Credit Hour Definition
The semester credit hour is a unit by which an institution measures its course work. The value of a credit hour can be determined by time, the educational experience, and outside preparation by the student.
The following constitutes the definition of a credit hour for various modes of instruction offered at UIW.
- At least fifteen (15) contact hours, as well as a minimum of thirty (30) hours of student homework is required for each credit hour.
- For on-line and blended courses, credit hours are assigned based on learning outcomes that are equivalent to those in a traditional course setting: the combination of direct instruction plus outside work will equal forty-five (45) hours for each hour of credit.
- Laboratory courses, with little outside work, require a minimum of forty-five (45) contact hours. If moderate outside work is required, thirty (30) contact hours are required.
- Art courses follow the recommendations for awarding credit as recommended by The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the Texas Association of Schools of Art (TASA). In lecture courses, like art history, normally one hour of credit represents one 50-minute session each week of the term. For studio classes, normally a ratio of one hour of credit = two hours of contact time and one hour of outside work per week.
- Music courses follow the recommendations for awarding credit as required by The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Normally, a semester hour of credit represents at least three hours of work each week for each week of the term. In lecture classes, such as music history, normally one hour of credit is given for one 50-minute session plus two hours of homework each week of the term. For ensembles normally one hour of credit is given for two to four 50-minute rehearsal sessions per week, depending on the ensemble. For applied lessons, two hours of credit are awarded for each 60-minute lesson per week with the instructor, plus 7-14 hours of individual practice outside the lesson.
- Internships, clinical and field experiences award credit based on established standards and precedent for specific disciplines; in some cases the ratio of clock to credit hours is specified by regulatory/accreditation agencies. The following table shows some examples of the ratio of clock hours to credit hour in various disciplines.
| Discipline |
Experience |
Ratio of clock to credit hours |
Number of clock hours / credit hour in 15 week term |
| Athletic Training Education |
Clinical Practicum |
20 : 1 |
300 |
| Business Concentrations |
Internship |
3:1 |
45 |
| Kinesiology |
Internship |
3:1 |
45 |
| Nursing |
Clinical Practicum |
4:1 |
60 |
| Nutrition/Dietectics |
Internship |
16:1 |
71 |
| Rehabilitation Sciences |
Clinical Practicum |
3:1 |
45 |
| Teacher Education |
Teaching Apprenticeship |
6.66:1 |
100 |
- For professional clinical doctoral programs the definition of a credit hour may vary in accordance with established precedent and/or national accreditation standards for specific professional disciplines.
| Discipline / Accrediting Agency |
Lecture |
Lab |
Clinic |
| Optometry Accreditation Council on Optometric Education |
1 contact hour=
1 credit |
2 contact hours/week=
1 credit |
2 contact hours/week=
1 credit |
| Pharmacy Accreditation Council on Pharmacy Education |
1 contact hour=
1 credit |
2 contact hours/week=
1 credit |
40 contact hours/ week=
1 credit |
| Physical Therapy Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy |
1 contact hour=
1 credit |
2 contact hour/week=
1 credit |
80 contact hours/2 weeks=
1 credit (40 contact hours/week= 0.5 credit) |