3.27 Assignment of Credit Hours Policy
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.22 Course Outlines and Course Syllabi
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.22.1 Course Outlines and Syllabi
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.36 Academic Programs
Related Minnesota State Board Policy: Policy 3.35 Credit for Prior Learning
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.36.1 Academic Programs
Related Minnesota State Board Procedure: Procedure 3.36.1.2 Delivery Methods
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations 34 CFR 600 and (k) and (I)
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to ensure Normandale Community College’s assignment of credit hours is consistent with the federal definition of the credit hour and conforms to commonly accepted practices in higher education.
Part 1: Definitions.
Subpart A: Federal Credit Hours Definition: A credit hour is the amount of work represented in intended
learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement which is an institutionally established
equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student
work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or the equivalent amount of work over a
different amount of time, regardless of delivery mode: or
Institutionally established reasonable equivalencies for the amount of work required in this definition.
This includes student achievement, with evidence, of intended learning outcomes, or
At least an equivalent amount of work as required above, in this definition for other activities
as established by the college, including laboratory work, internships, clinical experiences, studio work,
practica, and other academic work leading toward to the award of credit hours.
Subpart B: Clock hours. Clock Hours are the total number of actual hours per week a student
spends attending class or other instructional activities that count toward completing a program of study.
Federal regulations require that a semester hour must include at least 37.5 clock hours of instruction.
Subpart C: Delivery Methods Alternative modes of delivery refer to courses delivered by a
method other than fully face-to-face. Normandale offers coursework in the following delivery methods:
in person, mostly online, videoconferencing, blended/hybrid, arranged, completely online asynchronous,
completely online synchronous, and flexible as defined in Minnesota State Board Procedure:
Procedure 3.36.1.2 Delivery Methods.
Subpart D: Credit for Prior Learning. Credit for prior learning allows student to demonstrate competence
at the college level from learning gained through experiences outside of the college credit-bearing courses
and to establish consistent practices among colleges for evaluating and awarding undergraduate credit
for prior learning. Credits are awarded after demonstration that course outcomes have been completed and
documented through external and internal assessments as outlined in policy. Refer to Minnesota State Board
Policy 3.35 and Normandale Policy 3.35.
Part 2: Course Credit Assignments
Subpart A: Establishment of new courses. Each new credit course shall be brought through the
curriculum approval process of the Academic Affairs and Standards Council (AA&SC). Each course
proposal shall include the number of credits requested as well as the number of lecture, lab, studio,
clinical/practica, and internship hours per week. Each course proposal shall also include a course
outline (CO) that specifies content to be covered and student learning outcomes. Credits requested
shall conform to the federal credit hour definition as specified in Part 1: subpart A.
Subpart B: Changes in course credit assignment of existing courses. Changes in course credit assignment
for existing courses shall be brought through the curriculum proposal process the AA&SC. Each course
proposal shall include the number of credits requested as well as the number of lecture, lab, studio,
clinical/practica, and internship hours per week. Each course proposal shall also include a CO that specifies
content to be covered and student learning outcomes. Credits requested shall conform to the federal credit
hour definition as specified in Part 1: Subpart A.
Part 3: Dissemination of Information
Subpart A: Dissemination of information to faculty. It is the responsibility of the dean or designee
(e.g., faculty chair) to direct faculty members to the CO. The CO sets minimum expectations for the course
and faculty must adhere to it. Faculty are expected to be current with changes to COs in their program area.
Subpart B: Dissemination of information to students. Course outlines shall be available to students through
the college website Course syllabi will be available to students in the first week of the term of the course for
which they are enrolled.
Policy History:
Date of Implementation: Adopted and implemented prior to 2011
Department Owner: Academic Affairs
Policy History and Subject of Revisions:
Reviewed and revised December 2024.
Reviewed and revised August 2018:
Reviewed and revised.
Next Review Date: 2028