“Credits” are the currency of America’s higher education. The American university system is a credit-based, not comprehensive exam-based, system. Students make progress toward receiving their degree by accumulating credits. One credit is roughly equivalent to one hour of class time. Students are expected to attend and participate actively in all classes. Most undergraduate degree programs require 120-130 credits to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Students on a semester (fifteen-week) system usually take fifteen credits a semester. Each course normally counts for three credits. Most students accumulate on average thirty credits per academic year. The academic year normally spans the months of September through June. The student must be a “matriculated” student to have the student’s “credits” count toward a degree
