Definitions for Credit Hours and Course Components
KU assigns credit hours based on clear, consistent standards that reflect the amount of academic work required in each course. All courses use whole credit hours, and one credit hour represents approximately 45 hours of total student effort over the term.
Some courses offer variable credit hours to support flexible learning experiences such as research, independent study, internships, and projects. These courses do not follow a fixed meeting pattern, and instructors provide written expectations for the workload associated with each credit-hour option. Only certain course components may be offered for variable credit, they are listed below.
Each course also includes a course component, which identifies the type of learning experience (e.g., lecture, lab, practicum) and the typical balance of instructor contact time and student work. The chart below lays out the different course component types and associated contact time.
For complete details, including approved course components, workload expectations, and criteria for variable credit, please see the Credit Hour Definition Policy.
Component Types:
- Organized Section - course meets regularly, generally at a specified time and place; courses are intended to be taken by groups of students
- Individualized instruction - course usually meets 'by appt'; each course section is often taken by one or a few students
Component Name | SIS Code | KBOR Code | Instruction Delivered | Definition | Advised Contact & Effort per Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Activity | ACT | STUD | Organized Section | Instructor-facilitated course emphasizing learning by doing with engagement in physical, skill-based, or experiential activities focusing on practice, performance, or application of techniques | 2:1 |
Studio | STU | STUD | Organized Section | Instructor-facilitated hands-on, learning with engagement in creative or design-based work emphasizing collaboration, and iterative development, often requiring extended time for project-based application of concepts. | 2:1 |
Clinical | CLN | CLIN | Individualized Instruction | Courses involving client and client-related services under direct supervision. Typically conducted inside or outside an institutional setting. | 3:1 – Variable Credit Approved |
Discussion | DIS | DIS | Organized section | Instructor facilitated interactive dialogue focusing on exploration or an in-depth analysis of content supplementing the lecture. | 1:1 |
Independent Study | IND | IND | Individualized instruction | Custom courses designed to meet individual student needs and may include directed readings or specialized instruction. | 1:2 - Variable Credit Approved |
Individual Research | RSH | IND | Individualized instruction | Independent, faculty-guided research activities on a specific topic relevant to the student’s field of study | 1:2 - Variable Credit Approved |
Thesis/Dissertation | THE | IND | Individualized instruction | Credit hours for research work leading to a thesis or dissertation, required for degree completion. | As defined by the Advising and Mentorship Policy through the Office of Graduate Studies or the KU Medical Center |
Field Studies | FLD | INT | Individualized instruction | Supervised practical training to supplement or extend classroom learning. | 3:1 - Variable Credit Approved |
Practicum | PRA | INT | Individualized Instruction | Supervised practical work in a student’s field with regular faculty consultation. | 2:1 - Variable Credit Approved |
Internship | INT | INT | Individualized instruction | Professional work experience tied to a student’s major or career goal, supervised by industry professionals. | 1:3 - Variable Credit Approved |
Laboratory | LBN | LAB | Organized section | Instructor led hands-on activities or experiments that complement a lecture or program. Separate enrollment in lecture may be required. | 2:1 |
Laboratory Main | LAB | LAB | Organized section | Instructor-led course involving hands-on activities or experiments enhancing the overall program material. | 2:1 |
Lecture | LEC | LEC | Organized section | Instructor-led course delivering content through presentations, discussions, and other instructional methods | 1:1 |
Seminar | SEM | LEC | Organized section | Instructor-led, Small-group discussion-based course exploring specific topics, with possible student-directed components. | 1:1 |
Workshop | WKS | DIS | Organized Section | Credit-bearing courses providing targeted developmental instructional support specifically linked to primary courses. | 2:1 |
Competency | CPT | OTH | Individualized Instruction | An instructor led self-paced learning experience where progression through the academic content is based on mastery via direct assessment. | 1:1 |