Some high schools assign credit hours (or something similar like "Carnegie units" or just "credits") to courses based on the number of class periods per week and the length of the school year. For example:
* A full-year course meeting 5 days a week might be worth 1 credit or 1 credit hour.
* A half-year course meeting 5 days a week might be worth 0.5 credits or 0.5 credit hours.
* An elective course might have a different credit weight than a core subject.
If your high school doesn't use a credit hour system, it's possible the application is using the term loosely. In that case, you should:
1. Check your high school transcript: Your transcript likely shows the number of credits or units earned for each course. Use these numbers.
2. Contact your high school guidance counselor: If you can't find the information on your transcript, ask your counselor for clarification on how to interpret the question in the context of your high school's system. They will know how to fill in this section accurately.
3. If truly unsure, make a reasonable estimate: If you've tried the above options and still can't figure it out, make a reasonable estimate (e.g., 1 credit for a full-year course, 0.5 for a semester course). Clearly indicate on the application that this is an estimate and include a note explaining why.
The important thing is to be consistent in how you report credit values. If one full-year course gets 1 credit, all your other full-year courses should also be reported as 1 credit.