Credit

Credit/No Credit Courses

Certain courses for which the learning experience is based primarily on participation and/or attendance may be offered on a Credit/No Credit basis.  Courses in research numbered 898 (report), 899 (thesis), and 999 (dissertation) are offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis. Letter grades may not be given for any other such Credit/No Credit courses offered by the university. {University Handbook, F13}

For courses that are normally given for a grade, the designation Credit may be obtained in the case of credit by examination.

Course Level Key

In order to maintain a common system of classification of academic information for all state universities, course levels are to be identified by the first
digit catalog course number as follows: {University Handbook, F51}

(Courses numbered 500 may be taken for graduate credit only in a minor field. Courses numbered 600 may be taken as part of a graduate student’s major field.)

Master’s: Courses and thesis for master’s students who will ordinarily have accumulated from 1 through 30 graduate hours and students enrolled in professional schools (Law, Veterinary Medicine, M.D., Architecture, etc.).

Doctoral: Courses for specialists and doctoral students who will ordinarily have completed more than 30 hours of graduate work.

The dual listing of courses may be permitted on a limited basis with the written approval of the graduate dean of each institution. A current list of such dually listed courses shall be maintained by each university.

The course numbering system for Kansas Regents institutions as defined in the Kansas Board of Regents Policy and Procedures Manual, Chapter 2, Section A.2.

Definition of a Credit Hour

{University Handbook, F115 & 115.1}

One Credit Hour: the amount of effort required to attain a specific amount of knowledge or skill equivalent to three hours of effort per week for 15 weeks.

• Any combination of contact time and effort outside of class is allowed. A common practice is for one academic hour of credit to be composed of a lecture or class to meet for one hour (50 minutes) per week, with two hours per week of outside assignment and study effort expected each week for 15 weeks.
• A laboratory class period equivalent to an academic hour of credit would either meet for one three-hour period each week for 15 weeks with all effort by the student expected to be completed during the laboratory period; or one two-hour laboratory period with one hour of student effort expected outside the class period, each week for 15 weeks.
• Shortened academic sessions (including condensed semesters, intersession classes, or summer classes) and all other modalities (online, distance, etc.) are expected to maintain an equivalent amount of time (contact and outside of class time) as those classes in the 15-week semester.

It should be noted that the judgment of the amount of academic effort that comprises one hour of credit for any class is ultimately a faculty decision, from the development of the course syllabus to the approval through Faculty Senate. Additional time outside of class may be required for graduate coursework. For further detail please refer to the Course Scheduling in the Department Head’s manual. {FS 2/14/12}

One-Half Credit Hour: the amount of effort required to attain a specific amount of knowledge or skill equivalent to 22.5 hours of effort.

• Any combination of contact time and effort outside of class is allowed.
• Academic sessions, including full or condensed semesters, intersession classes, summer classes, or other defined periods of time, as well as all other modalities (e.g., online, distance, etc.), are expected to maintain an equivalent amount of time (contact and outside of class time).

It should be noted that the judgment of the amount of academic effort that comprises a one-half hour of credit for any class is ultimately a faculty decision, from the development of the course syllabus to the approval through Faculty Senate. Additional time outside of class may be required for graduate coursework.