Credit Hour Policies and Procedures

The Federal Definition of a Credit Hour

From Title 34:

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 not less than—

  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.

Bacone College’s Implementation of Credit Hours

As indicated in the College Catalog, a semester hour of credit is given for the equivalent of one 50-minute class period per week for a semester of 17 weeks. In the case of laboratory work, one semester hour of credit is granted for each two or more hours of laboratory work. With the exception of accelerated classes, the length of classes during summer and evening sessions will be proportioned according to the clock hours of a course meeting during the regular day classes. Internship experiences for credit hours required the student to be registered and enrolled for the semester in which the internship is earned. Students must work 40 hours for each one hour of credit. For example, to earn three credits for the internship, 120 work hours must be completed over the course of the semester. A six-credit internship requires 240 work hours.

The approved credit hours for each course is shown in the Bacone College Course Catalog.

Bacone College’s Absenteeism Policy

Bacone students are expected to attend every session of courses for which they are enrolled.  Please see our absenteeism policy, which is available online and is part of every syllabus.

Approval of New Courses

New courses are introduced to the Academic Affairs Committee by the appropriate Division Chair, with input from faculty members, other divisions, and school administrators.  A final draft including the totality of classroom time and appropriate credit hours is brought to a vote.  Approved courses become part of the Course Catalog.