Credit Hours

4-Credit Classes with No Labs

(Group instruction; regular classroom meetings; assigned homework, reading, writing, preparation for examinations and/or quizzes; no laboratory, studio, or practicum component). Each credit is associated with 45 hours of student work in class, and an additional 180 hours of student work outside of class.

Courses that meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 60 minutes each session over the full semester carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately three hours outside of class for every class period for an average total of 12 hours per week in- and outside of class. The syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.

Courses that meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 90 minutes each session carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately 4.5 hours outside of class for every class period for an average total of 12 hours per week in- and outside of class. This syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.

Courses that meet for one, three-hour class period (day specified in course registration system) carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately nine hours outside of class for every class period for an average total of 12 hours per week in- and outside of class. This syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.

4-Credit Classes with Labs

(Group instruction; regular classroom meetings; assigned homework, reading, writing, preparation for examinations and/or quizzes; plus laboratory, studio, or practicum component). Each credit is associated with 45 hours of student work in class, and an additional 180 hours of student work outside of class. 

Courses that meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 60 minutes each session and one, 110-minute laboratory session each week (day specified in course registration system and syllabus) over the full semester carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately three hours outside of class for each class period, for an average total of 17 hours per week in- and outside of class. The syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work. Note some lab periods for some courses at St. Norbert are 170 minutes, carrying an expectation of 18 hours per week in- and outside of class.

Courses that meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 90 minutes each session and one, 110-minute laboratory session each week (day specified in course registration system and syllabus) over the full semester carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately 4.5 hours outside of class for every 90 minute class period and three hours for each lab period for an average total of 17 hours per week in- and outside of class. This syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work. Note some lab periods for some courses at St. Norbert are 170 minutes, carrying an expectation of 18 hours per week in- and outside of class.

Part-of-Term Courses

Two-credit, part-of-term courses meet for three, 60-minute or two 90-minute class periods each week for 7.5 weeks of the semester, and carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities (reading, writing, studying, completing assignments, etc.) for approximately three hours (three class meetings) or 4.5 hours (two class meetings) for every class period for an average total of 12 hours per week in and outside of class. The syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.

4-Credit Internships
These meet for three, 60-minute class periods each week, and require students to spend a minimum of 120 hours at the internship or practicum site over the semester. Internships also carry the expectation that students will work on course-related activities for approximately three hours outside of class and the internship site for every class period. The syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.

Independent Study and Directed Research

Over the term, students are expected to complete 180 hours (at least 45 hours per credit hour) of learning activities to include regularly scheduled student-instructor meeting time, scheduled research lab time, reading, writing, studying, completing class and/or laboratory assignments, etc. The syllabus contains additional information about meeting times and expectations for student work.