Credit Hour Definitions and Exceptions
Definition
Courses at GVSU are categorized into one of several course “activity” types. For each course activity type, the university has identified the number of hours students are expected to devote to a course per semester per credit. Student hours for completing homework assignments, working on projects, studying for examinations, etc., are considered outside the student hour requirements for a course. Furthermore, the definitions do not cover faculty workload expectations. In the definitions below, a semester is assumed to be a typical 15-week* instructional semester. Courses offered in other time frames should be scaled accordingly.
As an example, the most common course is a 3-credit lecture/discussion. According to the definition below, the university expects 45 student hours per semester for this course.
*The 15-week timeframe includes one week for final exams. A final exam period is typically scheduled as one two-hour block regardless of the number of credits carried by the course.
Activity Types**
- Clinical*: Hands-on training in a healthcare or industry setting
- 45-75 student hours per semester per credit
- Co-op*: A cooperative education program where students work in a professional setting
- 150-250 student hours per semester per credit
- Discussion: Group discussions and academic dialogue
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Field Study*: Academic program involving on-site learning experiences
- 45-75 student hours per semester per credit
- Internship*: Work experience with an approved partner, related to a student's field of study
- 45-75 student hours per semester per credit
- Lab: Practical, hands-on laboratory work
- 30-45 student hours per semester per credit
- Lecture: Traditional classroom teaching
- 15 student hours per semester per credit
- Lecture/Discussion: Combines traditional teaching with group discussions
- 15 student hours per semester per credit
- Practicum*: Practical application of learning in a professional setting
- 45-75 student hours per semester per credit
- Rehearsal: Practice sessions for performances or presentations
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Research: Projects, theses, or dissertations
- 45-90 student hours per semester per credit
- Study Abroad*: Academic coursework in a country outside the United States
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Study Away*: Academic coursework in a domestic location beyond campus
- 15-30 student hours per semester credit
- Studio (Group): Hands-on work, in a group setting, in a creative or artistic field
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Studio (Individual): Hands-on work, in a 1:1 setting, in a creative or artistic field
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Seminar: Small-group discussions and presentations
- 15-30 student hours per semester per credit
- Independent Study: Self-directed academic projects
- 45-75 student hours per semester per credit
*This activity type aligns with GVSU’s definition of experiential learning.
**Number of student hours for some courses may be modified by scheduled (e.g. fall break) or unscheduled (e.g. emergency closures) events.
***Independent Study courses do not require university curriculum approval.
Exceptions
Approved by UCC February 2021
Approved for where 1 credit hour is earned by a student for every 100 hours of internship experience activity during the semester that they are enrolled in the course:• RTX 390 Fieldwork in Recreational Therapy• RTX 490 Internship in Recreational Therapy
Approved for where 1 credit hour is earned by a student for every 104 hours of internship experience activity during the semester that they are enrolled in the course:• RIE 362 Echocardiography Clinical Education II • RIE 363 Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education I • RIE 366 Vascular Sonography Clinical Education I• RIU 362 Clinical Ultrasound Education II
Approved for where 1 credit hour is earned by a student for every 108 hours of internship experience activity during the semester that they are enrolled in the course: • RIT 362 Radiation Therapy Clinical Education II
Approved for where 1 credit hour is earned by a student for every 112 hours of internship experience activity during the semester that they are enrolled in the course: • MLS 490 Clinical Practicum II• RIE 361 Echocardiography Clinical Education I • RIE 463 Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education II • RIE 466 Vascular Sonography Clinical Education II • RIE 464 Pediatric Echocardiography Clinical Education III • RIE 467 Vascular Sonography Clinical Education III • RIT 361 Radiation Therapy Clinical Education I • RIT 460 Radiation Therapy Clinical Education III • RIT 461 Radiation Therapy Clinical Education IV • RIU 361 Clinical Ultrasound Education I • RIU 460 Clinical Ultrasound Education III • RIU 461 Clinical Ultrasound Education IV
Approved where 1 credit hour is earned by a student for every 160 hours of internship experience activity during the semester that they are enrolled in the course:• MLS 450 Clinical Practicum I RMD 661, 662, and 663 students will earn 1 credit hour for each 112 hours of internship experience activity, per disciplinary expectations.
Approved by UCC September 2018
All undergraduate nursing clinical education courses require only 42 hours per credit per semester based on disciplinary best practices.
Approved by UCC December 2017
SW 650 Field Education I, SW 652 Field Education II, and SW 654 - Field Education III (each 3 credits) require 300 hours of experiential learning based on disciplinary best practices.
Approved by UCC August 2016
HTM 290 Field Experience I, HTM 390 Field Experience II, and HTM 490 Senior Internship (each 2 credits) require a minimum of 300-400 hours of experiential learning based on disciplinary best practices.