What is a credit hour, and how many credit hours is a typical college course worth?

• A. A credit hour represents one hour of instruction per week with additional study time; a standard course is typically 3 credit hours.
• B. A credit hour represents multiple hours of study per week; a typical course is 6 credit hours.
• C. A credit hour is the total number of credits regardless of time.
• D. A credit hour equals five hours of class per week.

Answer: (B)

Credit hours are a way to quantify the workload of a course. In most colleges, one credit hour means about one hour of class time per week over a 15-week term, plus roughly two hours of outside study or preparation per week. So a typical course worth three credit hours involves about three hours of in-class instruction each week and around six hours of outside work. That’s why a standard college course is usually three credit hours. Some courses can be lighter or heavier (1, 2, or 4 credits) depending on the format and required time commitment.