Academic Credit Hour Definition

Policy

Minnesota State Mankato’s definition of a credit hour is based on the federal definition (34CFR 600.2; 11/1/2010) of a credit hour listed below:

An academic 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:

1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
2. 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.

Alternative Course Formats

An alternative format course is any course that does not fit the traditional face-to-face, one-hour-per-week per credit model. This includes but is not limited to:

1. Accelerated courses defined as courses with the normal number of seat-time hours but in a more compressed time than a traditional semester length.
2. Hybrid courses defined as reduced seat time with an online component with the same outcomes as the traditional in-seat class.
3. Online courses defined as completely presented in an online environment with the same outcomes as the traditional in-seat class.
4. Flipped courses are defined as courses in which students view lectures outside of class and engage with peers in practice, problem-solving, and research during class.
5. Internships defined as similar hours as a traditional course per credit.
6. Clinical rotations defined as a minimum of similar hours as a traditional course per credit with specific identified outcomes. Time frames may be dictated by an accrediting agency.
7. Individual study or research. The scope of the study or research to require the average student to work an average of three hours a week per credit for 15 weeks.
8. Music performance defined as an educational situation where the student learns about the public performance of music through personal participation. 1 credit hour equals 1-4 hours per week of instruction.
9. Music instruction must conform to the requirement for accreditation of the National Association of Schools of Music and for every one hour of credit, students receive one half hour of instruction.

Alternative Delivery Formats

For each semester hour, student work must equal a minimum of one hour of class and two hours of out-of-class work each week over the scheduled length of the course. Instructor-led hours must include some form of instructor support, facilitation, and/or supervision.

1. Other methods may serve as instructional time including instructional how-to videos, recorded lectures, on-line activities, games, tutorials, small group activities, virtual labs, required participation in live or online discussion, or other instructor-driven self-guided activity delivered live or by electronic media.
2. Faculty may also consider instructor-led field experiences, cultural events, group projects, increased course content, research and information literacy projects, service learning and civic engagement activities, individual or group conferences, oral presentations, and other forms of learning.

Credit Hour Standards

• All sections of a fixed-credit course with the same designator-number-name will achieve the same approved learning outcomes.
• A variable credit course per student (e.g., internship, independent study, workshops, and portfolio) shall include a syllabus and/or contract between the student and the supervising faculty member demonstrating how the number of credits assigned is appropriate for the educational experience. Federal guidelines are an appropriate minimal standard at 45 hours of work per credit.

Measurable Learning Outcomes

Learning outcomes describe what successful students will be able to do by the end of the course. They are the foundation of assessments, activities, and lesson plans. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Minnesota State Mankato provides guidance for writing learning outcomes that are measurable and appropriate to the level of the course.

Procedure

During the curriculum design process, Course credit hours are assigned by the program from which a course originates. This policy recognizes that the ways in which learning outcomes are linked to credit hours vary by discipline. Therefore, a justification shall be included in the curriculum proposal substantiating how the learning outcomes supports the number of credits for the course.

• All new course proposals shall demonstrate how the course meets the revised credit-hour policy.
• All course modification proposals requesting changes to the number of credits shall illustrate how the course meets academic credit hour requirements.

All assignment of credit hours by a program must be completed in accordance with this policy and reviewed by the appropriate college curriculum committee, Undergraduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee and/or the Graduate Curriculum and Academic Policy Committee, and other required bodies in the curriculum design process.

The University Registrar reviews all curriculum changes and ensures adherence to the credit hour policy.

Rationale

In compliance with Higher Learning Commission Policy FDCR.A.10.020 – Assignment of Credit, Program Length, and Tuition the institution shall be able to equate its learning experiences with semester academic credit hours using practices common to institutions of higher education.