What is a Credit Hour?

Eastern follows the federal definition of a credit hour, as outlined in 34 CFR 600.2.

Definition:

A credit hour is:

An amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is equivalent to:

One (1) hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and

a minimum of two (2) hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen (15) weeks for one semester hour of credit."

This applies to:

Lectures
Labs
Studios
Internships
Practicums
Independent studies
Other credit-bearing academic work

Example:

For a 3-credit course, students should expect:

3 hours/week of instruction (totaling 45 hours over 15 weeks)
6 hours/week of course work or study (totaling 90 hours)

This standard ensures that all academic instruction, regardless of format (in-person, online, hybrid), involve a consistent and measurable total workload.