Faculty Hot Topics: Credit Hours

The following may be instructive as Manhattanville considers the implications of a primarily four-credit curriculum.  Readings are available on this sort of curriculum change.  Contact Jeff Rosedale for an article on such a curriculum change at RPI. 

The concept of credit hours is under discussion in several contexts.  These include the need to create an institutional credit hour policy, exploring a move towards a primarily 4-credit curriculum, and accounting for different types of learning experiences beyond the classroom.  Here are some sources of information:

• US Department of Education policy on credit hours
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education Credit Hour Policy

The following are local or systemic interpretations of the policies linked above

• Augustana College Credit Hour Policy
• Excelsior College Credit Hour Policy
• Norwich College:  Credits, Equivalencies
• Skidmore College Credit Hour Policy
• State University of New York policy on credit hours

Further readings:

Searching JN "New Directions for Higher Education" AND DT 20030601 in the EbscoHost library database brings up a list of 10 (somewhat dated) articles on credit hours, including:

• The History of the Student Credit Hour
• The Credit Hour as a Potential Barrier to Innovation:  Lessons from Innovative Institutions
• The Credit Hour and Faculty Instructional Workload