In order to ensure that our courses meet the highest levels of academic integrity, align with the federal credit hour standard, and, in the event that a new course is developed, to assign its credits accordingly, Bay Path University utilizes the following policy:

Except as provided in 34 CFR 668.8(k) and

1. a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency 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 hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, 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, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.

Each credit of a course is assumed to reflect approximately 45 hours of student engagement with course material and instruction. Most often, courses are packaged as three credits, meaning they contain approximately 135 hours of engagement with course material and instruction.

Depending on the modality, the course material and student engagement take various forms. Examples include: lectures and (in-person courses), research projects (in any modality), discussion boards (in hybrid or online courses), videos (in any modality), etc. The sum of all the elements in a course meet the approximate 45 hours per credit standard as required by the US Department of Education.