Credit Definitions

As a SUNY institution, Rockland Community College adheres to the SUNY Credit/Contact Hour Policy. As such, the Credit Hour is the unit measure of instruction by which progress toward a degree is calculated. A credit hour is equivalent to one hour of classroom instruction (50 minutes) with a normal expectation of two hours of outside study for each class session. Typically, a three credit hour course meets three 50 minute sessions per week for fifteen weeks, for a total of 45 learning hours in a semester, regardless of time frame of delivery.

Credit Equivalent

ESL courses, and all ENG and MAT courses below the 100 level carry credit equivalents and are not included in GPA calculations. These credits count toward full-time status for the semester and for tuition purposes, but do not count toward degree or certificate requirements.

Credit Load

Students enrolled for 12 or more credits (or credit equivalents) are designated full-time. Students enrolled for fewer than 12 credits (or credit equivalents) are designated part-time. A typical full-time credit load for a semester is 15-16 credit hours. However, students may register for up to 18 credits (or credit equivalents). If students wish to enroll for more than 18 credits, they must have written approval from an advisor. For Summer session or Winter session, the limits are as follows:

Course Length Maximum Number of Credits
3-4 weeks 4 credits
5 weeks 7 credits
8 weeks 9 credits

 

No more than 12 total credits may be taken in the combined summer sessions without an advisor’s approval. For winter sessions, students may not register for more than 4 credits.

Course Delivery Methods

The three methods of course delivery at RCC are as follows:

  • Onsite – all classes meet at a site. This may be a combination of campus and another site.  (Ex.  Clinical rotation or student teaching.)
  • Hybrid – classes blend online and face-to-face meetings. The face-to-face meetings are held onsite.
  • Online – all course content is delivered online. There are no required face-to-face meetings.

Levels of Synchronicity

  • Completely Synchronous – Courses in which the faculty member and students have at least 45 hours together, at the same time, for a 3 credit lecture, regardless of whether or not they are in the same location.
  • Completely Asynchronous – Courses in which the faculty member and students have no real time together.  This is considered a pure online section.
  • Asynchronous with Lab – Courses in which the faculty member and students have no real time together for lecture, however, the lab component is offered only onsite.

Methods of attributing credits per course

Lecture 3 credits equals 1 hour of classroom instruction and two hours of outside study per credit. This equals 45 total hours per credit with 90 total hours of outside study equaling 135 total hours for three credits over a 15 week format, regardless of the mode of delivery
Lab The lab and the lecture are combined into one 4 credit course, with the credits assigned to the lecture. Successful completion of the course requires students to pass both components (lab and lecture).
Nursing Clinical No additional credits are assigned to Nursing Clinical courses. Successful completion of the course requires students to pass both components (lecture and clinical).
Field Work Level 1: No additional credits are assigned to level 1 Field Work. Successful completion of the course requires students to pass both components (field work and lecture).

Level II – 5 credits equals 40 hours per week for a minimum of 8-10 weeks at a facility.

Practicum 1 credit equals 45 hours onsite. The average practicum is 3 credits.
Internship/Externship 1 credit equals 45 hours onsite. The average internship is 3 credits.
Contract Courses Credits may vary as the contact hours are based upon program requirements and will meet minimum credit hour requirements.

All courses offered at the college will be reviewed for evidence of compliance with the semester /credit hour definitions set forth in the SUNY policy by the program faculty and program chair during program review. Information indicating such compliance will be provided to the Provost and Executive Vice President.