Compliance Status

Louisiana State University and A&M College is in compliance with this principle.

Narrative

Louisiana State University and A&M College (LSU) has policies and procedures for awarding credit hours for courses and programs consistent with commonly accepted practices in higher education.  As described in Core Requirement 2.7.1 and in Comprehensive Standard 3.4.6, LSU follows the federal definition of the credit hour [1] [2]. A semester credit hour is defined as “an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates”:

not less than one hour (50 minutes) of lecture/classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work across 15 weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

at least an equivalent amount of work as required for other academic activities including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours [3].

Consistent with the federal regulatory language, there must be an equivalent amount of work among the different modes of delivery, whether face-to-face or on-line. Further, there is a requirement of a minimum of two hours of out-of-class work for each hour of face-to-face instruction (or equivalent) [4]. During a 15-week semester, face-to-face lecture courses that represent three semester credit hours meet two or three times a week (Tuesday-Thursday or Monday-Wednesday-Friday).  For courses other than lecture courses, the number of hours of work per week for one semester hour of credit can vary. For example, a laboratory course requires at least two hours of work in the lab each week and an equivalent amount of work outside of the lab for one semester hour of credit. Science lab courses typically meet for three hours for one hour of credit, whereas a design studio will meet for two hours for one hour of credit [5]. Internships, practica, and directed or independent studies may be influenced by external accrediting board guidelines but will generally require at least three hours of course work per week for one hour of credit [6]. 

The hours of credit assigned to each course are determined by the faculty and department with the approval of the appropriate college or school and of the Faculty Senate Courses and Curricula Committee (Figure 1). University faculty set the amount and the level of credit for courses through a procedure that begins at the unit offering the course and includes approval at the school or college level and by the Faculty Senate Courses and Curricula Committee.   Hours of credit are reviewed in the formal process of evaluating each course in order to insure that the numbers of credit hours awarded are justified, consistent, and appropriate to the course level.  All courses are evaluated in the same manner, regardless of the method of delivery. The Faculty Senate Courses and Curricula Committee is composed of at least one (but no more than two) faculty member from each college or school not within a college, one undergraduate student, and non-voting representatives from the Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of the University Registrar. The Courses and Curricula Committee is responsible for the approval or disapproval, after review, of proposed additions, alterations, or eliminations of courses, curricula, and degree programs submitted by colleges and schools. When deemed appropriate, it consults with units that appear to be affected by changes in courses or curricula.