SOM Policy on Assignment of Credit Hours

I. PURPOSE

It is the purpose of the policy to define the value of an academic credit and demonstrate the acceptable and consistent methods for evaluating and assigning credit hours in all courses and programs of study in the New York Medical College School of Medicine (“SOM”).

II. POLICY

It is the policy of the SOM that the assignment of credit hours is based upon total scheduled contact time, which assumes an additional 2-3hours of outside work, and is determined by the Education and Curriculum Committee of the SOM (“ECC”) as follows:

A. Sixteen (16) hours of substantive educational activity for a course/clerkship is equivalent to one credit hour. 
B. For Phase 1 courses, credits are calculated by dividing total scheduled class hours (regardless of type) in a course and dividing by sixteen (16). Final credit hours are rounded to the nearest whole number.
C. For Phase 2 and Phase 3 courses/clerkships, an average of a 40-hour week is assumed.  Credits are calculated as weeks in rotation times forty (40) divided by sixteen (16). 
D. The SOM does not award transfer credits or academic credit for prior experiential learning.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to all courses and clerkships offered by the SOM.

IV. DEFINITIONS 

A. Credit Hours: “an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than (1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks…or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours." (United States Department of Education)

B. Phase 1: Pre-clerkship years of the curriculum

C. Phase 2 and Phase 3: Clerkship years of the curriculum 

V. PROCEDURES 

A. New courses are reviewed by the ECC for approval and must adhere to these guidelines. 

B. Approved courses are sent to the Registrar’s Office for inclusion in the SOM’s catalog. Courses/clerkships are evaluated annually by the ECC to ensure ongoing compliance with these guidelines. 

VI. EFFECTIVE DATE

This policy is effective immediately.

VII. POLICY MANAGEMENT

Executive Stakeholder: Dean, School of Medicine 
Oversight Office: Undergraduate Medical Education