Estimating Course Hours
Begin designing your course by reflecting upon its structure, which will help you determine how many hours you must teach and how many hours your students must read and study.
Consider Your Course Structure
Your course structure strongly influences your course design. Imagine how different your course would be if you offered it online vs. face-to-face? delivered it in 12 weeks vs. 8? had a class size of 6 vs. 25? Start designing your course by reflecting upon its structural elements below.
- Number of credits
- Number of weeks
- Class meeting frequency
- Average class size
- Hours for class meetings
- Degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral)
- Prerequisite courses
- Placement in the degree program
- Contribution to the capstone
- Delivery mode (fully online, blended, or traditional — all courses are face-to-face)
- Structure of in-person classes vs. online learning (if applicable)
You can find your course structure information by asking your program director, checking the student handbook, or by reading your course’s most recent syllabus if one already exists.
Weekly Instruction for Blended and Online Courses
All Saint Mary’s Graduate and Professional Programs courses must have instruction weekly. Learn more.
Determine Your Instructional and Study Hours
After gathering your course structure information, you can determine the number of instructional and study hours required for your course. Standards vary based on degree level. Use the table below to determine your course’s instructional and study hours.
| Instructional Hours | Study Hours | |
| Bachelor’s | 11 hrs / credit | 3 hrs / instructional hr |
| Master’s | 15 hrs / credit | 2 hrs / instructional hr |
| Doctoral* | 13 hrs / credit | 3 hrs / instructional hr |