In traditional classroom settings, the expectation for undergraduates is generally two hours of outside work for every hour spent in class. For graduate students, less time is typically spent in class and more time is committed to outside study generally three hours for every hour spent in class. Including both class time and study time, a semester hour of credit for the average student entails approximately forty hours of time devoted to active learning. A three-credit course therefore involves approximately 120 hours of commitment during the term. At Cambridge College, course structures often vary considerably from this traditional norm, but the learning expectations are always comparable.
Some courses demand intensive interactions over shorter periods of time than a term.
Others build directly on a student s professional experience, perhaps foreshortening the time required to master new insights and competencies. Still other courses require an extensive internship or practicum. It is important to be aware of these differences in planning your time, but as a guideline for the average, total amount of learning commitment that may be expected in a course, it is useful to keep in mind the average of forty hours per credit .