Calculation of Credit Hour
Federal Definition of Credit Hour
Credit hour: Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and (l), 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 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. (34 CFR 600.2)
CMU’s Calculation of Credit Hour
CMU will observe the following minimum time requirements for courses:
- Online courses are as rigorous as on-ground courses and typically require as much time to complete the coursework as the on-ground counterpart. Thus, students are expected to demonstrate they have met the student learning outcomes equivalent to a traditionally delivered course.
- Hybrid courses combine on-ground and online study. These courses are as rigorous as completely on-ground courses and typically require as much time to complete the coursework as the on-ground counterpart. Thus, students are expected to demonstrate they have met the student learning outcomes equivalent to a traditionally delivered course.
Students will have the opportunity to meet learning outcomes in a number of ways through online and/or hybrid coursework.
- Direct faculty instruction will include:
- Weekly threaded discussion forums
- PowerPoint Presentations without audio
- PowerPoint Presentations with audio
- Lecture notes
- Video lectures
- Assigned videos (does not include lecture videos)
- Quizzes/Exams
- Rough Draft feedback
- Face-to-Face meetings (hybrid only)
- Out of class student work will include:
- Readings
- Written assignments (papers, journals, reviews, etc)
- Rough Draft papers
- Paper revisions
- Research
- Case Studies
- Power Point Presentations
- Assigned homework problems
- Clinical/Practicum/Internship
Calculations for an 8-week course:
| Credit Hours |
Direct Instruction Hours |
Student Work Hours |
Total Course Hours |
| 1 |
15 |
30 |
45/8-weeks |
| 2 |
30 |
60 |
90/8-weeks |
| 3 |
45 |
90 |
135/8-weeks |
| 4 |
60 |
120 |
180/8-weeks |
| 5 |
75 |
150 |
225/8-weeks |
| 6 |
90 |
180 |
270/8-weeks |
Calculations for a 16-week course:
| Credit Hours |
Direct Instruction Hours |
Student Work Hours |
Total Course Hours |
| 1 |
15 |
30 |
45/16-weeks |
| 2 |
30 |
60 |
90/16-weeks |
| 3 |
45 |
90 |
135/16-weeks |
| 4 |
60 |
120 |
180/16-weeks |
| 5 |
75 |
150 |
225/16-weeks |
| 6 |
90 |
180 |
270/16-weeks |
**Final exams and/or presentations are completed during the 16 th week.
Calculations for direct faculty instruction:
| Weekly threaded discussion forums |
100-200 level courses = 2.5 hours per topic
300-400 level courses = 4 hours per topic
Graduate level courses = 4 hours per topic |
| PowerPoint Presentations without audio |
50 minutes |
| PowerPoint Presentations with audio |
50 minutes |
| Lecture notes |
50 minutes |
| Video lectures |
50 minutes |
| Face-to-Face meetings (hybrid only) |
1 hour = 1 hour |
| Assigned videos (does not include lecture videos) |
50 minutes |
| Quizzes/Exams |
1 hour of prep
50 minutes to take the quiz/exam |
| Mid-term/Final |
5 hours of prep
2 hours to take the mid-term/final |
| Instructor feedback |
10 minutes per submitted assignment per student |
|
Calculations for student work:
| Readings |
100-200 level courses = 10 minutes per page
300-400 level courses = 8 minutes per page
Graduate level courses = 6 minutes per page |
| Formal writing assignments |
30 minutes per page |
| Rough draft papers |
60 minutes total |
| Research |
2 hours per page |
| Case Studies |
1 hour per page |
| PowerPoint Presentations |
2 hours total |
| Speeches |
1 hour per minute for prep and presentation |
| Misc. assignments |
2 hours per assignment |
|
Calculations for Applied Music (Private Lessons)
| 45 hours of practice |
1 credit hour |
| 90 hours of practice |
2 credit hours |
| 135 hours of practice |
3 credit hours |
Calculations for Clinical/Practicum/Internship/Lab:
| Clinical |
40 work hours = 1 credit hour |
| Practicum |
Variable 20-40 observation hours = 1 credit hour |
| Internship |
40 work hours = 1 credit hour |
| Lab |
30 contact hours = 1 credit hour |
Calculations for Clinical/Practicum/Internship for Graduate Athletic Training :
| Clinical |
Minimum 100 work hours=1 credit hour |
| Internship |
Minimum 100 work hours=1 credit hour |
| Practicum |
Minimum 100 observation hours=1 credit hour |
Calculations for Practicum/Internship for Clinical Counseling:
| Internship |
100 work hours=1 credit hour |
| Practicum |
100 work hours=1 credit hour |
Calculations for Independent Study:
Independent projects, such as special problems, in which the student works more or less individually at various locations, ordinarily requiring intermittent consultation with the professor. The instructor will identify appropriate outcomes/objectives to meet the credit hour requirements of the course.
Hours spent on the course per week may vary from week to week, though the standard total time spent is as follows
| 40 hours of student work + 5 hours of direct instruction |
1 credit hour |
| 80 hours of student work + 10 hours of direct instruction |
2 credit hours |
| 120 hours of student work + 15 hours of direct instruction |
3 credit hours |
| 160 hours of student work + 20 hours of direct instruction |
4 credit hours |
| 205 hours of student work + 25 hours of direct instruction |
5 credit hours |