Semester Credit Hour Assignment
Adopted: 12/01/25
A credit hour is a unit of measure that indicates the number of classroom hours per week that the class is held. Atlantic Cape faculty comply with the definition of a semester credit hour, as stated in New Jersey Administrative Code, Title 9A.
"Semester credit hour" means 150 minutes of academic work each week for 15 weeks in one semester, which is typically accomplished by 50 minutes of face-to-face class activity each week complemented by at least 100 minutes each week of laboratory or outside assignments (or the equivalent thereof for semesters of different length) but may also be accomplished through an equivalent amount of academic work as established by an institution, which may include additional class time, laboratory work, internships, practical studio work, and other forms of academic work.
For example, a 3-credit course in a 15-week semester is comprised of 150 minutes of class activity complemented by at least 300 minutes of outside assignments each week. A 4-credit course in a 15-week semester is comprised of 200 minutes of class activity complemented by 400 minutes of outside assignments each week. One laboratory credit is comprised of 150 minutes of laboratory activity each week in a 15-week semester.
For courses offered in a longer or shorter academic term, the times indicated for a standard 15-week semester are appropriately prorated.
The Atlantic Cape faculty Curriculum Committee procedures for reviewing and approving courses are guided by these definitions.
For courses taught in an online, asynchronous format, based upon the recommendation of a Faculty Task Force, Academic Affairs adopted an Online Instructional Equivalency audit to assist faculty in ensuring sufficient instructional activity to meet credit hour requirements.
Back to the Policies and Procedures Main Menu