Course Structure & Grades

SAIC's courses follow a logical numbering and semester credit-hour system. Read on to learn how we determine numbers and credits and what it means to your course schedule.

Courses at the 1000 through 4000 level are considered undergraduate courses while 5000- and 6000-level courses are reserved for matriculated graduate students.

SAIC operates on a semester calendar and awards credit on a semester basis. Per US Department of Education regulations, for each credit hour assigned to a course, the student must be expected to perform a minimum of three hours of student work per week throughout the semester. Accordingly, a 3-credit hour course requires nine hours of student work per week (three hours of student work for each credit hour assigned). Student work may take the form of classroom time, other direct faculty instruction, or out-of-class homework, assignments, or other student work. To determine the appropriate amount of classroom time required for each course, SAIC follows the standards established by its accrediting bodies.

SAIC records the courses for which a student registers on the permanent record. SAIC adheres to a credit/no credit grading system. The following grade symbols are used to denote credit status: