Regulations from the U.S. Department of Education have caused all institutions to review and document their policies and practices with regard to assigning academic credit. Simpson College has determined that the learning-time-to-credit equivalence is roughly 35 hours per credit. Thus, for each credit awarded to a course, the students can expect to spend 35 hours in the classroom, participating in instructor-directed activity, or preparing for class.
All syllabi need to include a statement such as one of the following along with the list of learning activities and the number of hours a typical student should expect to spend during the semester on each activity. In addition, please include a brief description detailing the changes that have been made as the course changed from three to four credits.
This is a four credit course that meets 3 days per week for 60 minutes. It is designed to have learning opportunities and activities totaling approximately 143 hours over the 15 weeks of the course (including finals week).
In class activities: (3 days x 60 minutes x 14 weeks + 2 hours for final class = 42 hours
Required Readings and Focus/Extension Exercises: (14 chapters x 3 hours each = 42 hours
Midterm take-home exam = 5 hours
Final paper and oral presentation = 24 hours
Five reflection “papers” (5 x 5 hours each) = 25 hours
Preparation for final activity = 5 hours
Total = 143 hours
This is a four credit course that meets 3 days per week for 60 minutes and 1 day per week for 3 hours. It is designed to have learning opportunities and activities totaling approximately 148 hours over the 15 weeks of the course (including finals week).
The designed activities may take each student a different amount of time to finish, however the average will be 148 hours. Further estimates include:
In class activities (3 hours x 14 weeks) = 42 hours
In lab activities (3 hours x 14 weeks) = 42 hours
Required readings (8 chapter readings x 3 hours each) = 24 hours
Research paper (including searching and evaluating research) = 30 hours
Lab assignments (10 x 1 hour each) = 10 hours
Total = 148 hours
This is a four-credit undergraduate course that meets face-to-face twice a week over the semester. It is designed to provide learning time totaling approximately 148 hours over the 15 weeks of the course (including finals week). This estimate is for the typical undergraduate student. Estimates of the time you will need for learning time follow:
In class activities (90 min/class x 2 times/week x 14 weeks + 2 hours for final class) = 44 hours
Required readings (8 plays x 4 hours each; 8 artitcles x 1 hour each) = 40 hours
Essays (research, draft, supporting materials, conference, and final revision) = 40 hours
Forum postings on Scholar = 10 hours
Preparation for performance assignment = 10 hours
Total = 148 hours
This is a four credit undergraduate course that “meets” for chat on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. It is designed to have learning opportunities and activities totaling approximately 140 hours over the 8 weeks of the course – 8 hours in “chat” and 131 hours outside of class. This estimate is for the typical undergraduate student. The designed activities may take one person longer to complete and another person may complete the activities in less time. We are all individuals. Here are some further estimates:
Synchronous chats (8 x 1 hour each): “in class activity” = 8 hours
Required readings (12 chapters x 3 hours each) = 36 hours
Six weekly papers (6 x 6 hours each) = 36 hours
Final paper = 32 hours
Asynchronous discussion board activities (7 x 4 hours each): also considered an “in-class” activity = 28 hours
Total = 140 hours
This is a four credit graduate course that meets weekly on the West Des Moines Campus on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. It is designed to have learning opportunities and activities totaling approximately 140 hours over the 8 weeks of the course – 32 hours in class and 108 hours outside of class. The designed activities may take one person longer to complete and another person may complete the activities in less time. We are all individuals. Here are some further estimates:
In-class activities = 32 hours
Required readings and focus/extension exercises (8 readings x 7 hours each) = 56 hours
Midterm take-up exam = 20 hours
Written paper and oral presentation = 27 hours
Preparation for final activity = 5 hours
Total = 140 hours