Definition of a Credit Hour



To: DEOs, Directors of Undergraduate Studies, and Key AdministratorsFrom:Helena Dettmer, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs and Curriculum RE: Definition of the Credit HourAs you review your spring offerings and propose your summer schedule, please be aware of the definition of the credit hour, both at the Federal level and as interpreted by The University of Iowa. A complete report on the matter is available from the UI Credit Hour Committee.This report gives the Federal definition of the credit hour as cited by the Higher Learning Commission: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;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 the awarding of credit hours.The institutionally established equivalencies at The University of Iowa are below, as stated in the UI Credit Hour Committee report. These standards apply to both undergraduate and graduate courses.Definition of a Credit HourFor each semester hour of credit, classes that meet in a face-to-face format must include one 50-minute period with the instructor and two hours of outside of class work for 15 weeks.1 credit hour = 50 minutes contact + 120 minutes outside work over 15 weeks for a total of 2,550 minutes of student engagement.One hour of credit may be awarded for laboratory and discussion sections that meet a minimum of 50 minutes per week and a maximum of 150 minutes per week. No more than one credit may be awarded for lab and discussion sections without approval of the Office of the Provost. 1 credit hour = 1 to 3 lab and discussion sessions ranging from a total of 50 to 150 minutes. Classes that do not have the required face-to-face contact time (for example, hybrid or online courses) meet the credit hour standard if they meet one of the following criteria:The course covers the same material in the same depth as a face-to-face version of the same course.The course has been evaluated by the department and college for content and rigor, and the department and college have approved the s.h. credit to be awarded; this approval must be documented. Any off-cycle course must be equivalent in both contact and outside work totals as a semester-length course. If outside work is not assigned, lost hours must be made up through additional contact time. For example, a one semester hour workshop course meeting for 5 days and without assigned outside work would need to meet 8.5 hours per day, calculated as follows:50 minutes contact time x 15 weeks = 750 minutes total contact time 120 minutes outside work x 15 weeks = 1800 minutes total outside work750 + 1800 minutes = 2,550 minutes total engagement of student in course2,550 minute = 42.5 hours or 8.5 hours per day for 5 days for 1 semester hour of creditNOTE: Standard undergraduate and graduate courses on campus are offered for three or four s.h. credit. Courses that do not meet the credit hour standards outlined above, including those offered for more than four hours, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of the Provost.If you have questions or anticipate needing a credit hour exception, please contact my office before asking for approval from the Office of the Provost. Approval must be granted at the collegiate level before moving forward to the Provost.Thank you for reviewing your scheduled offerings and for letting me know if you have questions or concerns. ................
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