Summer 2018 > Academic Policies and Procedures > Academic Program Measurement > Definition of a Credit Hour in an Online Class

Definition of a Credit Hour in an Online Class

Calculation of credit hours in an online or blended format course is based on the consideration of the following activities:

1. The time spent in live instruction. Live instruction may be
   1. synchronous or instructor-led online time, or
   2. on-ground learning in the classroom 
2. The number of screens viewed in the course of online instruction. The average time spent on a “screen” is generally calculated as being between 3-5 minutes per screen.
3. The run-time for required media asset assignments calculated on a 1:1 ratio to seat time. Run time may be factored to account for expected multiple viewings of the asset for review and re-enforcement of the material. Assets may include
   1. self playing videos or animation, or
   2. audio podcasts and recordings
4. Links to external learning assets – calculated as an average of the time required to consume content such as by
   1. reading an article
   2. watching a self-paced instructional video
   3. playing an instructional game
   4. or completing a simulation
5. Assignments – The instructor expectation of time spent in online instructional assignments and activities such as:
   1. postings to group discussion sites/bulletin boards
   2. online group project work
   3. use of class social media sites for group discussion/participation
   4. student-teacher interaction

West Coast University strives to ensure an equivalency of effort and time invested by the student in learning activities, whether a course is taught in an online or on-ground environment.