California Indian Nations College awards credit according to the federal definition of “credit hour”, which is based on the Carnegie unit of academic credit and is defined in 34 CFR 600.2 (and further modified in 34 CFR 668.8 (k) and (l)) as “an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:
- “one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out of class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit”; or
- “at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours.”
The federal definition is the minimum required hours for credit at CINC. In specific courses, based on students’ needs and interests, the number of hours may exceed the minimum requirement. For example, as students often enter the college with a greater need for support in mathematics, the College Algebra course, MATH 010 meets six hours per week for a four-credit course. Because field trips to conduct surveys of endangered species are of significant interest to students cannot be reasonably completed in a one-hour block NR 001L Conservation of Natural Resources Lab, meets three hours per week for a one-credit course.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 60 degree-applicable units with a 2.0 (“C”) grade point average. A minimum of 12 units must be completed in residence at California Indian Nations College and College of the Desert. (Note: During the accreditation process, CINC students are dually enrolled at College of the Desert.)
Up to 48 credits may be transferred from accredited colleges or universities. For a course to be accepted for transfer, students must have achieved a grade of C- or better.