Policy:

Clarkson College follows the Federal Regulation 34 CFR 600.2 definition of a credit hour, §668.8: §668.9. Our academic programs follow a semester calendar and for the total number of hours, a minimum of 2 hours per week/per credit of student study time is added to the theory contact hour definition as defined below. 

Procedure:

The Clarkson College contact definition for both online and on-campus courses is as follows:

1. Credit to contact hour conversions for all theory courses: One credit hour equals 15 contact hours per semester, plus 30 hours of study time.

Examples:           

• GEN 105 Medical Terminology = 1 credit hour = 45 contact hours per semester
• ENG 101 English Comp I = 3 credit hours = 135 contact hours per semester

2. Credit to contact hour conversions for courses with a lab component:

A. General Education & Physical Therapist Assistant Program Courses: One credit hour from the total credit hours listed for the course sections are for lab time and equal 45 contact hours.

Examples:   

• BIO 211 Human Anatomy theory = 4 credit hours = 135 theory contact hours (3 credits) and 45 contact hours of lab (1 credit) per semester.
• BIO 211 Human Anatomy lab = 0 credit hours

B. Radiography Program Courses: One credit equals 15 contact hours per semester, with the exception of RT Procedures labs in which 1 credit hour equals 30 contact hours per semester.

Examples:

• RAD 120L Exposures I lab = 1 credit hour = 15 hours of contact per semester
• RAD 110L Procedures I lab = 1 credit hour = 30 hours of contact per semester

C. Nurse Anesthesia Courses: One credit hour equals 15 contact hours per semester.

Example: ANA 872L Principles of Anesthesia I Lab = 1 credit hour = 15 contact hours per semester

3. Credit to contact hour conversions for clinical/internship/externship rotations dependent on the program:

A. Physical Therapist Assistant Program Clinical Courses: One credit hour equals 40 clinical hours per week.

Example: PTA 246 Clinical Practicum III = 6 credit hours = 240 clinical hours

B. Undergraduate Nursing Program Clinical Courses: One credit hour equals 45 clinical hours.

Example: NRS 126 Foundational Skills Clinical = 2 credits = 90 clinical hours

C. Graduate Nurse Education, Graduate Nursing Administration, & Health Care Business Professional Practice Experience (PPE) and Internship Courses: One credit hour equals 45 clinical hours.

Example: HIM 368 Professional Practice I = 2 credit hours = 90 clinical hours

D. Radiography Program Clinical Courses: One credit hour equals 56 clinical hours.

Example: RAD 265 Clinical Experience I = 4 credit hours = 224 clinical hours

E. Medical Imaging Program Clinical Courses: One credit hour equals 60 clinical hours.

Example: DMI 385 CT Externship = 3 credits = minimum of 180 contact hours

F. Community Health Fieldwork Course: One credit hour equals 45 fieldwork hours.

Example: CHL 400 Fieldwork = 2 credit hours = 90 fieldwork hours

G. Psychology Fieldwork Course: One credit hour equals 45 fieldwork hours.

Example: PSY 450 Fieldwork = 2 credit hours = 90 fieldwork hours

H. Nurse Practitioner Clinical Hours: Zero credit hours are dedicated to clinical hours; however, a minimum of 750 clock hours are required for the MSN and 975 clock hours BSN-DNP programs.

I. Nurse Anesthesia Program Clinical Courses: Twelve (12) credit hours are dedicated to clinical practicum hours with a minimum of 2,000 hours required for the program. Clinical hours never exceed 64 hours per week, averaging over four weeks.

J. Doctor of Nursing Hours: Zero credit hours are dedicated to DNP hours. A minimum of 350 professional practice hours are required for the program. Nurse Anesthesia students are required to accrue a minimum of 125 professional practice hours. All DNP students must complete a minimum of 1,100 professional practice hours (DNP Hours) to be eligible for graduation.