Credit Hours Policy
These policies and procedures are designed to comply with ABA Standard 310 and the ABA Managing Director’s Guidance Memo on Standard 310 (May 2016).[1]
I. Instructor Certification and Compliance
A. All instructors shall submit new course proposals to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In so doing, the course instructor certifies that the classroom/direct instruction and non-instructional out-of-class student work. assigned reasonably approximates the requirements of Standard 310(b).
B. All instructors shall submit their syllabi to the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or a designee. In so doing, the course instructor certifies that the classroom/direct instruction and non-instructional out-of-class student work assigned reasonably approximates the requirements of Standard 310(b).
C. The Assistant Dean for Student Services or a designee shall keep all course syllabi on file in the event of an audit or other review related to compliance with Standard 310(b).
II. Calculating Classroom (Or Direct) Instruction Credit Hours
A. Classes that require written exams (including multiple choice exams) or final papers
1. To calculate total required classroom or direct instruction time (not including written examinations or final papers), use 60 minutes per credit (not including breaks), multiplied by 14, regardless of the length of the term of instruction (Short Session or Semester).[2]
2. After Fall and Spring semester of instruction, examination periods are administered on the dates approved on the Law School’s academic calendar. A minimum of one week is scheduled for semester-long final examinations. This week is considered the 15th week of instruction.
3. Examinations are administered within two weeks after the last day of instruction of Short Session.
4. If a comprehensive final exam is given (in class or take-home), it shall be scheduled during the examination period for at least 60 minutes per credit. If multiple assessments are given throughout a course, the allotted time for the aggregate of the assessments, including the final examination, must total at least 60 minutes per credit. Instructors may, at their discretion, require additional time for completion of an examination.
B. Courses that do not require written examinations or final papers [3]
1. Total classroom or direct instruction time is scheduled for 60 minutes per credit (not including breaks), multiplied by 15, regardless of the term of instruction (Short Session or Semester).
2. For courses that do not meet on a weekly basis, the total hours of classroom and out-of-class student work shall total at least 45 hours per credit.
3. Classroom time for Lawyering Skills and other skills courses may be scheduled so that class meeting times may vary from week to week, so long as the total of classroom meeting times, including student conferences, is at least the equivalent of 60 minutes per credit multiplied by 14 and the final paper or writing project requires at least 60 minutes per credit to complete.
C. Any instructor who must miss a regularly scheduled class session for any reason must schedule a measurable learning activity of equal time, synchronous or asynchronous, according to the schedule in Appendix A.
III. Calculating Non-Instructional Out-Of-Class Student Work Hours
A. Instructors shall require non-instructional out-of-class student work that reasonably approximates a minimum of 120 minutes per course credit hour per week, multiplied by 15. The out-of-class student work may include, but is not limited to: reading assignments; additional reading of treatises and course related materials; case briefing; written assignments other than examinations; problem sets; participating in out-of-class simulations and role playing exercises; research assignments; posting to an on-line discussion board; court or other observations; individual and group meetings with the instructor; practice questions; practice exams; CALI exercises; and participating in study groups, review sessions, and other work that assists in the comprehension of course content, such as outlining and studying for examinations. The instructor shall set the criteria for estimating out-of-class student work hours.
IV. Calculating Credit Hours For Distance Education Courses
A. Distance Education Courses require a minimum of 45 hours of student work per credit.
B. Distance Education Courses must comply with Sections I-III, above.
C. Instruction may include any combination of synchronous and asynchronous instruction that is equal to the number of hours required to be taught in person over the course of the semester. The type of instruction can vary from week to week.
D. Equivalent classroom instruction includes, but is not limited to, activities that are:
1. Directly related to the Law School’s Institutional Learning Objectives and the learning objectives of the course.
2. Measurable for grading purposes.
3. Directly supervised by or under the oversight of the instructor.
The equivalent instruction does not include homework assignments.
E. The Assistant Dean for Student Services or a designee shall keep all course syllabi on file in the event of an audit or other review related to compliance with Standard 310(b).
F. Any instructor who must miss a regularly-scheduled direct class instruction session for any reason must schedule synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction of equal time, according to the schedule in Appendix A.
V. Calculating Credit Hours For Clinics, Advanced Clinics, and Alternative Field Placements
A. Students in clinics and alternative field placements must complete 127.5 hours for 3 credits and 255 hours for 6 credits.
B. Students in advanced clinics must complete 42.5 hours for 1 credit, 85 hours for 2 credits, 127.5 hours for 3 credits, 170 hours for 4 credits, 212.5 hours for 5 credits, and 255 hours for 6 credits.
C. Students enrolled in clinic, advanced clinic, and alternative field placement courses must complete required hours and submit time keeping records in accordance with established clinic policies.
D. Credit may be withheld from any student who fails to comply with V. C.
VI. Calculating Credit Hours for Externships
A. Students must complete 42.5 hours of work per unit of credit for all externships.
B. Students enrolled in externship courses must complete required hours and submit time keeping records in accordance with established externship policies.
C. Credit may be withheld from any student who fails to comply with VI. B.
VII. Calculating Credit Hours For Directed Research
A. Students may do Directed Research for credit for one, two, or three credits. Students must complete a minimum of 42.5 hours of work for one credit, 85 hours of work for two credits, and 127.5 hours of work for 3 credits.
B. Students undertaking Directed Research shall submit a timesheet at the end of the semester that certifies the number of hours the student has spent on the project or study. The instructor must certify the timesheet prior to entering a grade. The Law Registrar’s office will retain the certified timesheets.
C. Credit may be withheld for any student who fails to comply with VII. B.
VIII. Calculating Credit Hours For Law Review Participation
A. Students must complete a minimum of 42.5 hours of work for one credit and 85 hours of work for two credits.
B. The criteria for estimating Law Review work will be set by the Faculty Advisors and Editor-in-Chief of Law Review.
C. Students earning credit for Law Review shall submit a timesheet at the end of the semester that certifies the number of hours the student has worked on Law Review projects. The Faculty Advisor must certify the timesheet prior to entering the grade for the course.
D. Credit may be withheld for any student who fails to comply with section VIII.C.
IX. Calculating Credit Hours for Moot Court Board
A. Students must complete a minimum of 42.5 hours of work for one credit.
B. The criteria for estimating Moot Court Board work will be set by the Faculty Advisor.
C. Students earning credit for Moot Court Board shall submit a timesheet at the end of the semester that certifies the number of hours the student has worked. The Faculty Advisor must certify the timesheet prior to entering the grade for the course.
D. Credit may be withheld for any student who fails to comply with section IX.C.
X. Calculating Credit Hours for Jessup Moot Court
A. Students must complete a minimum of 42.5 hours of work for one credit.
B. The criteria for estimating Jessup Moot Court work will be set by the Faculty Advisors.
C. Students earning credit for Jessup Moot Court shall submit a timesheet at the end of the semester that certifies the number of hours the student has worked on Jessup. The Faculty Advisor must certify the timesheet prior to entering the grade for the course.
D. Credit may be withheld for any student who fails to comply with section X.C.
XI. Calculating Credit Hours For Courses Taken At Other ABA Accredited Law Schools
A. As a condition of approval of a student’s application to take classes at another ABA Accredited Law School, an official from the school offering the course must certify in writing to the Law Registrar that the credits for the course(s) to be taken comply with Standard 310(b).
B. As a condition of approval of transfer credits, an official from the school from which the applicant is seeking to transfer must certify in writing to the Law Registrar and the Assistant Dean for Student Services that the credits for the courses taken comply with Standard 310(b).
XII. Course Approval
A. All courses [4] must justify the number of credits to be awarded, including a description of both synchronous and asynchronous instruction hours and the estimate of non-instructional out-of-class student work hours. Instructors must certify that the number of credits to be awarded complies with this policy and ABA Standard 310.
B. The Assistant Dean for Student Services or a designee shall keep these forms on file in the event of an audit or other review related to compliance with Standard 310(b).
Appendix A
Total and Minimum Required Teaching Minutes
| Credits | Minutes/Session | # of Classes/Weeks | # of Weeks | Total # of Class Sessions | Total Minutes | Minimum ABA Required Minutes | # of sessions you can skip, cancel, miss | You must make up: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 60 minutes | 2 | 14 | 28 | 1680 | 1500 | 3 | starting with the 4th missed class |
| 2 | 120 minutes | 1 | 14 | 14 | 1680 | 1500 | 1 | starting with the 2nd missed class |
| 3 | 60 minutes | 3 | 14 | 42 | 2520 | 2250 | 4 | starting with the 5th missed class |
| 3 | 90 minutes | 2 | 14 | 28 | 2520 | 2250 | 3 | starting with the 4th missed class |
| 3 | 180 minutes | 1 | 14 | 14 | 2520 | 2250 | 1 | starting with the 2nd missed class |
| 4 | 60 minutes | 4 | 14 | 56 | 3360 | 3000 | 6 | starting with the 7th missed class |
| 4 | 80 minutes | 3 | 14 | 42 | 3360 | 3000 | 4 | starting with the 5th missed class |
| 4 | 120 minutes | 2 | 14 | 28 | 3360 | 3000 | 3 | starting with the 4th missed class |
*ABA requirements: 1 credit = 750 minutes
*Minimum ABA requirement = minutes x # of meetings x weeks
*any calendared meeting(s) in addition to the ABA requirements were scheduled to meet the Universities 14 week instructional requirement
*when determining teaching days, take into account holidays
*holidays need to be factored in, and made up if necessary
Appendix B: Equivalent Instructional Activities Guide for Distance Education Courses
Distance Education Courses can be taught synchronously and/or asynchronously, as long as they comply with ABA Standards. Faculty may combine and vary their methods of teaching so long as they meet their credit hours requirements. It is the responsibility of each instructor to certify that the number of credits to be awarded in the instructor’s class complies with law school policy and ABA Standard 310.
There is no minimum requirement of “seat time” in a class. [5]
The ABA requires schools to establish criteria for an “equivalent amount of work” leading to the award of credit hours in a class. [6] However, scientific precision is not required; the equivalency must be one that “reasonably approximates” the minimum amount of work set forth in the Standard. [7]
Importantly, “[w]hatever method the school chooses, it must be documented and records maintained to permit the ABA to fulfill its obligation as an accrediting agency.” [8] In addition to reviewing a school’s policies and procedures, site teams will verify adherence by reviewing syllabi or through sampling a mix of types of classes (in-person, distance education, clinics, and field placements). Faculty will therefore be required to document how they met their instructional obligations. Typically, the course syllabus will satisfy this requirement. A course hours calculator table is provided to assist faculty in calculating their required hours of direct instruction (synchronous and/or asynchronous) and non-instructional out-of-class student work hours.
The following examples explain possible teaching options for classes with online components. In addition, an “Equivalent Instructional Activities” guidance chart is attached.
Option 1. Combine in-person sessions and pre-recorded videos created by the instructor, if any, to equal the same number of minutes normally taught during in-person sessions over the course of the semester. For each class worth of pre-recorded lecture, one in-person class can be cancelled.
For example, if a four-credit course meets twice a week for 120 minutes during each session, the instructor can create a total of 120 minutes of pre-recorded video over the course of the semester, and cancel one in-person class session. This session can be canceled in addition to the number of sessions instructors may cancel pursuant to the attached ABA Minutes Chart (Appendix A).
The instructor must also assign eight hours of out-of-class work each week for the four-credit course (two hours per credit).
This option is based on Standard 310(b)(1) (“not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for fifteen weeks”.
Option 2. For each unit of credit, assign students three hours of work per week. The work can include any combination of asynchronous video instruction, synchronous video instruction, in-person meetings and out-of-class student assignments, problems and/or reading. The mix of those activities can vary from week to week.
For example, for a two-credit course, assign six hours of work per week. During the first week, assign one hour of pre-recorded video instruction, one hour of synchronous video instruction, and four hours of out of class problems, assignments, and readings. During the second week, assign three hours of synchronous video instruction and three hours of problems, assignments, and readings.
This option is based on Standard 310(b)(1) (“or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time”.
Although students will not all perform at the same pace, many schools have developed guidelines to help faculty determine the amount of time to assign to equivalent instructional activities. Some examples include:
- Equivalent Instructional Activities, Duquesne University
- Instructional Equivalencies Chart, Albright College
Sample Credit Hours Calculation Table For Distance Education Courses
Faculty can use the following table to calculate how their courses will meet ABA Standard 310 instruction hour requirements.
For example, a 15-week 3-credit course requires (on average) 3 hours of synchronous and/or asynchronous faculty instruction per week plus 6 hours of out-of-class student work (homework) per week. The following chart shows calculations for a 3-credit course with a final exam.
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Direct (synchronous sessions, pre-recorded lectures, instructor-student interaction in asynchronous discussion forums, automatic quiz feedback, & final exam – in some cases) | Out-of-class (readings, videos not recorded by instructor, student-student interaction in asynchronous discussion forums, written assignments) |
|---|---|---|
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Week 1 |
Example (3 cr course): 1.0 hours – synchronous class 1.0 hours – pre-recorded lectures 0.75 hours – providing feedback to students in asynch discussion forum 0.25 hours – pre-programmed feedback in asynch quiz Week 1 total = 3.0 hours |
Example (3 cr course): 3.5 hours – reading textbook chapters 0.5 hours – relevant video content 2 hours – written assignment Week 1 total = 6 hours |
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Week 14 |
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Finals week |
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Total |
1 credit=15 hours 2 credits=30 hours 3 credits=45 hours 4 credits=60 hours |
1 credit=30 hours 2 credits=60 hours 3 credits=90 hours 4 credits=120 hours |
[1] Standard 310 Determination of Credit Hours for Coursework
(a) A law school shall adopt, publish, and adhere to written policies and procedures for determining the credit hours that it awards for coursework.
(b) A “credit hour” is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:
(1) Not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for fifteen weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
(2) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in subparagraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.
Interpretation 310-1
Based on the fifty minutes of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week over the fifteen-week (or its equivalent) period required by the Standard, at least 42.5 hours of total in-class instruction and out-of-class student work is required per credit [15 x 50 minutes + 15 x 2 hours].
Time devoted to taking a required final examination may count toward the in-class time required, and time devoted to studying for a required final examination may count toward the out-of-class time required. However, merely scheduling a general “exam week” or “exam weeks” does not permit allocating “exam time” to every class. In order to count time spent studying for and taking a final examination, an exam of appropriate length must be required for the particular class.
Interpretation 310-2
A school may award credit hours for coursework that extends over any period of time, if the coursework entails no less than the minimum total amounts of classroom or direct faculty instruction and of out-of-class student work specified in Standard 310(b).
[2] The UCI Law faculty voted to require that one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction is 60 minutes.
[3] Clinics, Externships, Co-Curricular, Directed Research, Law Review, Moot Court Board, and Jessup Moot Court courses have separate credit hours requirements covered under Sections V – X, below.