Helpful Hints
How Many Credits Should I Take?
| If you work |
Take no more than: |
| 40 hrs./wk. |
6 Credits |
| 30 hrs./wk. |
9 Credits |
| 20 hrs./wk. |
12 Credits |
| 15 hrs. or less/wk. |
14-16 Credits |
How Many Hours Should I Spend on Studying?
It is strongly advised that you allow two (2) hours of study time for every one (1) hour of class time. For example, if you are enrolled in twelve (12) credits, you should plan to spend a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours per week studying.
A few examples of courses which may require more than 2 hours of study for every hour in class are:
- Natural Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics
- Mathematics: All levels
- Electives: Accounting - All levels
What About Summer Session Courses?
Summer session course work is intensive and instructors typically do not lighten the course requirements. These courses are condensed to as little as one-fourth the time as compared to a regular semester. Students who enjoy short, focused study in one or more subject area(s) usually benefit from this format. Summer courses should be approached with caution and careful planning.
Below is a chart which explains the hidden study requirements for courses of different lengths (the following examples are based on 3 credit courses):
| Length of session |
Number of hours of study required per week |
| 4 week session |
24 hours |
| 6 week session |
16 hours |
| 8 week session |
12 hours |
| 10 week session |
9 hours |
Helpful Hints
- Talk to a professional counselor about what you want to accomplish.
- Be realistic with your schedule.
- Balance your class load by selecting classes from different areas of your program.
- Seek tutoring for additional assistance or to review coursework.
- Develop better study skills.
