what does credit hrs mean?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 25, 2012

Yes, 12 credit hours means that you will be in an actual college classroom for 12 hours per week. This is typically divided into four courses that are worth 3 credits each. It could also mean that you are attending three courses worth 4 credits each.

IndyElmer · May 25, 2012

It depends on the class.

For example, a 3 credit lecture only course is 3 hours of classroom time.

However, a 4 credit class with lab, may be 3 hours of lecture and anywhere from 1-3 hours of lab. Many of my lecture/lab combo classes had a 1 credit = 3 hour lab or a 2 credit = 4 hour lab (depending on which school or class I am talking about).

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 25, 2012

TheCommuter is correct.

Additionally, the 12 credit hours might not factor in lab or clinical time. In my nursing school program, a 4 credit nursing class was made up of 3 hours per week of lecture and 6-8 hours per week of clinical time. If you have three of these nursing courses, you'll have a total of 12 credit hours, but you'll be in lecture for 9 hours per week and clinical for 24 hours per week. So don't count on being in school for ONLY 12 hours per week if you are taking 12 credits. Make sure you factor in how much lab/clinical time you'll be responsible for as well.