Semester Hours/Credit Hours
Molloy's academic year is based upon a fall and a spring semester. The fall and spring semesters are designed with a minimum length of 15 weeks. The fall semesters run for 15 weeks and the spring semesters run for 16 1/2 weeks. Within each semester, there are scheduled holidays and breaks built into the term. Courses meet on a scheduled basis for a minimum number of meetings per term designed to achieve the minimum number of minutes per semester hour as required by the state. The New York State Commissioner’s Regulations describe the basic formula for computing 1 semester hour of credit for lecture courses as follows:
1 semester hour = 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) = 750 minutes
3 semester hours, therefore = 2250 minimum total minutes
For laboratory work, the formula is:
1 semester hour = 30 hours (of at least 50 minutes each) = 1500 minutes.
The last week of the semester has one final/last class meeting for all courses, which is a mandatory meeting scheduled for every graduate - and undergraduate-level course. The regular weekly class meeting times along with the final/last class meeting are combined together for the total meeting time minutes.
For undergraduate courses, a 3-credit course meeting thrice-a-week would meet for 60 minutes x 39 meetings for 2340 minutes, plus 60 minutes for final/last class meeting for a total of 2400 minutes.
For undergraduate courses, a 3-credit course meeting twice-a-week would meet for 85 minutes x 26 meetings for 2210 minutes, plus 85 minutes for final/last class meeting for a total of 2295 minutes.
For undergraduate courses, a 3-credit course meeting once-a-week would meet for 170 minutes x 13 meetings for 2210 minutes, plus 85-170 minutes for final/last class meeting for a total of 2295 to 2380 minutes.
For undergraduate courses, a 4-credit course meeting twice-a-week would meet for 115 minutes x 26 meetings for 2990 minutes, plus 115 minutes for final/last class meeting for a total of 3105 minutes.
For undergraduate courses, a 4-credit course meeting once-a-week would meet for 225 minutes x 13 meetings for 2925 minutes, plus 115 minutes for final/last class meeting for a total of 3040 minutes.
Courses meeting for more than 4 credits or less than 3 credits have meeting times adjusted according to the number of meetings per week per term and the final/last class meeting time to comply with the minimum number of meeting minutes required.
Shorter, non-standard semesters, such as January Intersession or the Summer Sessions have more frequent and/or longer class meetings to meet the minimum mandated meeting time regulations.
This description of Semester Hours (Credit Hours) is presented for a quick insight into the formula and the process. For specific information on a particular class or on time periods, please contact the Office of the Registrar or the Vice President for Academic Affairs.