Academic Guide
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Policy regarding inactive courses and Banner Catalog - memo issued 8/08/14
Credit Hours
*updated August 2022
The credit hour is the standard currently used as the measure of academic rigor by universities and accrediting bodies, including the accrediting bodies that oversee Binghamton University. In order to maintain the highest academic standards, to meet our regulatory obligations, and to help students understand the typical demands of our courses, faculty should add to course syllabi a statement detailing expectations so that course standards are conveyed more clearly to students.
Summary Table of Course-related Work for a 4-credit/3-credit Course in Various Current Semester Formats
| Student workload expectation for 4-credit courses |
In-class hours (weekly) |
Outside-of-class hours (weekly) |
Total hours per week |
|
Fall/Spring semester courses meeting 3 hours per week for lecture/discussion (14 weeks) |
3 | 9.5 | 12.5 |
|
Fall/Spring semester courses with additional meeting times (discussion sections, labs or other) (14 weeks) |
(varies) | (varies) | 12.5 |
| Summer session (5 week) face-to-face courses | 10 | 25 | 35 |
| Summer session (5 week) online courses | n/a | 35 | 35 |
| Winter session (3 week) face-to-face courses | 15 | 43 | 58 |
| Winter session (3 week) online courses | n/a | 58 | 58 |
| Student workload expectation for 3-credit courses |
In-class hours (weekly) |
Outside-of-class hours (weekly) |
Total hours per week |
|
Fall/Spring semester courses meeting 3 hours per week for lecture/discussion (14 weeks) |
3 | 6.5 | 9.5 |
|
Fall/Spring semester courses with additional meeting times (discussion sections, labs or other) (14 weeks) |
(varies) | (varies) | 9.5 |
| Summer session (5 week) face-to-face courses | 10 | 15.5 | 25.5 |
| Summer session (5 week) online courses | n/a | 25.5 | 25.5 |
| Winter session (3 week) face-to-face courses | 15 | 27.5 | 42.5 |
| Winter session (3 week) online courses | n/a | 42.5 | 42.5 |
Sample syllabus statements
A. 4-credit courses
For Fall/Spring semester-long 4-credit courses that meet in the standard 3-day or 2-day meeting patterns:
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled lectures/discussions, students are expected to do at least 9.5 hours of course-related work each week during the semester. This includes things like: completing assigned readings, participating in lab sessions, studying for tests and examinations, preparing written assignments, completing internship or clinical placement requirements, and other tasks that must be completed to earn credit in the course.
For Fall/Spring 4-credit semester-long courses with non-standard meeting times (i.e.
not the standard 3-day or 2-day meeting patterns):
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at
least 12.5 hours of course-related work or activity each week during the semester.
This includes scheduled class lecture/discussion meeting times as well as time spent
completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations, participating in
lab sessions, preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
For Summer session face-to-face courses:
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled meeting
times, students are expected to do at least 25 hours of course-related work each week
of the 5-week Summer session. This includes work done completing assigned readings,
participating in lab sessions, studying for tests and examinations, preparing written
assignments, and other course- related tasks.
For Summer session fully online courses:
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at
least 35 hours of course-related work each week of the 5-week Summer session. This
includes work done completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations,
preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
For Winter session face-to-face courses:
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled meeting
times, students are expected to do at least 43 hours of course-related work outside
of class each week during the 3-week Winter session. This includes work done completing
assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations, preparing written assignments,
and other course-related tasks.
For Winter session fully online courses:
This course is a 4-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at
least 58 hours of course-related work each week during the 3-week Winter session.
This includes work done completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations,
preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
B. 3-credit courses
For Fall/Spring semester-long 3-credit courses that meet in the standard 3-day or 2-day meeting patterns:
This course is a 3-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled lectures/discussions, students are expected to do at least 6.5 hours of course-related work each week during the semester. This includes things like: completing assigned readings, participating in lab sessions, studying for tests and examinations, preparing written assignments, completing internship or clinical placement requirements, and other tasks that must be completed to earn credit in the course.
For Fall/Spring 3-credit semester-long courses with non-standard meeting times (i.e. not the standard 3-day or 2-day meeting patterns):
This course is a 3-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at least 9 - 9.5 hours of course-related work or activity each week during the semester. This includes scheduled class lecture/discussion meeting times as well as time spent completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations, participating in lab sessions, preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
For Winter session fully online courses:
This course is a 3-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at
least 42.5 hours of course-related work each week during the 3-week Winter session.
This includes work done completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations,
preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
C. 2-credit courses
For Fall/Spring 2-credit semester-long courses with non-standard meeting times (i.e. not the standard 3-day or 2-day meeting patterns):
This course is a 2-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at least 6 - 6.5 hours of course-related work or activity each week during the semester. This includes scheduled class lecture/discussion meeting times as well as time spent completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations, participating in lab sessions, preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
For Winter session fully online courses:
This course is a 2-credit course, which means that students are expected to do at
least 29 hours of course-related work each week during the 3-week Winter session.
This includes work done completing assigned readings, studying for tests and examinations,
preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks.
Relevant Definitions and Policy Statement Summaries
United States Department of Education – Credit Hour Definition
The U.S. Department of Education defines a credit hour as: Except as provided in 34
CFR 668.8(k) and (l), 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 postsecondary 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 period of time; or
- At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1)(i) 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; 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.
Middle States Commission on Higher Education Policy
- The Credit Hour Policy and Procedures state that institutions may use different methodologies
for determining the assignment of credit hours. The methodology for assigning credit
hours should accurately represent the level of instruction, academic rigor, and time
requirements of a course taken and educational programs should be of sufficient content,
depth, and program length appropriate to the objectives of the degree or credential.
Both within and between institutions, consistency in credit hour determinations has
implications for the transferability of credit and minimizing the loss of credit for
students. The definitions for clock hour and credit hour were updated to align with
revised federal regulations in 34 C.F.R. 600.2.
New York State Education Department
- Semester hour means a credit, point, or other unit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments, except as otherwise provided pursuant to section 52.2(c)(4) of this Subchapter. This basic measure shall be adjusted proportionately to translate the value of other academic calendars and formats of study in relation to the credit granted for study during the two semesters that comprise an academic year.
Acceptable Use and Fair Use and Copyright Policies
Commercialization of student class notes - memo issued 9/1/16
