Federal Credit Hour Definition: credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended
learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established
equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
(1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class
student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester
hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount
of work over a different amount of time; or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as
required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution,
including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading
toward to the award of credit hours. 34CFR 600.2 (11/1/2010)
In accordance with Federal policy the American Islamic College defines credit hour as the
amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student
achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not
less than:
One 50-minute period of classroom or direct faculty instruction per week and a minimum of
two hours of out-of-class student work each week) for 15 weeks or the equivalent amount of
work over a different amount of time.
At AIC a typical 3 credit hour undergraduate lecture/discussion course would meet for three 50-
minute periods (150 minutes) each week for 15 weeks and would require a total of six 60-
minute periods (300 minutes) of out-of-class student work per week over the course of the
semester, for a course total of 6,750 minutes. Following the 15 weeks of instruction, an
additional period may be scheduled for final examinations.