In the United States, a typical full-time undergraduate student takes around 15 credit hours per semester, which is equivalent to 45 hours of classroom instruction and 90 hours of out-of-class study each week.
The number of credit hours required to complete a degree or program varies depending on the institution and the specific program of study. For example, a bachelor's degree typically requires around 120 credit hours, while a master's degree typically requires around 30 credit hours.
Some courses may be worth more or fewer credit hours than the standard, depending on the level of difficulty or the amount of material covered. For example, a graduate-level course may be worth three credit hours, while an introductory undergraduate course may be worth only one credit hour.
Credit hours are also important for financial aid purposes. Many financial aid programs are based on the number of credit hours a student is taking, and students may need to take a certain number of credit hours each semester or quarter in order to maintain their eligibility for financial aid.