Course Credit and Contact Hours

The amount of credit awarded for a course is based on contact hours (time spent in class with the instructor).

A credit hour general represents one hour of lecture, discussion, recitation, and seminar.

• Students are expected to spend three hours of work each week outside of class for each credit hour. Please note, additional credit is not awarded for work outside of class, homework, field trips, film screenings, or reading and writing assignments. 
• Labs that meet in an actual laboratory classroom such as used in Biology and Chemistry must meet for at least two hours for each credit earned. 
• When departments schedule a “lab” for the purpose of film screenings, for example, this is considered a scheduling tool to ensure students set aside that time for required class activity. This time is not considered a part of contact hours for the course.

Credit Hour Modification

Students may petition to elect a course for either more or fewer credits than the number printed in the Undergraduate Course Catalog and LSA Course Guide. Requests for additional credits must include a rationale and information on additional coursework the student will complete. Requests for fewer credits must include a rationale and information on what changes will be made to the course to justify a reduction in credits. In both cases, the request must be approved by the instructor and submitted prior to the drop/add deadline for the term. Final approval of petitions to adjust the credit hour for a course is made by the LSA Office of Student Academic Affairs.  

Students may find the “Request for LSA Modification of Credit Hours” petition in MyAdvising.