Credits and Course Load
The first digit of the course number indicates the class level of the course; courses numbered from 5000-9999 are graduate level. Every graduate degree must have a minimum of 30 hours of courses at the 6000 or above level. Under special circumstances, at the recommendation of the program director, the Director of Graduate Studies may approve application of up to six (6) credit hours of 4000 level courses to a master’s level degree with 36 or more hours. No course can be counted for credit in more than one degree.
Selected Topics courses (numbered 6399) may be offered in any discipline and are repeatable as topics change. If those courses are in disciplines that do not offer a graduate program, they need the approval of a program director and the Director of Graduate Studies. Tutorials (Independent Study, numbered 6398) are available in some disciplines. No more than six (6) hours of independent study course work may apply toward a degree without permission from the Director of Graduate Studies, and the dean of the college or school.
Definition of a Credit Hour
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.
- Each credit hour requires at least 15 contact hours, in addition to a minimum of 30 hours of student homework.
- For online 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 45 hours for each hour of credit.
- Laboratory courses, with little outside work, require a minimum of 45 contact hours. If moderate outside work is required, 30 contact hours are required.
- Art courses follow the guidelines 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). Normally, 1 hour of credit represents at least 3 hours of work each week for each week of the term. In lecture courses, such as art history, 1 hour of credit normally represents one 50-minute session each week of the term, plus 2 hours of homework for that session. For studio classes, 1 hour of credit normally equals 2 hours of contact time plus 1 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, 1 hour of credit represents at least 3 hours of work each week for each week of the term. In lecture classes, such as music history, 1 hour of credit normally is given for one 50-minute session plus 2 hours of homework each week of the term. For ensembles, normally 1 hour of credit is given for two to four 50-minute rehearsal sessions per week, depending on the ensemble. For applied lessons, 2 hours of credit are awarded for each 60-minute lesson per week with the instructor, plus 7 to 14 hours of individual practice outside the lesson.
- Internships, clinical, and field experiences award credit based on established standards and precedents for specific disciplines; in some cases, the ratio of clock to credit hours is specified by regulatory or accreditation agencies. Table 1 shows some examples of the ratio of clock hours to credit hour in various disciplines.
Table 1. Clock to Credit Hour Ratios for Selected 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 / Dietetics |
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 Education |
1 contact hour = 1 credit |
2 contact hours / week = 1 credit |
80 contact hours / 2 weeks = 1 credit
(40 contact hours / week = 0.5 credit) |
Course Load
Full-Time and Part-Time Enrollment
Graduate students are categorized as full time or part time based on their credit hour enrollment. Full-time enrollment is six (6) credit hours per semester, including the 8- and 16-week fall and spring semesters, the 5- and 10-week summer semesters, and the May Semester. Enrollment in less than six (6) credit hours is considered part time in any of these semesters, with the exception for doctoral students as noted below. With an advisor’s permission, a student may enroll for as many as fifteen (15) credit hours in very exceptional cases. More than 15 hours taken in one semester requires the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Under certain circumstances, a full-time course load can be defined differently with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Full-time enrollment for doctoral students is six (6) credit hours for course work and three (3) credit hours for dissertation/doctoral project. Any graduate student enrolled in a one (1) credit thesis, dissertation, or project completion course is considered part-time.