Credit Hour Policy

Hope College awards course credit hours based on minimum amounts of direct instruction and non-instructional student work and the Federal Definition of the Credit Hour as set forth in 34 CFR Part 600.2. Minimum standards of direct instruction and non-instructional activities vary by course type.

Direct instruction is instructor prepared, evaluated, and led, including guest speakers, tests and examinations. Non-instructional activities are instructor prepared and evaluated, but not led by the instructor.

Within this policy, an hour of direct instruction is equal to 50 minutes: a standard course meeting time. This same definition applies to courses meeting for a non-standard length of time, excluding any breaks in instruction provided to students.

All classes of the same type awarding the same number of credit hours must provide the same number of minutes/hours of direct instruction.

The minimum distributions of direct instruction hours and non-instructional hours for different types of courses are set forth in the following charts.

All Hope College courses will require a combination of forty-five hours of direct instruction and non-instructional time per credit hour per semester or term. This policy applies to all Hope College credit-bearing courses no matter the schedule, term length, or modality. Courses offered in fewer than 15 instructional weeks will contain the same number of instructional hours and hours of non-instructional activities as the same course offered in 15 instructional weeks.

Programs which have state licensing requirements or professional accreditation requirements may have different requirements for instructional hours, but they will in no event be fewer than the hours required by this policy.

Course syllabi reflect for students the instructional and non-instructional components that meet this policy. Department chairs, divisional deans, and the Provost ensure that Hope College courses meet this Credit Hour Policy.

Minimum Hours of Direct Instruction and Non-instructional Activities by Course Type

Lecture and Seminar Courses

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	15	30	45
2	30	60	90
3	45	90	135
4	60	120	180

Combined Lecture/Lab or Lecture/Drill

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Laboratory Courses

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Studio Courses

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Discussion Courses (Faculty-Led)

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Drill or Conversation Courses

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Student Teaching

Student Teaching hours are included in the hours of direct instruction

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Physical Activity

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	30	15	45
2	60	30	90
3	90	45	135
4	120	60	180

Internship/Field Experience/Practicum/Clinical Courses

Supervised hours are included in the hours of direct instruction

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	40	5	45
2	80	10	90
3	120	15	135
4	160	20	180

Ensemble

Please note that current Ensemble courses at Hope are either 0, 0.5, or 1.0 credits each/semester

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
0.5	20	2.5	22.5
1	40	5	45
2	80	10	90
3	120	15	135
4	160	20	180

Research

Course Credit	Hours of Direct INstruction	Hours of Non-INstructional Activities	Total
1	40	5	45
2	80	10	90
3	120	15	135
4	160	20	180

Approved by Hope College Academic Affairs Board February 2, 2021