At EC Business School & Technology, we adhere to a structured approach in determining credit hours, ensuring academic consistency and maintaining high educational standards. While the traditional Carnegie definition of a semester credit hour serves as a foundation, we recognize the evolving nature of education and the diverse learning experiences that contribute to academic growth.

Our credit hour policy provides clear guidelines on how instructional time, coursework, and various learning activities translate into academic credit. This ensures uniformity across different programs and enables students to make informed decisions about their coursework.

Defining a Credit Hour

A semester credit hour typically represents the completion of one 50-minute class session per week over a period of at least 15 weeks. For each hour spent in class, students are expected to dedicate two hours to independent study. Depending on the nature of the course, adjustments may be made to align with different academic formats.

Types of Learning Activities and Credit Hour Allocation

1. Classroom Instruction (Lectures, Seminars, Discussions, Recitations)

• One semester credit hour is granted for 15 sessions of 50-minute classroom instruction spread over a semester.
  A standard three-credit course meets for three 50-minute sessions per week for 15 weeks, totaling 45 class meetings.

2. Laboratory, Fieldwork, and Practical Training

• One semester credit hour is awarded for 15 sessions of laboratory, field trips, or practical activities, each lasting at least 150 minutes, typically requiring minimal outside preparation.
  If significant independent preparation is required, the required session length may be adjusted to 100 minutes per session over 15 weeks.

3. Supervised Individual Study (Independent Study, Tutorials, Studio Work)

• One semester credit hour is earned for 45 sessions of 50-minute student academic work that involves direct faculty guidance and evaluation. Tutorial-based courses earn one semester hour for every 15 contact hours of scheduled faculty interaction.

4. Full-Time Practical Experience (Internships, Teaching Practicum, Work-Based Learning)

• For students engaged in full-time academic training, one semester credit hour may be granted for every full-time week of work under faculty supervision.

5. Experiential Learning (Internships, Apprenticeships, Field Experience)

• When work-based learning is integrated into an academic program, one semester credit hour is granted for 40–45 supervised hours of structured learning relevant to the field of study.

6. Credit-by-Examination

• Students may earn credit by demonstrating mastery of a subject through an institution-approved examination. Approved examination credits can be applied toward degree requirements, reducing the number of traditional coursework hours required.

7. Short-Term or Accelerated Sessions

• Credit hours earned in shorter terms, such as summer sessions or intensive intersession courses, are allocated proportionally to full-term courses. No more than one semester credit per week of full-time study may be awarded in condensed formats.