THE CREDIT HOUR
The credit hour is a state mandated requirement and is an integral part of each course outline of record. In order to approve course units of credit, the College Curriculum Committee must have assurances that each unit is based on the same criteria. The following definitions state what a credit hour is:
DEFINITIONS
Per Title 5, Section 55002, effective November, 1993:
Grants units of credit based upon a relationship specified by the governing board, between the number of units assigned to the course and the number of lecture and/or laboratory hours or performance criteria specified in the course outline; and requires a minimum of three hours of work per week including class time for each unit of credit, prorated for short term, laboratory and activity courses.
Per Board Policy #6130:
College work at El Camino College is measured in terms of semester units. A unit is the value placed on three hours of the student's time per week in pursuit of educational goals; thus, for one hour of classroom lecture and approximately two hours of study and preparation or for three hours of laboratory or shop work, one unit of credit is earned. The time allotment and unit value assigned to each course is designated as part of the course listing.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
| These Application Criteria should serve as guidelines. These criteria were drafted by members of the College Curriculum Committee (1988 � 90) and to date have never been formally reviewed and approved through the shared governance process. | |
Each unit of credit must fit one of the following categories:
1 hour lecture + 2 hours study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
1 hour laboratory + 2 hours study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
2 hours lecture + 1 hour study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
2 hours laboratory + 1 hour study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
3 hours laboratory = 1 unit of credit
3 hours study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
1 hour lecture + 2 hours laboratory = 1 unit of credit
1 hour lecture + 1 hour laboratory + 1 hour study and preparation = 1 unit of credit
In other words, any combination of three hours of student's time per week equals one unit of credit. Study and preparation should be clearly addressed in the course outline which must state what the student is expected to do outside of class.
Keep in mind that the credit hour at El Camino College is based on an 18 week semester. The following are examples:
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1) |
A 3 unit lecture only course must meet for 3 hours per week for 18 weeks or 6 hours per week for 9 weeks. |
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2) |
A 1 unit laboratory only course must meet for 3 hours per week for 18 weeks or 9 hours per week for 6 weeks. |
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