Credit Hour Definition

Southern Connecticut State University follows the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) definition of the credit hour defined as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutional established equivalence that reasonably approximates not less than:

• 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
• 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.
• Our academic year is divided into two semesters, each approximately 16 weeks long, including
  finals week. Standard lecture courses are 3-credit hours and meet for either three 50-minute
  periods or two 75-minute periods per week (or at least 2.5 hours per week and 37.5 hours per semester). Laboratory courses follow a different schedule and may carry more or less credit.