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 the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time: or
At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) 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.
To comply with the USDE criteria on credit hours, Bellin College defines credit hours as outlined below. A credit hour is defined as a required time in which all students are directly engaged with the instructor(s) of the course, synchronously or asynchronously, either in classroom, lab, or clinical settings or virtually through telepresence, web-conference, or other online platforms. Each classroom clock hour equates to 55 minutes out of a 60-minute time period. Instruction hours per credit are calculated as follows:
General Education:
- 1 student credit, classroom, or online = 15 hours
- 1 student credit, lab = 30 hours
Nursing - BSN:
- 1 student credit, classroom, or online = 15 hours
- 1 student credit, lab = 45 hours
- 1 student credit, clinical = 45 hours
The credit load assumes a minimum of at least 30 hours per credit of outside-of-class student work to include reading, assignments, and assessment over the course duration. Outside preparation is documented in the curricular materials and syllabi.
Should a course encounter any class falling on a date when the college is closed due to a holiday, make-up hours of in-class time are not scheduled. The faculty member needs to account for such instances in planning courses and make adjustments as needed using his or her discretion. Options to address missed face-to-face course class time include, but are not limited to, online activities, readings, papers, outside course assignments, or projects.