Credit Hour Definition
Regardless of course duration, delivery, or instructional method, Stevenson University awards academic credit in compliance with Maryland state requirements outlined in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) and with the Department of Education’s federal credit-hour definition, as defined in the Federal Code of Regulations.
State credit hour definition (COMAR 13b.02.02.16.D) (1) An in-State institution shall award 1 credit hour for:
• A minimum of 15 hours, of 50 minutes each of actual class time, exclusive of registration, study days, and holidays;
• A minimum of 30 hours, of 50 minutes each of supervised laboratory or studio time, exclusive of registration, study days, and holidays;
• A minimum of 45 hours, of 50 minutes each of instructional situations such as practica, internships, and cooperative education placements, when supervision is ensured and learning is documented; or
• Instruction delivered by electronic media based on the equivalent outcomes in student learning in §D(1)(a) of this regulation, and may include a combination of telelessons, classroom instruction, student consultation with instructors, and readings, when supervision is ensured and learning is documented.
(2) One quarter hour of credit is awarded for instruction equivalent to 2/3 of the contact hours required for 1 credit hour.
Federal credit hour definition (34 CFR §600.2)
A credit hour is an amount of student work defined by an institution, as approved by the institution's accrediting agency or State approval agency, that is consistent with commonly accepted practice in post-secondary education and 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 the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours: and
- Permits an institution, in determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, to take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.
For additional information please see the Academic Affairs portal page.