Credit Hour Policy

This policy documents Stetson University’s compliance with regional and national accrediting guidelines.  The university’s policy aligns with the SACSCOC (Southern Associate of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) requirement as well as federal regulations defining credit hours as established in Section 600.2, which defines a credit hour as:

  1. 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 trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
  2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Credit Hour at Stetson University (graduate)

Stetson University graduate courses are measured in credits and are typically 3-credit courses.  Clock hour time associated with graduate courses are as follows:

  • 3 credits = no less than 135 clock hours of instruction and student work
  • 1 credit = no less than 45 clock hours of instruction and student work

Compliance

New courses are reviewed for compliance with the Credit Hour Policy by the individual school and college curriculum committees, and again by the university policy committees (UCCAP:  University Committee on Curriculum and Academic Planning; UGEC:  University General Education Committee) prior to their approval.  Review for established classes occurs through regular curriculum review in each school or college on a schedule established by the respective dean’s office.