Each semester hour of credit requires 15 hours of class time. An hour of class time refers to the 50-minute block of scheduled instructional time. Some classes may have more instructional time based on the content and/ or mode of instruction but classes cannot have less instructional time.
For example, the expectation for instructional time for a 2-credit class during the typical 15-week semester would be 1,500 minutes (2 credits x 15 weeks x 50 minutes). The class could meet two times per week for one class hour, or once per week for back-to-back class hours. See chart below for further variations using University standard class time blocks.
Time outside of class will always be expected, but formal instructional time must meet Instructional Time per Course Credit policy and should be differentiated from Expected Student Academic Work per Credit. The Class Scheduling policy outlines standard time options by number of credits offered (section B9).
Classes not meeting the instructional time per course credit policy are currently being reviewed and will be asked to increase the instructional time for the class, adjust the credits the class is being offered at, or (as a last resort) cancel the class. Ideally we can work out a solution for these classes!
The expectation for total instructional time for a class applies to all academic terms. Classes scheduled during A-term, B-term, summer session or any other special terms have the same expectation for total instructional time per credit. A 2-credit course would always be expected to have 1,500 minutes of total scheduled instructional time, regardless of session.
For a standard 15-week semester, see the chart below to calculate the class time required for a class.
| 1-credit (15 hours) |
2 credits (30 hours) |
3 credits (45 hours) |
4 credits (60 hours) |
5 credits (75 hours) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meet one time per week for standard 50-minute time block. | Meet two times per week for standard 50-minute time blocks. | Meet three times per week for standard 50-minute time blocks. | Meet four times per week for standard 50-minute time blocks. | Meet five times per week for standard 50-minute time blocks. | |
| Meet one time per week for two back-to-back, standard 50-minute time blocks. | Meet two times per week for two, standard 75-minute time blocks. | Meet two times per week for two back-to-back, standard 50-minute time blocks. | |||
| Meet one time per week for three back-to-back, standard 50-minute time blocks (Fridays or evenings only). | |||||
| Standard calculation | 1 credit x 15 weeks x 50 minutes | 2 credits x 15 weeks x 50 minutes | 3 credits x 15 weeks x 50 minutes | 4 credits x 15 weeks x 50 minutes | 5 credits x 15 weeks x 50 minutes |
