You should plan to study at least 2-3 hours a week for each credit. In other words, for each three-credit course, you would study 6-9 hours per week. When you compare this time with what you spend in class and studying outside of class, it is about the same.
When speaking about a 3 credit hour course, you may find that the course meets 3 times a week for 50 minutes, or 2 times a week for 75 minutes. This is typical and is still considered 3 full credit hours.
Online learning courses usually require at least as much time as you would spend taking a campus-based course. You should plan to study at least 2-3 hours a week for each credit. In other words, for each three-credit course, you would study 6-9 hours per week.
So for a 4 credit hour course, this common guideline suggests that a typical student should spend at least 8 hours outside of class studying for that course each week. Is 4 classes a semester too much?
For every 1 unit you are enrolled, you are recommended to spend approximately three hours outside of class studying. Example: 3 unit course 3 units x 2 hours of studying (per unit) = 6 hours of study time (These are suggestions for weekly study hours. Actual times for your courses may vary.)
The consensus among universities is that for every hour spent in class, students should spend approximately 2-3 hours studying. So, for example, if your course is three hours long two days per week, you should be studying 12-18 hours for that class per week.
How long should a bachelor's-level course take per week? Most college courses are 3 credits. Traditionally, in 3-credit face-to-face undergraduate courses you are in class 3 hours per week. You should probably allow 3 hours per week to read/listen to the online content for each course you take.
Sample Calculation. Minimum instructional time required per credit is calculated by multiplying the number of credits awarded by 750 minutes. For example: A 3-credit course would need to include at least 2,250 minutes of instructional time (750 minutes x 3 credits = 2,250 minutes) in a given semester.
Most lecture and seminar courses are worth 3 credit hours. You must complete at least 45 – 48 hours of class time in one semester. This averages about 3 hours of classroom time per week for the full 16-week semester. Generally speaking, one class is about 3 credit hours.
How much time should you be studying per week? Research suggests that students should spend approximately 2-3 hours, per credit hour, studying in order to be successful in their courses. STEM classes often require 3-4 hours, per credit hour, of studying to be successful. Think about how you normally study.
It is assumed that each credit hour equals one hour of class time and three hours of study time. This assumpation is based on the idea that for every hour you are in class, you should spend about 2-3 hours studying outside of class.
The length of online classes varies. Some can be completed in as little as five weeks, while others take longer. On average, online courses last eight to nine weeks, especially those offered through universities.
Study Every Day: Establish a daily routine where you study in one place a minimum of 4 -5 hours each day. There are different kinds and 'levels' of study discussed below. What is important is that study becomes the centerpiece of your day and the continuous element in your work week. Do not wait for exam-time to study.
A three-unit class requires three hours of instruction per week for a 16-18-week semester.
What is a Credit Hour?Credits to be earnedHours per week, 7-week courseHours per week, 14-week course1 credit6 hours3 hours3 credits18 hours9 hours6 credits36 hours18 hours12 credits72 hours36 hours
Typically, a three semester credit hour course meets for three contact hours (three 50-minute sessions or two 75-minute sessions) per week for the 14 weeks of a semester.
The recommended amount of time to spend on your studies is 2-3 hours per credit per week (4 hours per credit per week for Math classes), right from week 1. For example, for a 3-unit course, this means 6-9 hours devoted to studying per week.
Therefore, a student carrying 15 credit hours should plan to spend 30 to 45 hours each week studying beyond the classroom. With a web class, it is calculated the same way, a 3 credit class requires an additional 2 hours of outside work per credit, which equates to 5 to 9 hours of work per week for the class.
Plan to schedule 2-3 hours of study per credit hour. For example, for a 3-credit course, plan to study approximately 6-9 hours per week.
For one session, a student should expect to spend six hours a week on course work for every course credit. In other words, if a student is signed up for two or three courses during a session and each course is worth three credits, that student should plan to spend between 36 to 54 hours a week on course work.
Each course can vary in credit hours, however you’ll find the majority of courses are 3 credit hours each. When speaking about a 3 credit hour course, you may find that the course meets 3 times a week for 50 minutes, or 2 times a week for 75 minutes. This is typical and is still considered 3 full credit hours.
College credit hours do not generally expire. However, the important piece to consider is the relevance of those credit hours over time and whether they will transfer to another program. You may have taken some classes in 2010, however those classes in 2020 may not be relevant and contain the same core curriculum as they did 10 years ago. According to a post by franklin university, you can expect that STEM courses (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) will last for 10 years and graduate courses will last for 7 years.
This is typical and is still considered 3 full credit hours. The 30 minute shortage per week is to account for transition between classes for both professors and students. Scenario: It’s the first semester of your freshmen year and you’ll be taking 12 credit hours.
Given what we learned above, 12 credit hours is the same as 180 contact hours (12 credit hours * 15 contact hours per credit hour). Given this is a normal 15 week semester, we can expect that the student will be in class for 12 hours per week (180 contact hours / 15 weeks).
Scenario: It’s the first quarter of your freshmen year and you’ll be taking 12 credit hours. As learned above, the 12 credit hours = 180 contact hours (12 credit hours * 15 contact hours per credit hour). Given this is a quarter system, you’ll be spending 10 weeks in order to receive 180 contact hours. You should expect to be spending 18 hours per week in class (180 contact hours / 10 weeks).
A contact hour is the measurement of how many total hours a student will be lectured in a classroom or lab during a set term. A college will determine how many contact hours a student will receive during a semester or quarter, and then determine the credit hours of the respective course.
The average number of credit hours taken per semester is typically 15 for a bachelor’s degree. This is popular among students as this allows for four years of college at 30 hours per year, allowing for each year to coincide with a new academic standing (Freshman, Sophomore, etc.).
Research shows that students are most successful with distance education when they start their coursework on time and make steady progress.
NOVA Online Orientation is a two-part video recording providing a general overview for students enrolled in NOVA Online courses offered through Northern Virginia Community College.
As you study, check the time to see when you start becoming inefficient. If you start losing focus 45 minutes into studying, try studying for 45 minutes at a time, then taking a 15-minute break each hour. Personally I use the Pomodoro Technique to create an easy to stick to study schedule. It uses 25 minute periods of work followed by 5-minute breaks. After four 25-minute work periods, you take a half-hour to an hour break. This helps with focus while still giving your mind consistent break periods to rest.
An hour of studying is pretty much worthless if you spend half of it sharing memes with friends on Twitter. You can cut down the number of hours per day needed for studying if you use proper time management skills. Here are some ways you can do that:
Another thing that you need to take into account while studying is that not every course needs 2-3 hours of studying. It is not a hard and fast rule. Instead, it is more a rule of thumb. It also depends on the professor, as well. For example, in community college, I had a professor who had us take notes every day in class. He highlighted what parts of the notes we needed to write down. The highlights in our notes were the test answers. I never once had to study for that class. I just had to attend. Use the time that you would be studying for that class to work on a harder class’s materials.
The best way to not have to test your brain’s limits is don’t procrastinate, study a little every day.
That said, there are some tools you can use to optimize your learning time. One way is by using a strong note-taking system that makes a review and test-prep efficient. I personally use the Cornell Note-Taking Method as it is great at both note-taking and creating a strong feedback system for testing myself. You can find more information on the Cornell Note-Taking Method here.
If you are taking a full course load, between class time and study sessions, you have a full-time job. If you do follow this suggested method, you are sure to do better on tests, because you aren’t cramming the night before the big exam. All professors and classes differ, but as crazy as it may sound, this is the expectation of a college student.
Studying is one of the most daunting tasks to face as a student. There is so much pressure attached to the idea of it. It can be challenging to find the best study method that works best for you. Many students pull all-nighters accompanied by gallons of coffee to get their study sessions in.