Applied Credit Policies
Definition of Academic Credit Hour
Academic degree credit hours by semester in all North Greenville University programs (baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral) shall be equivalent to the commonly accepted and traditionally defined units of academic measurement in accredited institutions. Academic degree courses, including various courses modalities such as face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning, or independent study courses are measured by the learning outcomes normally achieved through 45 hours of student work for one semester credit (one credit/semester hour is 15 hours of academic engagement and 30 hours of preparation). This formula is typically referred to as a Carnegie unit and is used by the American Council on Education in its Credit Recommendation Evaluative Criteria.
Student work includes direct and/or indirect faculty instruction. Academic engagement may include, but is not limited to, submitting an academic assignment, listening to class lectures or webinars (synchronous or asynchronous), taking an exam, an interactive tutorial, or computer-assisted instruction; attending a study group that is assigned by the institution; contributing to an academic online discussion; initiating contact with a faculty member to ask a question about the academic subject studied in the course and laboratory work, externship or internship. Preparation is typically homework, such as reading and study time, and completing assignments and projects. Therefore, a 3 credit hour course would require 135 semester hours (45 hours of academic engagement and 90 hours of preparation). All student work must be documented in the curriculum materials and syllabi, including a reasonable approximation of time required for the student to complete the assignments. Evaluation of a student’s work must be identified as a grading criterion and weighted appropriately in the determination of a final grade for a course.
Double Counting Credits Policy
Double Major Double Counting Credits Policy
A double major is not the same thing as a second degree. (See our Second Baccalaureate Degrees policy elsewhere in this catalog.) All core curriculum requirements and major requirements for both majors must be completed. Students must decide which of the two majors will be their primary major. Students retain their advisor for their primary major, but also meet with an advisor of their choice for their second major. NGU will print both majors on the transcript, but award only one bachelor’s degree, which will be the degree of their primary major. Students will only receive one diploma, that of the primary degree. Note: students who earn a Bachelor of General Studies or a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies cannot pursue a double major.
The following academic departments do not allow for double majoring within their department: College of Christian Studies, Cline School of Music, English, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, School of Communication, and Theatre. Any second major for students in these departments must come from another department.
Major and Minor Double Counting Credits Policy
Minors are normally eighteen (18) credit hours, and six (6) of those hours must be unique credit hours separate from any major or other minor in which the student might be enrolled.