Policy on the Credit Hour:

Students earn academic credit measured in semester units.

An academic hour is defined as 50 minutes.

• 1 semester unit = a minimum of 15 hours of “class time or direct faculty instruction” plus a minimum of 30 hours of out-of-class student work per academic term. 

• Non-classroom credit-bearing academic activities, such as laboratory work, studio work, internships and field practica, require an amount of work at least equivalent to that required for classroom-based units, to attain the intended learning outcomes as identified in the syllabus. 

• As courses make use of new modalities, quality and content will be ensured through reasonable equivalencies, clear learning outcomes, and evidence of student achievement. 

• Courses are approved by the Curriculum Development and Review Committee.  Syllabi are reviewed by Division Chairs.