Credit Hour Policy for Course Delivery – 2025-2026

One credit hour constitutes 750 minutes of instruction per term. Instruction comprises lecture or equivalent instructor-led activity. For each credit, face to face courses  include one hour of direct faculty instruction—such as lectures, discussions, and in-class activities—alongside a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work that students are expected to complete each week of the fifteen week semester. Out-of-class work encompasses a variety of learning activities designed to reinforce and expand on in-class material, including homework assignments, reading assignments, projects, and video-based instruction. This blend ensures that students engage deeply with course material, applying and exploring concepts independently while also benefiting from structured faculty guidance. Together, these elements meet the academic rigor expected in higher education, fostering comprehensive learning and skill development aligned with the course’s goals.

In distance education, a credit hour represents a comparable amount of student effort as face to face courses, though the format may vary. Distance education classes are delivered in an eight week format resulting in an accelerated, condensed academic format compared to fifteen week semesters. For each credit, online instruction includes two hours of asynchronous activities—such as online discussions, recorded lectures, and interactive assignments. Additional out-of-class work includes a minimum of four hours of student work playing a crucial role for students to complete required readings, projects, and self-paced learning modules. These elements are structured to ensure that distance learning aligns with face to face standards, providing an equivalent educational experience and fulfilling the rigorous requirements of the credit hour through varied, flexible methods suited to distance education instruction.

For a hybrid course, credit hours are achieved through a combination of in-person class time and enhanced instructor-led activities supplemented by increased homework and independent study requirements. Hybrid courses integrate face-to-face instruction with online or supplemental activities that reinforce and expand on classroom learning that are equivalent to 750 minutes of instruction per term per credit hour. This includes additional interactive assignments, projects, and guided online discussions designed by the instructor to ensure that students engage actively with the material outside of class. The structured yet flexible format of hybrid courses requires students to balance their time between live sessions and independent study, with the benefit of additional faculty support through both in-person and virtual interactions. This model maintains the credit hour’s rigor, providing a comprehensive learning experience that blends the strengths of traditional and distance education.