Policies

Curriculum Credit Hour Policy

Approved By Date
Board of Trustees 02-20-2014
Executive Leadership Team 12-19-2013
ICORE 12-18-2013

Stanly Community College provides instruction for each curriculum course based on the number of contact hours listed in the North Carolina Community College Combined Course Library (CCL).  Instruction is delivered by a variety of methods, including traditional and online formats, or a combination of both. Students will attend course instruction and participate in outside studies to achieve the student learning outcomes.  For every one hour of instruction, students are to spend a minimum of two hours outside of class reading, studying, completing assignments, and learning independently.


Curriculum Credit Hour Procedures

Approved By Date
Executive Leadership Team 01-13-2025
ICORE 01-08-2025

The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) restricts the number of hours in curriculum degrees, diplomas, and certificates as follows:


 

AA/AS Degree

AAS Degree

Diploma

Certificate

Minimum General Education Hours

45

15

6

0

Minimum Major Hours

0

49

30

12

Other Required Hours

15-16

0-7

0-4

0-1

Total Semester Credit Hours

60-61

64-76

36-48

12-18


 Labs:  2 or 3 hours per week over 16 weeks equals 1 credit hour. Lab, clinical and work-based learning courses from the CCL convert from credit hours to contact hours per course using a multiplier of 16:

  • Clinical - 3 to 5 hours per week for 16 weeks equals 1 credit hour.
  • Work-based Learning - 1 credit hour per 10 hours of work experience

Academic programs offered online have the same total semester credit hours as the equivalent program offered in a traditional, seated environment or hybrid format and follow the NCCCS guidelines above.  All courses within an academic program contain the same student learning outcomes, content, contact and credit hours regardless of delivery method.

 


Reference:

1D SBCCC 400.1 Curriculum Definitions
 1D SBCCC 400.9 Curriculum Standards

Revisions: 12/19/2013 (procedures)