CREDITS:

The unit of credit at Amarillo College is the semester hour (see exceptions below). Each semester hour represents one class period of 50 minutes in length each week for 16 weeks (including final examinations), or equivalent. Laboratory courses normally require three to four class periods per week for each hour of credit. Clinical courses require four to 10 class periods per week for each hour of credit. Cooperative-work-experience courses normally require 10 hours per week per credit hour.

From 1975 through 1981, the School of Vocational Arts operated on a 12 week quarter system and the unit of credit for the School of Vocational Arts was the quarter hour. During the 1995-96 academic year (former (T.S.T.C.) technical programs were taught in quarter hour format as well. In both instances these hours will be designated by the letter "Q" preceding the hour value of each course.

Some programs are offered in clock-hour format. Courses from these programs will be designated with a "C" preceding the hours for each course.

COURSE NUMBERING:

The following guidelines are provided as an explanation of course numbering:

Prior to Fall 1983 - Three digit course numbers were used with the first digit indicating the level (1 = Freshman, 2 = Sophomore). The second digit indicates the number of credit hours for a given course.

Fall 1983 to 1998 - Four digit course numbers were used with the first digit indicating the level (0 = Remedial/Developmental, 3 = Freshman, 4 = Sophomore, 5 = Cooperative Education). The last digit indicates the number of credit hours for a given course.

Beginning with the Fall 1998 semester, some courses were converted to a new four digit numbering system. Each year, more courses were phased in until all courses were converted. In this system, the first digit indicates the level (0 = Remedial/Developmental, 1 = Freshman, 2 = Sophomore) and the second digit indicates the number of credit hours for a given course. The Fall 1983 numbering rules remained in effect until all courses were converted (8/2001).

Fall 2001 to present - Course conversions that began in 1998 were completed. Four digit course numbers are used with the first digit indicating the level (0 = Developmental, 1 = Freshman, 2 = Sophomore) and the second digit indicating the number of credit hours for a given class.

GRADE POINTS/GRADE POINT AVERAGES:

All grades are calculated on a four point scale.

Total grade points earned divided by total hours attempted (all hours except those specifically not computed) equals grade point average. When a course is repeated, only the higher grade is used in calculating grade point average.