Semester Hour
Policies and Procedures
The unit of measure for credit purposes is the semester hour. One clock hour of recitation each week is usually equal to one semester hour. For laboratory work, two clock hours are usually counted as one semester hour. For each classroom hour, two hours of outside study are expected.
Twelve semester hours is the minimum full-time load in fall and spring and four semester hours is the minimum full-time load in each summer session.
Students will be permitted to attend class only when the instructor has received evidence of proper registration. Registration dates and deadlines are listed in the official Institute calendar. Students may add courses, make section changes or drop courses only within the period specified in the calendar.
Course NumberingMost courses meet three hours each week and have a credit value of three semester hours.
The Institute of Technology has converted to the Texas Common Course Number prefixes and numbers.
Each course has an individual alphanumeric code (such as CDED 1311). The alpha part indicates the subject area. Each number contains four figures. The first digit generally indicates the level of the course: 1, means it is freshman level, and 2, sophomore level. The second figure indicates the number of semester hours credit.
In this bulletin, three digits separated by colons such as (3:1:1) follow each course title. This code provides the following information. The first number is the semester hours of credit for the course. The second number is the class hours of lecture, recitation or seminar meetings per week. The third number is the required laboratory hours per week.
Class OfferingsThe Institute of Technology reserves the right to not offer all courses listed in the catalog.
New CoursesIn order to meet changing educational requirements, the Institute of Technology reserves the right to add, change or delete any courses at any time without regard to the listing of such courses in the catalog. It is expected that a listing of these courses will appear in the next catalog issue.
The right to change numbers in order to indicate change in semester hours also is reserved for the reasons above.
Evening ClassesClasses offered after 5 p.m. are considered Evening Classes. The regular faculty teaches both day and evening classes, with few exceptions, and educational facilities are the same. Persons employed during the day may attend classes in the evening and study to obtain a degree or to expand their knowledge in a special field of interest as an adult non-degree student.
Course RepetitionA course may be repeated for additional credit only as specified by the official course description in the Lamar Institute of Technology Catalog.
Advanced Standing Examinations (Challenge Examinations)Advanced standing examinations are intended only for those students who have had the equivalent, in formal or informal training, of work being presented in the course in question. Credit may be granted to those who pass departmental advance standing examinations with a grade of "B" or better. Normally, departmental examinations will be given only if CLEP subject examinations are not available.
To secure permission for such examinations, students must obtain the written permission of the department chair responsible for the course and the Vice President for Instruction. A fee of $25 must be paid to the Institute of Technology Business Office. Forms are available in the departmental offices.
A student who has officially enrolled in a class may not take an advanced standing examination in that course at a later date.