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Credit Definitions

Credits and Minimum In-Class and Out-of-Class Expectations

MIAD holds high standards for the awarding of credits and the value of class and out-of-class time to ensure the integrity of student learning. Credits are determined by the following criteria:

Studio Courses

  • In all studio courses, a semester hour, or credit, represents two hours of in-class time per week (a 1:2 ratio of credit hours and scheduled class time).
  • A three-credit studio course translates to 6 hours of scheduled class time per week.
  • Over a 15-week semester, this translates to 90 hours of scheduled class time per 3-credit studio course.
  • In a three-credit studio course, students are expected to complete a minimum of 3 hours of course work each week outside of the scheduled course time. This translates to a minimum of 45 hours of additional time in a fifteen-week semester.
  • In a 3-credit studio course, this translates to a minimum of 135 hours over fifteen weeks.

Critical Studies Courses

  • In all Critical Studies courses, a semester hour, or credit, represents one hour of in-class time per week (a 1:1 ratio of credit hours and scheduled class time).
  • A three-credit Critical Studies courses translates to 3 hours of scheduled class time per week.
  • Over a 15-week semester, this translates to 45 hours of scheduled class time per 3-credit Critical Studies course.
  • In a three-credit Critical Studies course, students are expected to complete a minimum of 6 hours of course work each week outside of the scheduled class time.
  • In a three-credit Critical Studies courses, this translates to a minimum of 135 hours over fifteen weeks.

Online Courses

In online courses, a semester hour, or credit, represents 3 hours of work per week for all course activities (i.e. reading, writing, discussion thread participation or group work, research, etc.). A three-credit online course translates to an expectation of 9 hours of course work each week and a minimum of 135 hours over fifteen weeks to complete the necessary activities.

During summer sessions, MIAD follows these credit hour and course work criteria across a shorter semester.

Programs follow federal regulations regarding clock hour definitions, calculations, equivalencies, and policies.