Credit Hour Definition
Stevenson University adheres to the following federal credit-hour definition for all courses regardless of credit, duration, or modality:
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:
- 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; or
- at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours. 34CFR 600.2
Following accepted practices in higher education, Stevenson defines a credit hour as equivalent to 50 minutes of direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work for a minimum of 15 weeks. During fall and spring semesters, a three credit course typically meets for 150 minutes per week (three 50-minute class meetings or two 75-minute class meetings) for 15 weeks. At least an equivalent amount of work is required for other activities leading to the award of academic credit, for modalities in which classroom instruction (“seat time”) is not the primary method of instruction, and for work completed in compressed semesters (summer and Winterim).