Institute Policies

A credit hour is the unit of measurement used in Design Study Institute's degree-granting academic programs to quantify the amount of instruction and supplementary assignments required to achieve the student learning outcomes of a course.

One credit hour requires at least 750 minutes of instructional time and 1500 minutes of supplementary assignments. Instructional time refers to periods of direct, supervised learning activities led by a qualified faculty member or teaching assistant. Instructional time can include such activities as classroom lectures, supervised studio work sessions, viewing pre-recorded videos, or participating in guided discussions. Supplementary assignment time encompasses educational activities that students undertake independently or with minimal supervision. Supplementary assignments can include such activities as reading assignments, writing tasks, exam preparation, research, homework, independent study, unsupervised studio work, and group projects.

Common Calculations for Credit Hours at the Design Studies Institute include:

For 1 credit hour:

• Instructional Time Per Term: 750 minutes (12.5 hours)
• Supplementary Assignment Time Per Term: 1,500 minutes (25 hours)
• Total Time Per Term: 2,250 minutes (37.5 hours)

For 3 credit hours:

• Instructional Time Per Term: 2,250 minutes (37.5 hours)
• Supplementary Assignment Time Per Term: 4,500 minutes (75 hours)
• Total Time Per Term: 6,750 minutes (112.5 hours)

For 6 credit hours:

• Instructional Time Per Term: 4,500 minutes (75 hours)
• Supplementary Assignment Time Per Term: 9,000 minutes (150 hours)
• Total Time Per Term: 13,500 minutes (225 hours)