WORLDAC CREDIT HOURS CERTIFICATION SERVICE
What is the American System Equivalent to ECTS?
In Europe, the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is widely used to standardize credit systems in higher education. In the United States, however, a different system is used, known as Credit Hours. Here’s a detailed comparison and explanation:
The American Credit System: Credit Hours
In the U.S., academic progress in higher education is measured using credit hours, which are based on the time students spend in class and on independent study.
Definition of Credit Hours
• 1 credit hour typically represents 1 hour of in-class instruction and 2 hours of independent study per week for a semester.
• A semester generally lasts 15-16 weeks.
American Credit System Across Educational Levels
1. Undergraduate Programs:
- A Bachelor’s Degree typically requires 120-130 credit hours to complete.
- Students usually take 12-18 credit hours per semester.
- A standard course is often worth 3 credit hours (equivalent to 3 hours of in-class instruction per week).
2. Graduate Programs:
- A Master’s Degree requires 30-60 credit hours, depending on the field of study.
- Credit hour calculations are similar to undergraduate programs.
3. Doctoral Programs:
- Ph.D. programs are more research-oriented, and credit hours may include coursework, research projects, and dissertation work.
Comparison Between ECTS and the U.S. Credit Hour System
Conversion Between ECTS and U.S. Credits
- A commonly accepted conversion is: 1 U.S. credit hour ≈ 2 ECTS credits, although this may vary by institution.
Additional Aspects of the U.S. Credit System
- Grade Point Average (GPA):
- The U.S. system uses the GPA (Grade Point Average) to evaluate academic performance, calculated on a scale of 4.0.
- Credit hours and grades are combined to determine the GPA.
- Semester vs. Quarter System:
- Some U.S. universities use the semester system (two terms per academic year), while others use the quarter system (four 10-week terms per year).
- Credit Transfer:
- Credit transfer between U.S. universities is generally possible but depends on institutional policies.
- Conversion of ECTS to U.S. credits often requires an individual evaluation.
Conclusion
While ECTS measures the total workload of a course in Europe, the U.S. credit hour system is based on in-class time and individual study. The two systems are not identical, but they can be converted, with 1 U.S. credit hour ≈ 2 ECTS credits being the standard approximation.