In accordance with federal guidelines, academic credit hours for a course are determined by the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes.
The NDSCS established equivalency for courses bearing academic credit reasonably approximates, and is not less than:
- One semester hour of credit is awarded for 750 minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of 1800 minutes of out-of-class student work.
- Over a sixteen week semester this is equivalent to one 50 minute period of direct instruction and two hours of out-of-class work each week for 15 weeks plus a final exam period.
- Classes scheduled as shorter sessions will meet the equivalent amount of class time per credit as full semester length classes.
- At least one 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, practicum, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
- For laboratories, a minimum of 100 minutes per week plus one out of class hour for 15 weeks is equivalent to one credit.
- For shop practices, a minimum of 150 minutes per week for 15 weeks is equivalent to one credit.
- One semester credit of field experience/internship/cooperative education/clinicals/supervised occupational experience/etc. requires a minimum of 40 hours of direct experience. The unique nature of some disciplines may require additional and/or alternative means of meeting credit and content requirements.
- Cooperative Education credits and limits are determined by the respective academic department in consultation with NDSCS Career Services.
- For online, independent study or hybrid courses, which do not meet the faculty contact requirements, credit is awarded based on the equivalent face-to-face course or by assessing the required amount of student learning time commitment.