Hey! I'm pretty stressed about the idea of taking on too many or too few credits in college. So just wondering, how many credits do most college classes carry? Share your experiences please!
On average, most single-semester college classes are assigned a value of 3 credits. This could vary slightly depending on the college and the specific class but three is the norm. The idea is that for each credit hour, you should be spending about 2-3 hours per week outside of the classroom on homework and studying. So for a 3-credit course, that's roughly 6-9 hours of work in addition to your class time.
However, some more time-intensive courses, like labs or studio art classes, might have 4 or 5 credit hours associated with them. Conversely, courses like physical education may only carry 1 credit.
A moderate full-time college schedule typically involves 12-15 credit hours per semester. Students seeking to graduate within traditional 4-years often aim for 15 credit hours per term, totaling 30 for the academic year. That being said, pushing for 18 or more credit hours in a single semester can lead a student to feel overwhelmed.
Remember that everyone's capacity is different. Some folks might manage night classes after a full work day, while others will prefer a lighter load while they settle into college life. Always discuss your course load with your academic adviser—they're there to help facilitate this process and can offer more tailored insight.
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