Credit Hour Policy
This credit hour policy applies to all degree programs, regardless of the delivery method including lecture, online, internship, independent study/directed research (thesis) study, and blended classes. The Dean of the School of Counseling and the Dean of the School of Ministry are responsible for ensuring that credit hours are awarded only for work that meets the requirements outlined in this policy.
Richmont operates on a semester schedule. Richmont awards semester credit hours as the measure of academic coursework. Fall and spring semesters are approximately 15 weeks, and the summer semester is 10 weeks, with weekly classes extended to meet contact hour requirements. Most online coursework is offered in half-terms of 7.5 weeks each with the exception of the following courses:
For traditional lecture and seminar classes, a credit hour is awarded in semester hour units based on semesters of 14-15 weeks and contact hours of 55-60 minutes. For the shortened summer term courses are expected to have the same number of contact hours as courses taught in a normal semester.
Courses that have less structured classroom schedules, such as online courses, independent study or directed research (thesis) courses, and blended courses, should state clearly, at a minimum, learning objectives and expected outcomes and workload expectations that meet the standards set forth above.
Credits are not awarded for audited courses.
The clinical internship course sequence within the School of Counseling provides opportunities for the participation in the counseling process as counselor/co-counselor under the supervision of licensed Christian mental health professionals across 12 months for a total of 6 credit hours. Over this time period, students accumulate a minimum of 700 clock hours of clinical experience of which a minimum of 300 hours is in direct service (face to face counseling). It also includes weekly individual supervision (at least one hour) and group supervision (at least one- and one-half hours). Overall, the clinical experience typically involves approximately 20 hours per week. Students enrolled in at least 2 credit hours of internship coursework will be considered half-time equivalent for enrollment reporting and financial aid purposes.
For independent study or directed research (thesis) courses, credit hours are awarded based on the amount and complexity of the academic work to be done, consistent with an equivalent workload for the credit hour standard applied to courses. Time commitment must account for equivalent seat time in a traditional class (e.g., 45 hours for a 3 semester hour course; 30 hours for a 2 semester hour course), plus additional time spent in study and preparation. The additional time must be double the seat time for the class; in other words, a 3-credit-hour class taken as an independent study consists of a minimum of 135 hours of work (45 for seat time; 90 additional). Time involved in work is distributed across: (a) independent reading of both course materials and lecture slides, (b) the conduct of empirical and/ or theoretical research on the chosen topic, (c) meetings with instructor and/or Thesis Advisor (minimum of three), (d) written assignments, and (e) other activities (e.g., submission of IRB proposals) as appropriate for the specific subject topic.
For blended (direct instructor contact combined with online elements) delivery formats, course instructional time includes direct faculty/student course contact within the physical classroom environment as well as via the virtual teaching space. Virtual teaching contact activities include but are not limited to: communication via threaded discussion board and email; experiential exercises facilitated by online material; and completion of course modules. Time commitment must account for equivalent seat time in a traditional class (e.g., 45 hours for a 3-semester hour course; 30 hours for a 2-semester course), plus additional time spent in study and preparation. Additional academic coursework requirements expected to be completed outside of course instructional time include written papers, quizzes, tests, and case studies. Workload expectations are the same as for traditional weekly classes, allowing for the extra work needed to account for course seat time.