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B. Definition of Credit Hour  (approved by the ACC 1/16/01 as a guideline in reviewing course proposals in accordance with WAC definitions)

Credit hours are assigned to a class based on the amount and type of work expected from a typical student in class. 

Classes will be assigned one credit for each hour of classroom discussion or lecture, and one credit for every two hours of laboratory or practice/rehearsal involving some preparation or reporting.

Classes using different formats for at least part of the course will be assigned credit for amounts and types of work equivalent to those described above.  When such a component is proposed, the type and amount of work involved must be described in detail.  In particular, the activity for which credit is assigned must be structured and occur at regular or periodic intervals throughout the course; faculty must supervise and evaluate students' work in this activity.

[from the original memo]

Both the ACC Handbook and the University Bulletin have similar definitions of a “credit hour.” 

From the 1999-2000 ACC Handbook (previous unrevised version)

B. Definition of Credit Hour (unrevised)

Academic credit is a measure of the total time commitment required of a typical student in a particular course of study.  Total time consists of three components:

     1.  time spent in class;

     2.  time spent in laboratory, studio, field work, or other  scheduled activity;

     3.  time devoted to reading, studying, problem solving, writing or preparation.

One quarter or semester credit hour credit is assigned in the following ratio of component hours per week devoted to the course of study:

     1.   lecture course -- 1 contact hour for each 1-hour credit (two hours of outside work implied);

     2.   laboratory or studio course -- at least 2 contact hours for each 1-hour credit (one hour outside preparation implied);

     3.   independent study -- at least three hours work per week for each 1-hour credit.

WAC DEFINITIONS

[new information added March 1, 2000]

The following information was provided by the Assistant Attorney General’s office. The WAC can be found on the internet and some excerpted sections follow. URL’s are provided for the sources if you wish to do more research.

WAC § 250-61-050 Provides definitions. Here’s the most salient one:

(18) "Credit hour" means the unit by which an institution measures its course work. The number of credit hours assigned to a course is defined by the number of hours per week in class and preparation and the number of weeks in a term. One credit hour is usually assigned for three hours of student work per week or its equivalent. The three hours of student work per week is usually comprised of a combination of one hour of lecture and two of homework or three hours of laboratory. Semester and quarter credit hours are the most common systems of measuring course work. A semester credit hour is based on at least a fifteen week calendar or its equivalent.  A quarter credit hour is based on at least a ten week calendar or its equivalent.

http://search.leg.wa.gov/wslwac/WAC%20250%20%20TITLE/WAC%20250%20-%2061%20%20CHAPTER/WAC%20250%20-%2061%20-050.htm  [all one line]

WAC § 250-61-100 Provides academic program requirements:

(1) Educational programs. Each program shall require the completion of a prescribed program of study leading to the attainment of competence in an interdisciplinary area or specific field of study. Programs shall generally meet the guidelines or standards of the accrediting association(s) to which the institution would apply for institutional or program accreditation.
…

(c) The baccalaureate degree shall require at least one hundred eighty quarter credits, one hundred twenty semester credits, or four full academic years of postsecondary study. The degree shall require approximately two academic years of study in a distinct major and related subjects and, as a minimum, twenty-five percent of the program shall be in general education curricula.

…

(h) Home study, correspondence, and electronic media program(s) of study must be comparable in content, faculty, and resources to those offered in residency, and include regular student-faculty interaction by computer, telephone, mail, face-to-face meetings.
(i) Undergraduate credit for noncollegiate learning may be awarded when validated through a portfolio or similar procedure. The institution shall maintain copies of examinations, portfolios, and evaluations used in this process. Noncollegiate learning credit shall constitute no more than twenty-five percent of an undergraduate degree program.