Glossary
Academic Credentials
Approval Process: Undergraduate and graduate certificates are formally approved by either the Vice Provost/Associate Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education or the Graduate Dean.
Credit Requirements: Undergraduate certificates require a minimum of 12 credits and graduate certificates requires a minimum of 9 credits. The number of discipline-specific credits required for a certificate should not exceed those required for a major.
Credentials: Certificates are recorded in student records and displayed on transcripts upon completion. University-approved certificates are designated on official (diploma-like) documents (including artist diplomas).
Definition: A credential awarded to a student upon successful completion of a program of study (e.g., Bachelor of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Doctor of Philosophy).
Credit Requirements: Generally, minimum credits are required for each degree type (e.g., 120 credits for a bachelor's degree, 30 for a master's degree, etc.).
Credentials: Each degree earned is designated on a separate diploma and transcript block.
A subsequent (second) bachelor's degree earned after the student has already graduated with a bachelor's degree from CU Boulder. College, school or program restrictions and requirements (e.g., residence credit requirements) for additional degrees may apply.
Two unique degrees from the same college, school or program (e.g., BA and BFA from the College of Arts and Sciences) or two degrees from different colleges, schools or programs that are earned/awarded concurrently outside of an approve dual-degree program (see Dual Degree). Students must meet all requirements for each degree. Each degree earned is recognized with a separate diploma.
An approved combined or integrated curriculum for two degrees (typically at the graduate or professional levels) in complementary fields of study. These may be offered by two or more CU colleges, schools or programs. Typically, students earn both degrees in less time than if each degree is pursued individually. Each degree earned is designated on a separate diploma.
An approved specialized degree program that prepares students for a particular profession based on accreditation or licensure requirements and/or has a more practical/applied focus.
A secondary area of study or concentration in a discipline beyond the student's primary major that complements, enhances or supplements their primary major. Additional fields of study are approved for select majors only.
An approved educator preparation program leading to state licensure in an initial teacher licensure or teacher added endorsement. The licensure or endorsement is transcripted, but is not designated on diplomas.
Definition: A curriculum within a discipline and degree offered by a college, school or program (also referred to as an academic plan, program of study or degree plan).
Credit Requirements: It may be comprised of prescribed and/or student-selected major requirements, core/general education requirements and electives.
Credentials: A major is associated with a degree and is typically designated on the diploma after the degree or reflected as part of the degree title.
An additional (typically second) major within the same college, school or program as the student's primary degree/major. Both majors are completed concurrently and designated on the same diploma.
Definition: A short program that allows students to gain industry-relevant skills and/or other competencies. A micro-credential is a non-degree credential that is generally a subset of learning achievements or outcomes that is less than a full degree or certificate.
Credit Requirements: Micro-credentials may be for credit or noncredit, and may be proposed by any unit on campus. They are smaller than certificate programs, which require a minimum of nine semester credits at the graduate level or 12 credits at the undergraduate level.
Credentials: A digital badge is issued upon successful completion of a micro-credential program.
An approved undergraduate academic plan within a specific discipline that typically requires a minimum number of 15 credits (and maximum of 21 credits). Minors are transcripted and may only be earned in conjunction with a degree. Minors do not display on diplomas.
Academic Programs
Definition: A major, minor or certificate.
Designation: In Campus Solutions, academic plans are represented by a four-letter department code and two- to four-letter plan code (e.g., AAAH-BA is the Department of Art and Art History's BA in Art History major).
Definition: A published concentration of courses within a particular major (also referred to as an option, emphasis or track).
Designation: In Campus Solutions, subplans are directly tied to plans and are represented by a three-letter subplan code (e.g., BIA is the Bioastronautics subplan for graduate-level Aerospace Engineering Sciences majors).
Credentials: Academic subplans may be used for advising purposes only, or may be included on student transcripts along with a degree and major.
Class Types (Components)
Definition: Participation in client and client-related services that are an integral part of an academic program. Clinical instruction occurs in or outside an institutional setting and involves work with clients who receive professional services from students serving under direct supervision of a faculty member and/or program director.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: An original investigation required for graduation at the doctoral level that shows mature scholarship and critical judgment, and demonstrates knowledge of research tools and methods.
Expectations: Dissertation credits should correlate with the scope and level of research or written work. The faculty member is required to keep records.
​Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Courses of study involving instructional activities conducted by the faculty and designed to supplement and/or extend an individual course or classroom experience.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.
​â¶Ä‹Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two-and-a-half times that of a lecture (2.5:1 ratio).
Definition: Courses of study where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research or independent study instruction in which the faculty member interacts with and directs student projects or other required activities with minimal associated direction.
Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Credit hours for placement at an approved business and/or industry environment that offers degree-seeking students professional-level experience and responsibility. An applied and supervised field-based learning experience where students gain practical experience following a negotiated and/or directed plan of study.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically three times that of a lecture (3:1 ratio).
Definition: Instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A faculty member is responsible for delivery and discussion of learning material and related instructional activities.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: See below for a standard 15-week semester (weekly contact time must be equivalent but prorated for classes scheduled in special sessions).
|
Credits Awarded* |
Minimum Contact Time (1 Week) |
Minimum Contact Time (15 Weeks) |
Minimum Out-of-Class Work (1 Week) |
Minimum Out-of-Class Work (15 Weeks) |
Total Instructional Contact Time & Out-of-Class Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
50 minutes |
750 minutes |
100 minutes |
1,500 minutes |
2,250 minutes (37.5 hours) |
|
2 |
100 minutes |
1,500 minutes |
200 minutes |
3,000 minutes |
4,500 minutes (75 hours) |
|
3 |
150 minutes |
2,250 minutes |
300 minutes |
4,500 minutes |
6,750 minutes (112.5 hours) |
|
4 |
200 minutes |
3,000 minutes |
400 minutes |
6,000 minutes |
9,000 minutes (150 hours) |
*Examples of hour credits are calculated with respect to contact time and out-of-class work (1:1 ratio).
Definition: Stand-alone labs involving instructional activities under the direct supervision of a faculty member that require student participation, experimentation, observation or practice.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Nonstandard course offerings that do not match the description of any other class or instructional type.
Expectations: Should the course meet outside of the standard contact time or involve outside student work, contact time and requirements must be established and documented. The faculty member or program director responsible for the experience is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).
Definition: Practical student work under the supervision of a faculty member or under supervision of a professional in the student's field with regular consultation with a faculty member.
Expectations: The faculty member or program director is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A smaller course or section of a larger course, designed for group discussion or student recitation.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).
Definition: Student projects or other required activities with minimal faculty-associated direction where a student is formally enrolled during a period of research.
Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A highly focused course that may include student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practice, problems or research (e.g., a capstone course).
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Equal to that of a lecture (1:1 ratio).
Definition: A course with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member wherein the student works to develop technical or creative skills respective to the area of study (e.g., music ensembles, art studio).
Expectations: The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: A research or expository critical or creative work required for graduation with a master's degree.
Expectations: Thesis credits should correlate with the scope and level of research or written work. The faculty member is required to keep records.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Definition: Courses with a focus on experiential learning under the direct supervision of a faculty member wherein the student performs substantive work in a workshop setting to develop technical or creative skills using the facilities and equipment respective to the area of study.
Minimum Contact Time Per Credit: Typically two times that of a lecture (2:1 ratio).
Instruction Modes
Taught using a combination of in-person learning (same meeting patterns for all enrolled students) with online and/or remote coursework. Hybrid classes are taught either:
- simultaneously in person and remote for every class session, with the instructor and some students attending in person, while others attend remotely, or
- in person for at least one class session per week, following the same pattern from week to week, with the other instruction delivered remotely or online.
Taught using a combination of online and remote instruction modes. This means that while some coursework may be completed online at a student's own pace (asynchronously), the class will also meet remotely at designated days/times each week.
Taught exclusively in person, typically on campus.
A course in which a student is formally enrolled during a period of research or independent study instruction and wherein a faculty member interacts with and directs student projects or other required activities with minimal associated direction. May be delivered in person, online, remote or using a combination of instruction modes.
Taught in an online delivery mode and delivered asynchronously, meaning students can complete the coursework throughout the week, whenever it is convenient for them. However, instructors may set deadlines for assignments, assessments and other requirements. There are no scheduled class meetings.
Taught in a flexible manner in which students may enroll any time and finish in less than a semester or up to six months with flexible exam and project deadlines. Applies to select courses offered through the Division of Continuing Education.
Remote course content will be delivered synchronously at scheduled days and times in any of the following ways: Zoom, lecture capture or Canvas.
For additional instructional modality guidelines, visit Credit & Contact Hour Guidelines.