VARIATIONS IN CREDIT HOUR ASSIGNMENT
There are several types of programs and courses that do not follow the 14 weeks of instruction followed by an exam pattern. One example is summer sessions, which do not run for 14 weeks, one hour of class meeting time per credit per week, but follow the model of 3 hours per week per credit for a five-week semester. Three-credit summer and summer travel courses all follow the minimum 42 hours of classroom instruction and 84 hours of student preparation as outlined in “Policies and Procedures for Credit Hour Assignment” above, only compressed to fit into fewer weeks.
Supervised individual activities, such as Independent Study and Individual Instruction (defined as study given initial guidance, criticism review, and final evaluation of student performance by a faculty member), are awarded credit for the equivalent hours of student activity. All written Independent Study proposals are reviewed in advance and approved by the faculty supervisor, the department chair, and the academic dean. Some departments and colleges have an additional Independent Study review/approval committee. The option of Independent Study within a department must be approved by both the college curriculum committee as well as the University curricular process. Individual Instruction courses follow the identical syllabus as the course covering the same material and assessments. They are offered only under specific conditions and limitations. Individual Instruction courses are regular catalog courses, which are not scheduled to be offered in that particular semester or session. Students must be matriculated, with a minimum of 32 credits already earned, the course must be a required course in the student’s curriculum, and it may not be a repeat of a course taken previously. A student may be permitted one Individual Instruction during a term of study, and a student enrolled in a course under Individual Instruction may meet with the instructor for an additional five contact hours per credit offered.
In addition, student teaching is essentially full time under the supervision of a licensed practicing teacher with direct observations from Kutztown University faculty. One semester credit hour is awarded for each week of work. All student teachers are required to have a two hour a week in-person on-campus practicum recitation with Kutztown University faculty.
Citation: Title 22 (Education), I.C.31.21-22
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter31/s31.21.html
Music Credit Hours
The Department of Music follows the university procedures for the assignment of credit hours for Music courses according to the following categories:
- Courses in Music Theory, Music History, Music Technology, and Conducting as well as Music Education Methods courses are awarded credit consistent with lecture courses (3 credits for a total of 42 hours of lecture time).
- Courses in Aural Skills and Physical Properties of Sound are also awarded credit consistent with lecture courses (2 credits for 28 hours of lecture time).
- Courses in Class Piano, Voice Class, and Music Education Techniques courses are awarded credit consistent with laboratory courses (1 credit for a total of 28 hours of laboratory time).
- Private Instruction in Music (lessons) are awarded one credit, and students receive ½ hour weekly instruction per week, for a total of seven one-on-one instructional hours during the 14-weeks semester. Students are also engaged with their professor during regularly scheduled studio classes and master classes.
Art, Design, and Cinema Credit Hours
The Departments of Art and Art History; Art Education; Cinema, Television
- Studio-based courses are awarded credit consistent with lab courses.