Sam Houston State University publishes and implements policies for determining the amount and level of credit awarded for its courses, regardless of format or mode of delivery. These policies require oversight by persons academically qualified to make the necessary judgments. SHSU does not award credit for courses through means other than credit hours. SHSU conforms to commonly accepted standards in determining the amount and level of credit awarded for its courses by adhering to both Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) policies.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter A, rule 4.6, stipulates, “three-semester-credit-hour courses should contain 15 weeks of instruction (45 contact hours) plus a week for final examinations so that such a course contains 45 to 48 contact hours depending on whether there is a final exam” [1]. In its policy statement on credit hours, SACSCOC states that a credit hour “reasonably approximates not less than 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” [2]. The definition of a “credit hour” at SHSU is consistent with these THECB and SACSCOC policies. As defined with SHSU Academic Policy Statement 240401 Determination of Semester Credit Hours [3], published in the Academic Policy Manual [4], the semester credit hour value is “an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement to include contact hours, out-of-class student work, and other considerations relevant to the educational context.” More specifically, a credit hour is:
a reasonable approximation of, at a minimum, (i) one contact 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 fall or spring semester, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or (ii) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in section (i) of this definition for other academic activities leading to the award of academic credit. This definition serves as a minimum standard and does not restrict academic programs from setting a higher requirement when substantiated by discipline, accrediting, and/or licensure expectations.
When defining an hour of instruction, SHSU adheres to the commonly used Carnegie unit of measure, in which fifty minutes of instruction equates to one hour. SHSU’s academic calendar is based upon 15-week fall and spring semesters, resulting in a 3-semester credit hour course obtaining 45 contact hours through an expected 3 hours of instruction per week. The following represent the most common course scheduling blocks [5] within the fall and spring semesters and allow for a 3-semester credit hour course to achieve the 45 contact hours requirement:
For shortened format courses, the required contact hours remain the same for terms that are shorter than semester or summer term lengths [4]. Rules concerning the implementation of shortened courses are also addressed in SHSU Academic Policy Statement 860110 [6], section 2.03:
Shortened courses offered for credit by Sam Houston State University must consist of the same number of class contact hours as similar courses offered in a semester or summer term. A three semester credit hour course must have a minimum of forty-five contact hours. All requirements for three-credit-hour courses shall apply proportionally to courses for one, two, four, or other credit hour values. No three semester credit hour courses shall consist of fewer than nine (9) days of classes offered over not less than three weeks.
SHSU offers courses in terms that are fewer than 15 weeks in length. For example, SHSU’s mini terms are approximately 13 days spanning 3 weeks, and the typical three semester credit hour course meets daily for at least 4 hours per day [7]. Similarly, SHSU offers summer terms that are approximately 5 weeks in duration, with the typical three semester credit hour course meeting five days a week for at least 2 hours per day or two days per week [8].
Similarly, courses with fewer or greater than 3 SCHs are subject to 15 contact hours per SCH. Courses with credit hour values of fewer than three, such as labs or music sessions, typically require more than one or two contact hours a week, but they usually combine instruction and application [9]. For example, the majority of 1-hour classes are lab classes that meet each week for two to three hours. Within these two to three hours, some time is spent on didactic presentation, and the rest of the time is spent on applying the material. With regard to music performance classes, the policies for awarding credit conform with both SHSU policies and those stated in the National Association of Schools of Music Handbook [10]. Section III, Parts 2a and 2c of this handbook state, respectively, “a semester hour of credit represents at least three hours of work each week, on average, for a period of fifteen to sixteen weeks” and “it is recommended that one credit hour be given for each three hours per week of practice, plus the necessary individual instruction, with a maximum of six credits per term allowed for the major subject in music performance.”
The credit hour values for all courses offered by SHSU are provided in the course descriptions in both the undergraduate [11] and graduate and professional catalogs [12]. Furthermore, the SHSU course numbering system denotes the credit hour value of the course. Course numbers consist of four digits. The first digit in the sequence indicates the course level and suggests the academic year in which the course is typically taken. Lower-level undergraduate courses begin with a “1” or “2” in the first digit; upper-level undergraduate courses begin with a “3” or “4” in the first digit; and graduate courses being with a “5” or higher number in the first digit. The second digit in the sequence indicates the number of semester credit hours.
SHSU credit hour policies apply to all courses regardless of modality, including online distance education courses [3]. A course is considered to be offered by distance education (i.e., online) if students receive more than half of the instruction at a different location than the location of the instructor. Credit hours awarded for synchronous and asynchronous distance learning courses use the same guidelines as traditionally delivered face-to-face courses, based upon equivalent content, level, and amount of work to earn the credit hours awarded. Example syllabi are provided for four classes that are offered in both face-to-face and distance formats. The syllabi indicate similar content and expectations, providing evidence that the online classes contain similar demands and amounts of work to earn the credit hours awarded [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18].
According to Academic Policy Statement 800107 [19], credit awarded for out-of-state or out-of-country coursework must “conform to all relevant academic policies at the institution. All courses must conform to the institution's workload and enrollment requirements, its contact hour/credit ratio, and similar matters.” To further ensure the academic equivalency of the coursework, the policy also states that “courses may not offer credit primarily for travel, recreation, or pleasure.” Such courses must be endorsed by the appropriate college dean, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President of the University, as well as approved by the Texas State University System (TSUS) Board of Regents and the THECB [20] [21].
Students who wish to receive credit for work experience may do so in accordance with Academic Policy Statement 860904, Academic Credit for Work [22]. According to this policy, credit for work must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate department chair, the appropriate college dean, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Furthermore, “whenever reasonable, students requesting credit for work experience will be given an appropriate examination relative to the course learning objectives.” When an examination of learning objectives is not feasible, “credit for work experience shall be awarded only upon evidence that the work experience provided equivalent student learning outcomes as compared to the designated academic credits” [23] [24].
SHSU monitors, reviews, and approves the credit hour values of its courses through the University Curriculum Cycle. When new courses are proposed the new course request form includes the proposed number of hours to be awarded as well as a topical outline of the 15-week course schedule and the intended student learning outcomes [25] [26]. In a similar manner, requests to change the credit value of an existing course require submission and review of appropriate rationale and justification through the University Curriculum Cycle [27]. As part of this annual curriculum cycle, the department curriculum committee, college curriculum committee, and the University Curriculum Committee review the integrity of the proposed courses, programs, and curricular changes. These committees are each composed of faculty, chairs, and unit administrators who are academically qualified to make the necessary judgments regarding course and program changes and additions [28] [29].