Approved by: Educational Policies Committee
History: Updated 2016 | 2023
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Related Forms, Procedures and References:
For Questions Contact: Office of Academic Affairs | 414.382.6121
Alverno College is on the semester hour system. Students in Weekday College and Adult Evening and Online programs must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to earn a baccalaureate degree. A full-time course load is 12-18 credit hours. Students in graduate programs have varying numbers of credits for program completion, but a full-time course load is 6 credit hours.
A credit hour is typically defined by a combination of in-class instruction and study outside of class, totaling three hours per credit earned, for 15 weeks. Classes that meet for shorter periods of time use this same calculation and adjust for the credit and duration of the class. Exceptions to this definition include asynchronous courses, studio courses, clinical experiences, directed research, travel courses, internships and practicums, and other experiences faculty offer to students outside of the usual laboratory or classroom setting.