Credit Hours

Office of the Registrar

 

At the University of Texas at Tyler, courses are measured in terms of credit hours. The institution has adopted the federal definition of “credit hour” as the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time, or an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

The University of Texas at Tyler’s definition of a “credit hour” is flexible in as much as:

• The institution determines the amount of credit for student work.
• A credit hour is expected to be a reasonable approximation of a minimum amount of student work in a Carnegie unit in accordance with commonly accepted practice in higher education.
• The credit hour definition is a minimum standard that does not restrict an institution from setting a higher standard that requires more student work per credit hour.
• The definition does not dictate particular amounts of classroom time versus out-of-class student work.
• In determining the amount of work the institutions learning outcomes will entail, the institution may take into consideration alternative delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.
• To the extent an institution believes that complying with the Federal definition of a credit hour would not be appropriate for academic and other institutional needs, it may adopt a separate measure for those purposes.
• Credits may be awarded on the basis of documentation of the amount of work a typical student is expected to complete within a specified amount of academically engaged time for a typical student.

The University of Texas at Tyler may elect to award credits based on documented proficiencies demonstrated by students/applicants that are consistent with outcomes identified in the curricula for programs it has been authorized to offer.

All academic courses are developed, updated, and approved by the faculty through the undergraduate or graduate councils and the curriculum committees’ processes.

The University of Texas at Tyler follows current requirements for credit hours as outlined by the US Department of Education, SACSCOC, and the Texas Administrative Code.