All courses in this catalog are 4 credits and meet the defined criteria of a 4 credit course as listed in below:
One credit hour is equivalent to one hour (50 minutes minimum) of lecture and two (2) hours of out-of-class work each week. For all standard 15-week semesters of instruction, and for non-standard (condensed) and online courses the following contact times (minimums) are assigned for every one (1) credit hour based upon the specific type of learning activity:
- Synchronous Classroom: 1 hour of contact time and 2 hours of out-of-class work for each week of instruction
- Laboratory: 2-4 hours of contact time for each week of instruction
- Research/Field Work: 2-4 hours of contact time for each week of instruction
- Clinical: 2-4 hours of contact time for each week of instruction
- Simulation: 2-4 hours of contact time for each week of instruction
- Other Activities: 3 hours of contact time (Exam time can be considered part of contact time if an instructor chooses to count time spent on assessment as part of contact time)
- Asynchronous Education (i.e. Online or Distance Learning): 3 hours of student work for each week. Student work includes reading, research, online discussion, instruction, and assigned group activities, preparation of papers or presentations.
The Curriculum Committee of each College approves the number of credit hours for all courses, regardless of mode of delivery. The determination/assignment of credit hours should reflect the educational content of the course and the time required for a typical student to achieve the College’s desired outcomes.