Definition of Academic Credit and Credit Hour

Neumont University awards credits using the quarter credit system as defined by ACICS, its accrediting body, and as approved by the U.S. Department of Education.

The number of credit hours awarded for a Neumont course is determined by the types and lengths of activities that occur within that course. Courses are comprised of a variety of teaching and learning techniques, including: classroom lecture and direct instruction activities, outside study, reading and other assignments, laboratory or project work, and, in some cases, practicum or externship experience.

One quarter credit hour equals, at a minimum, 10 classroom hours of lecture, 20 hours of laboratory, and 30 hours of practicum. The formula for calculating the number of quarter credit hours for each course is: (hours of lecture/10) + (hours of lab/20) + (hours of practicum/30). This corresponds to the federal definition of credit hour, which is equal to one hour of classroom, or direct faculty instruction, and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week, over the period of a 10 or 12 week quarter.