When it comes to course design, it's important to consider the amount of time and materials dedicated to student learning on a weekly basis for your course.
Based on UCLA Extension's Policy AA121, the total number of hours you need to design content and activities for your course is based on the number of units the course provides. (Course units are listed in the course catalog and at the top of your Canvas syllabus.)
You can use the following approaches to determine how many hours of content and activities to include in your course to maintain academic rigor and a balanced course load for students.
To review each approach, click the tabs below.
Approach One: Contact/Instruction Time
Each credit unit of a course is equal to 8.25 hours of contact/instructional time. Readings and study time are not included in contact/instructional time; these occur in addition to the hours noted below.
| # Credit Units | Hours Per Week of Content & Activities for 11 Weeks | Total Contact/Instruction Time Per 11-Week Course |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | .75 hours | 8.25 hours |
| 2 | 1.5 hours | 16.5 hours |
| 3 | 2.25 hours | 24.75 hours |
| 4 | 3 hours | 33 hours |
| 4.5 | 3.375 hours | 37 hours |
For example, the contact time for a four-credit unit course on an eleven-week schedule would be calculated as:
4 credit units X 8.25 contact hours = 33 contact hours. 33 contact hours / 11 weeks = 3 hours of contact time per week.
Based on your course's time requirements, think about the best use of student time each week to help them achieve success.
Example:
- Time to learn new information: 1 hour
- Time to practice new skills: 1.5 hours
- Time to test mastery of skills: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
Approach Two: Total Student Hours of Work
Each credit unit of a course is equal to approximately 33 hours of total student work per quarter, comprised of contact time, instruction, lecture, facilitation, readings/study, homework and activities, and assessments. Readings and study time are included in the total student hours of work.
| # Credit Units | Approximate Student Hours on All Course-Related Items Per Week for 11 Weeks |
Total Student Time Per 11-Week Course |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 hours | 33 hours |
| 2 | 6 hours | 66 hours |
| 3 | 9 hours | 99 hours |
| 4 | 12 hours | 132 hours |
| 5 | 15 hours | 165 hours |
For example, the total student work for a 4-credit unit course on an 11-week schedule would be calculated as:
4 credit units X 33 total student hours = 132 total student hours. 132 total student hours / 11 weeks = approximately 12 hours of total student time per week