Key takeaways:
- Each college class is worth a set number of college credits, or credit hours, often ranging from one to four.
- You need 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s, which usually includes 60 general elective, 30 major, and 30 elective credits.
- A full-time student takes an average of 12 credit hours per semester, but you need 15 credits per semester if you want to graduate within 4 years.
Flickr user Fletcher Prince
Every time you complete a course in college, you earn college credits towards your degree. You typically need 120 credits to earn a bachelor’s, but they can’t be made up of just random classes. You need specific types of college credits. We break down everything you need to know about credit hours, graduation timetables, general education vs. major courses, and more below.
What are college credits?
Every time you pass a class in college, you will earn “college credits,” also known as “credit hours.” Most undergraduate courses are worth three credits each, but they can range anywhere from one to four. The number is determined by how many hours you roughly spend in the class each week.
Here are some examples: Your English Composition 101 is worth three credits, and you’ll spend about three hours in class each week. Your Chemistry 101 course is worth three credits, but it also has a lab worth one credit. You spend three hours in the Chemistry 101 class and one hour in the lab a week.
Students need a specific number of college credits over their entire education in order to graduate with a degree.
How many college credits do you need to graduate?
The number of college credits you need to graduate depends on the degree. It’s worth noting that some schools do have different methods for tracking credits, hours, and degree requirements, but here’s a breakdown of what most colleges require.
- Associate’s degree: 60 credits, approximately 20 classes
- Bachelor’s degree: 120 credits, approximately 40 classes
- Master’s degree: 30 – 60 credit depending the on program, approximately 10-20 classes
How many credits do you earn a semester?
How many credits you take each semester depends on you, your goals, enrollment status, and the degree you’re pursuing. The more credits you take each semester, the faster you’ll graduate. However, if you take too many, you’ll be stretched thin – and most schools will only allow you to enroll in so many.
To graduate with a bachelor’s in four years, you need to take an average of 15 credits each semester, or 30 per year. To be considered a full-time student, you have to take 12 or more credits each semester. If you take fewer than 12, you’re a part-time student.
Types of college credits
There are usually three types of credits available to 4-year college students: general education, electives, and major.
General Education
General education credits and classes, also known as GEs, are usually completed in your first two years of college. They make up about half (60) of your 120-credit requirement for a bachelor’s, giving you a breadth of knowledge across a number of subjects, ranging from math to history. Often introductory courses, GEs can sometimes be prerequisites for more advanced studies.
Students usually have wiggle room with GE classes. For example, you will have to take a science course, but there are a number of options that fit that requirement, ranging from meteorology to biology.
Other GE courses are essentially written in stone and all students have to take them. Colleges typically require English 101 and 102 during the student’s first year. Others have mandatory expository writing or diversity classes.
General education requirements and class availability depends on the school, but GEs can cover:
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Arts and Humanities
- English Composition
- Foreign Language
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Natural Sciences
- First Year Orientation
- Critical Thinking
- Scientific Method
Majors courses
A bachelor degree also requires about 30 credit hours in the student’s chosen major, but the exact number varies by program and school. When you can start taking these courses depends on your college, but by your junior year, most of your classes (if not all) will be either in your major or electives.
Each major has specific course requirements, usually posted on the school’s website. Planning ahead with your advisor helps you stay on track for a 4-year graduation timeline. Some of these classes are only available during one semester and missing it could put back your graduation a whole year!
Electives
The remaining 30 credits of your 120-credit requirement is made up of electives. You can take courses that simply interest you or you can pursue a minor. Minors can be a subject that supports your major or an area of study that you’re passionate about. You need to declare your minor if you want it to show up on your degree.
Elective availability depends on the class, subject, and school. Some courses require you to have taken prerequisites or to be in that major, while others are open to any students.
If you ever have any questions about your credits, your coursework, or which classes you need to earn your degree, reach out to your advisor. They’re there to help you navigate what can be a confusing process and keep you on track for graduation.
If you’re on the search for your major and want to better understand your options, College Raptor’s College Major search tool can help! Discover top schools, potential careers, and more!
