GVSU Credit Hour 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**

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• 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.

Online / Hybrid Courses

• The number of student hours for an online or hybrid course must align with the number of student hours noted above.

Discipline-Specific Requirements

The university recognizes that some disciplines must differ from the university definitions above, either due to disciplinary accreditation or discipline-specific best practices. A unit may request that a course differ from the university definition by sending a memo to the UCC chair with the following information: 

1. Give the total number of student/work hours over the entire duration (i.e., semester or year) of the course (e.g., 500 total internship hours over the semester).

2. Provide an explanation for the number of hours per credit (e.g., industry standard, accreditation, cost reduction, etc.).

3. Describe how the course fits into the plan of study during the exemption period  (i.e., what other courses are being taken and/or what other academic expectations are required outside of the internship?).  

If the rationale is based upon disciplinary accreditation standards, include documentation from the accrediting body. UCC will consider the request and notify the unit of its decision. If approved, the Records office will be notified to allow appropriate scheduling. Approved requests will be noted on UCC’s “Credit Hour Exceptions” website and updated in the catalog copy.