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Definition of a Credit Hour


Tennessee Technological University is organized on a semester basis. When the term “hour” or “credit” is used, it refers to a semester hour credit. One semester hour of credit requires one hour (50 minutes) of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks. 

Two or more hours of laboratory or studio work are required per hour of credit. An equivalent amount of work is required for practica and other academic activities that award credit. Summer, intersession or other alternate course formats require the equivalent amount of work per credit hour. Laboratory hours per credit are determined by the department or college. Semester credit hours earned in courses such as internships, research, theses, dissertations, study abroad, etc. are based on outcome expectations established by the academic program.


 Classification

(Year Level)

Course Hours Completed

Classification

0-29.9

Freshman

30-59.9

Sophomore

60-89.9

Junior

90 and greater

Senior

 
Courses are numbered according to the following pattern:

Course Numbers

 

 

1001-1999

Music Courses for Multiple Credit

1000-1999

Freshman Level

2000-2999

Sophomore Level

3000-3999

Junior Level

4000-4999

Senior Level

5000-5999

Graduate Level

6000-6999

Graduate (Restricted to Graduate Students)

7000-7999

Advanced Graduate

 

In the Catalog listings, courses offered at the senior level that may be taken at the graduate level show the graduate course number in parentheses beside the senior number.