned for a class meeting for 150 to 300 minutes per week over the semester.
(The overlap in minutes in class allows for departmental discretion.)
Lab Prep –
One semester credit hour is associated with a class meeting 50 to 150 minutes per
week over the semester.
Clinic –
One semester credit hour is associated with a class meeting 100 to 300 minutes
per week over the semester.
Studio -
One semester credit hour is associated with a class meeting 100 to 300 minutes
per week over the semester.
Independent Study
Experiential, Research, Individual Study –
Credit hours associated with this type of instruction will be assigned credit
depending upon the amount of activity associated with the course, faculty
supervision, and students outside work activity.
Distance –
Credit hours associated with this organizational type of a course should be
equivalent to credit hours when a course is delivered in another format on
campus.
Non-Directed Study
Practice/Study/Observation –
No credit hours or staff effort are directly associated with these learning
situations.
Types of Credit Awarded in the Purdue University System
Regular Credit:
Credit earned for regularly offered collegiate courses of instruction that meet the
requirements of a degree program.
Thesis Credit:
Credit awarded to students for research toward completion of a research project, or a
degree thesis or dissertation. This credit allows measure of the expected amount of work
and the resources used, while the student actually earns zero degree credit hours. The
benefit obtained is primarily to account for the resources provided, to use in reporting to
governments, and in maintaining the students’ financial aid position. Example: Senior
Research Project, Master’s Thesis, Doctoral Dissertation.
Equivalent Credit:
Hours are assigned to courses to reflect the value of resources used to provide the class,
such as rooms, instructors, equipment, etc. Equivalent hours are used in the registration
process but revert to zero when posted to the student’s academic history. Example: A
seminar with a visiting professor, over and above existing degree requirements. The
benefit obtained is primarily to account for the resources provided, to use in reporting to
governments, and in maintaining the students’ financial aid position.
Continuing Education Units (CEU):
These units of credit are usually assigned to continuing education work accomplished
during short courses and conferences. Typically, this is not work used to complete
requirements for a degree but may contribute to maintaining licensing or other
certification.
Procedure for Exceptions
Many situations and new developments may cause a given department or faculty member
to vary from the guidelines listed above in the assigning of credit. If this situation should
arise, a Registrar Form 40 should be submitted creating or revising the course, specifying
the type of variance to be applied, and the expected benefit. This formal notification will
allow the Office of the Registrar to document such variances, continuously synchronize
the faculty’s pedagogical expectations, and will assist in acknowledging
interdepartmental preferences that may logically be converted to needed revisions of the
guidelines and policies.
Value of Guidelines
Even though exceptions may be necessary, guidelines are still useful in assigning a
measure of the student’s academic experience. Consistency in measuring the effort of
students and faculty contributes greatly to reliable reporting and evaluation.
These guidelines also help a student to understand the amount of effort that must be
expended to complete a course or receive a degree. At most institutions on a semester
credit hour system, a four-year degree usually requires 120-140 semester hours of credit,
implying that the full-time student would earn 15 to 17 semester credit hours for each of
eight semesters. If each semester credit hour represents about three hours of study or
class attendance each week, this would imply an average 45-51 hour workweek for the
student.
