CREDIT HOUR POLICY
The following credit hour policy was established by St. Ambrose University to guide the institution in its assignment and
review of awarding credits as set forth by federal regulations. (Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 209, p. 66486)
Federal Definition of the Credit Hour
For purposes of the application of this policy and in accordance with federal regulations, a credit hour is an amount of
work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an
institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates:
1. not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours 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 outlined in item 1 above 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.
St. Ambrose University defines a semester credit (also known as a credit hour) as one 50-minute period per week for
one semester with appropriate student work outside of the period. A semester at St. Ambrose University is defined as
not less than 15 weeks. Courses offered in alternative delivery formats must have an equivalent amount of work
between direct instruction and outside of class student work represented for a semester credit, or documented similar
achievement of student learning outcomes. This includes accelerated formats, distance education, and hybrid format
courses.
An equivalent amount of work (a minimum of 37.5 hours per 1 credit hour) must be represented for credits assigned to
experiential learning including 1) laboratory, 2) practica/ field work/internships, 3) independent study, and 4)
international travel.
Calculations for Comparison
Below are illustrative examples that can guide course and syllabi review for the awarding of credits at SAU. Examples
beyond those noted below may exist.
The minimum amount of time required for credit hour is calculated using 50 minutes as the recognized length of a
classroom “hour.” SAU recognizes the length of the typical semester as 15 weeks.

One Hour of Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction per Semester
o (50 minutes x 15 weeks) ÷ 60 minutes in an hour = 12.5 hours of classroom or direct faculty instruction.

Two Hours of Student Work Out-of-Classroom or Direct Faculty Instruction per Semester
o (2 × 50 minutes x 15 weeks) ÷ 60 minutes in an hour = 25 hours of out-of-class student work.

One credit hour equals 37.5 clock hours of instruction/student work per 15 week semester
o 12.5 hours of classroom or direct faculty instruction + 25 hours of out-of-class or direct faculty
instruction per semester = 37.5 hours.

15-Week SAU Courses
o Each 3-credit course requires 37.5 hours of instructional time, 75 hours of student work for a total of
112.5 hours. These courses typically have 150 minutes per week of instructional time that accounts for
37.5 hours per semester credit [50 minutes × 3 × 15 weeks) ÷ 60 minutes]. The remaining 75 hours
(112.5 – 37.5) or the equivalent of 5 hours per week (75 ÷ 15) must be accounted for by student work
outside of instructional time.
SAU 15-week course
Credit hours assigned Total
classroom Total
out-of-class
to course
instructional time for work for semester
semester*
1
12.5 hours
25 hours
2
25 hours
50 hours
3
37.5 hours
75 hours
*1 credit hour = 50 minutes of classroom instructional time.
Weekly
classroom Weekly
instructional time*
time
1 hour (or 50 min)
2 hours (or 100 min)
3 hours (or 150 min)
out-of-class
1.6 hours
3.3 hours
5 hours
SAU 8-week or 5-week course
classroom Total out-of-class work
time
for for semester
Credit hours assigned Total
Total combined in and out of
to course
instructional
class work*
semester
OR
1
12.5 hours
25 hours
37.5 hours
2
25 hours
50 hours
75 hours
3
37.5 hours
75 hours
112.5 hours
*The U.S. Department of Education is flexible on how much of this time is used in the classroom or for direct faculty
instruction verses out of class work. Thus, some SAU graduate and adult accelerated programs are best reviewed using
the “total combined” hours.
For more information on good practices in accelerated programs in higher education, please consult the Commission for
Accelerated Programs (www.capnetwork.org ).
Alternative Instructional Equivalencies
Adapted from CAP, Model for Good Practice in Accelerated Programs in Higher Education
Researching, PowerPoint/video reviews, web-quest activities, reading articles, etc. are considered “homework”
assignments. The Rate of Equivalency denoted pertains to posting, reviewing, sharing and providing student-to-student
and/or instructor-to-student feedback.