Each class is a number of credits (aka credit-hours).  The amount of time you should expect to spend on your class will vary with the number of credits, the course type (online, hybrid or face-to-face) and semester length (14 week, 12 week, 7 week, etc)

A full-time credit load is 12 or more credits.  A part-time credit load is 11 or fewer credits.  

Most GCC courses are 3 credit courses.  Many math and science courses are 4 credits because they involve a lab.

For a face-to-face, 3 credit course in a 'regular' 14-week semester:

  • expect to be in class for 3 hours a week 
  • PLUS expect an additional 6 hours of homework per week.

For a face-to-face, 4 credit course in a 'regular' 14-week semester:

  • expect to be in class for 4 hours a week 
  • PLUS expect an additional 8 hours of homework per week.

If your course is hybrid or online, expect the same number of hours, but more of it will be 'homework' to be completed independently

In a shorter semester (12-week, 7-week, etc), you will complete the same amount of material in a much shorter time frame. 

  • For a 7-week, 3-credit course that is online/no meet time you should expect 18 hours of work per week
  • For a 7-week, 4-credit course that is online/no meet time you should expect 24 hours of work per week
  • For a 3-week, 3-credit January Intersession course that is online/no meet time you should expect 40+ hours of work per week!



Last modified: Thursday, August 6, 2026, 2:08 PM