As per the regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education, it is expected that there will be a minimum of two hours of supplementary assignments for each hour of seat time or virtual seat time in all courses. A semester hour means an academic credit granted for the satisfactory completion of a course which requires at least 15 hours (of 50 minutes each) of instruction and at least 30 hours of supplementary assignments. That is, 12.5 hours of in-class seat time and 25 hours of supplemental assignments are required for each semester hour. A semester hour, therefore, represents the amount of credit that would be earned in a course meeting for fifty minutes once a week for fifteen weeks.
Three-credit Courses
The majority of courses at Dominican carry three semester hours of credit, and thus meet for 2.5 hours a week for 15 weeks (either as two 75-minute class sessions or one 150-minute class session with an additional 10 or 15 minutes being provided as a mid-class break). The course meeting schedules are adjusted accordingly for the abbreviated Special Winter and Summer Sessions, with in-class instruction and supplemental assignments structured as to maintain compliance with the Commissioner’s Regulations.
Four-credit Science Courses
Four-credit science courses typically consist of a three-hour lecture (either two 75-minute class sessions or one 150-minute session) and a separate three-hour hands-on laboratory experience (“lab”).
Five-credit Nursing courses
Five-credit Nursing courses consist of a three-hour lecture (either two 75-minute class sessions or one 150-minute session) and a separate six-hour “Clinical Lab.” Full-time day and evening students usually register for 12 to 17 semester hours each semester.
Course Overload
Full-time day and evening students register for 12 to 16 semester hours each semester. Permission of the advisor is required to carry more than 16 semester hours in a single term, and is reserved for students whose cumulative G.P.A. is 2.75 or higher. Permission of both the advisor and the Dean is required to carry more than 18 semester hours at a time, and this also requires a cumulative G.P.A of 2.75 or higher.