UNIT SYSTEM
College courses are given a value, which are called “credits” or “units.” The number of units assigned to a course corresponds to the number of hours that a student will attend class for that course. For example, a course that consists of three class sessions per week will be assigned a value of three units. Typically, colleges require that students complete a minimum number of units in order to graduate, rather than a minimum number of courses. This gives students more flexibility in what courses they decide to take to complete their graduation requirements.
Most colleges and universities follow either a quarter-based calendar system or a semester-based calendar system. In a quarter system, the academic year is divided into three sessions called quarters. Each quarter lasts about 12 weeks. There is usually an additional quarter in the summer, where registration is optional. In a semester system, the academic year is divided into two sessions called semesters. Each semester lasts 16 weeks.
Students who have registered for at least 12 units in a session are said to be “full-time” students. Students who have registered for fewer than 12 units in a session are called “part-time” students.
1. What is a unit system?
2. What students may be called “full-time students”?
3. What students may be called “part-time students”?