A semester hour is a unit of credit earned for attending and successfully completing a course during a given semester. A class usually meets three hours a week for one semester, and students therefore earn three semester hours credit for that course. Laboratory courses may carry additional credit hours, usually at the rate of 1 credit per two hour lab. Certificate programs may require fewer semester hours. Freshmen are students who have completed fewer than thirty credits.
Sophomores are students who have completed thirty or more credits.
Full-time students are those registered for at least twelve credits per semester. Part-time students are those who register for fewer than twelve credits per semester. Matriculating students are those who have been formally accepted in a program. Non-degree students are those who are not in any academic program. A special student who is part time registers for courses on a space-available basis.