Credit Hour Policy and Procedure

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY'S CREDIT HOUR POLICY

For all Pepperdine programs, including but not limited to the undergraduate, master's, juris doctorate, and doctoral levels, for each credit hour (unit) granted, students must have successfully met the academic requirements with an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that reasonably approximates not less than:

     1. One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

     2. At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships.

The above policy is applicable to all courses offered, regardless of the mode of delivery and/or session length (e.g. full term-length, weekend mode, abbreviated term, face-to-face, hybrid, online, etc.).

Approved by the University Academic Council
May 2012

PROCEDURE FOR CHECKING CREDIT HOURS

• Credit hours will be examined for compliance by Department, by School, and by the Registrar prior to the start of each term.
• Official credit hour approval occurs via UAC during new program proposals, changes to programs, changes to courses, and during program review (via UAC and ASLC).

• Exceptions such as Independent Studies and Internships are checked on an ongoing basis by faculty, Division Chair and/or Associate Dean, and Registrar.