Credit/Contact Hours

The Carnegie definition of a semester credit hour stipulates that one semester credit hour be awarded for 15 periods of 50 minute classroom lecture each requiring 2 hours of outside preparation by the student. Iona College adheres to the Carnegie classification for both Undergraduate and Graduate Classes as follows:

Undergraduate Semester:
In any semester, 15 periods of instruction of 52 minutes each, or 15 laboratory periods of two clock hours each, normally constitute one credit hour. Variations from this standard are indicated in the descriptions for affected courses. Examinations and quizzes are included within the 15 periods. In addition to the periods of instruction, at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments are also required per credit.

52 minutes * 3 days = 156 minutes
78 minutes * 2 days = 156 minutes

156 minutes *14 meetings = 2184 minutes
130 minutes for Final Exam = Total minutes 2314 minutes

2314 minutes / 50 minutes (50 minutes = 1 credit hour) = 46.28 hours

Additional hours of supplementary work required

Graduate Semester:
In any semester, 15 periods of instruction of 120 minutes each normally constitutes three credit hours. Variations from this standard are indicated in the descriptions for affected courses. Examinations and quizzes are included within the 15 periods. In addition to the periods of instruction, at least 60 hours of supplementary assignments are also required per credit.

120 minutes per week * 15 weeks = 1800 minutes (30 hours)

Additional hours of supplementary work required

Graduate Trimester:
In any trimester, 12 periods of instruction of 180 minutes each normally constitutes three credit hours. Variations from this standard are indicated in the descriptions for affected courses. Examinations and quizzes are included within the 12 periods. Inaddition to the periods of instruction, at least 72 hours of supplementary assignments are also required per credit.

180 minutes per week * 12 weeks = 2160 minutes (36 hours)

Additional hours of supplementary work required