Credit Requirement Variation

Hello gang,

I've noticed something in academia that seems to bother me a little. While the minimum credit requirement is 120sem./180quar. for most undergraduate degrees, a few schools I've discovered require MORE THAN the minimum requirement. For example, City University in Seattle Wa., as I think I've read requires around 128 semester credits for their degree.

Having not felt so excited about doing school at this stage of my life, and reviewing a posting about what the standard credit value of a degree is, I'd like to know how a school can increase the credit requirement when the standard is almost set in stone.

Another example, UC Berkeley's MSW program requires a total of 48 sem./72 quar. credits - split between coursework and practicum hours (they are a semester school by the way). However, Portland State University's program (quarter based) here in Oregon requires 90 credits - which is 60 semester credits when calculated...approximately 13 semester credits MORE THAN "UCB" when caluclated.

So, in short...can anyone tell me how there can be a "standard", when some schools require for more than the standard. Is that not "stringing along" a student for more money? As an idea, why not have less required credits than the standard, if schools are going to have more than the standard? Just a thought.

 

Hi Shawn - Partly I'm just bumping your thread. Partly I'm wondering if the answer is that while there are standards, these are minimum standards. There is nothing to stop a school from having higher standards. If there is a formula by which a student can complete these requirements in four years and if an applicant signs into that school program knowingly and voluntarily then I don't see the problem.
Jack

 

I've noticed that even within a single school, certain majors will often require a different number of credits.

Excelsior, for example, requires 120 credits for a BA or BS from their School of Liberal Arts, but in the School of Technology and Engineering, some degrees require 120 credits while others require 124.

 

I'm wondering if any of this could be related to professional accreditation standards. Engineering is not my deal so I don't really know.
Jack