Course Development
The reference example for how UMF builds courses that meet credit-hour requirements. Each document below is paired with a plain-language explanation of what it is, what it is for, and when to use it — so any instructor can follow the process.
Every course UMF delivers must prove it meets a real, measurable standard of student learning — not only for good teaching, but because our accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and federal law require it. Written policies and a regular course-review cycle are how we make that proof consistent, fair to students, and ready for inspection.
Why we have policies
Policies turn good judgment into a shared, written standard. Every instructor builds and paces courses the same way, students are treated consistently, and there is a documented rule behind every workload decision — exactly what an accreditor asks to see.
Why we review every course
A course that met the standard last year can drift — readings change, assignments grow, content ages. Reviewing each course on a schedule catches that drift before it becomes a compliance gap and keeps student workload honest.
The MSCHE credit-hour standard
Under the Carnegie Unit and federal rule 34 CFR 600.2, each credit hour equals about 45 hours of total student work per semester — instruction plus study, reading, and research. A 3-credit course therefore adds up to roughly 135 hours. The credit-hour charts in this section are how we document it.
How often we review
Every course is reviewed at least once a year, timed for the middle of the semester — while the course is running and real student-performance data is available — so changes are made from evidence, not guesswork.
per credit hour
course
semester
semester
& Delivery