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 (55 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.