What is a Unit System?

At the University of Richmond, “unit system” refers to the classification scheme we will begin using in fall 2008 for determining the transcript value of a course or other credit-bearing academic experience.  Currently the university is using a “variable-credit system” in which courses are assigned a number of credits—sometimes called “semester hours”—based on course attributes (e.g., number of in-class hours per week, how much work is assigned, if labs are included, etc...).

Under the new unit system “a course is a course,” and most all courses will be worth 1 unit.  There will be a handful of 1.5  or 2-unit courses, and some others will be worth ½ (.5) or ¼ (.25) unit, but they will be rare exceptions to the standard 1-unit course.

Course Expectations

Course expectations under the unit system are also being adjusted by the faculty.  One unit is considered the equivalent of 3.5 credits.  In that light, faculty have been revising their current courses to fit expectations appropriate to 3.5 credits/1 unit.  The faculty committee that provided definitions for unit courses suggested that 10-14 hours per week (including time in class plus all time spent reading, writing, working on projects and/or in groups, etc.) would be an appropriate expectation for 1-unit courses.

Units Required for Graduation

While Richmond’s variable-credit system has required 120 credits for graduation, the new unit system will require 35 units for new, incoming students.  For all current students, however, the requirement for graduation is 34.29 units.

The requirement of 34.29 units is derived through some simple math.  As mentioned, 3.5 credits was determined to be equal to 1 unit.  Multiplying 3.5 by 35 units results in the equivalent of 122.5 credits required for graduation under the new unit system.  Students not yet attending Richmond will be required to complete 35 units, however, all current students who began their studies at Richmond under the expectation of 120 credits for graduation will be required to complete 34.29 units (120 divided by 3.5).  The conversion chart actually uses 34.28571 units rather than the rounded 34.29 to give students every mathematical benefit possible in the conversion.

Again, all students beginning their studies at Richmond after the current 2007-2008 school year will be required to complete 35 units, while all currently enrolled students will be required to complete 34.29 units (equal to 120 credits).