Course Information

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Course listings are included with the departments and program information below. Course descriptions can be found on the degree requirements page for each program or on the College Catalog page.

College Catalog Academic Programs

Special Topics Courses

From time to time, departments may offer Special Topics courses using the following course numbers: 190–198, 290–298, 390–398, 490–498, 590–598, 690–698, 790–798, 890–898. Special Topics courses are formal courses that are not listed permanently in the curricula and that are infrequently offered. These courses examine comparatively narrow subjects that may be topical or of special interest. Several topics may be taught in one term or academic year. A specific course title shall be used in each instance and shall be so noted on the student record.


Discontinuance of Courses

The College reserves the right to withdraw or discontinue any course.


Credit Hours

A credit hour is a unit to measure academic progress. Lebanon Valley College follows the credit hour requirements established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), which comply with policies set forth by the federal government and Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

LVC follows a semester system with the fall and spring semesters consisting of approximately 15 weeks, which includes one week for final exams. Some courses, particularly those meeting in an accelerated format, follow a different calendar while adhering to the same instructional time requirements as fall and spring semester courses. Regardless of the course calendar followed, all courses must hold the required instructional time according to the following instructional methods:

  • General Courses. These include traditional lecture, seminar, studio, and other instructional methods, not described below, conducted in a face-to-face format. Such courses must include at least 15 hours of instructional time (including the final exam period) and at least 30 hours of out-of-class assignments (homework) per course credit. Typical semester meeting patterns for a three-credit course involve three 50-minute class periods, two 80-minute class periods, or one 180-minute class period per week.
  • Laboratories. These include at least 28 instructional hours per credit. During the semester, laboratories typically meet once a week for at least 110 minutes.
  • Music Instruction. Consistent with guidelines provided by the National Association of Schools of Music, each Music Instruction (MUI) course requires half an hour of direct instruction per week over 14 weeks for each credit, with students expected to practice for an additional three hours per week.
  • Independent Activities. Required hours for independent studies, internships, and tutorial studies are specified under policies about individualized courses.
  • Online Courses. Online courses are conducted entirely online and have no requirements to meet face-to-face. Instruction can be synchronous, asynchronous, or a combination of the two. Courses, regardless of whether they follow the semester calendar or are offered in accelerated terms, must meet the same hours as equivalent face-to-face courses, described above. Typical instructional activities for this format and approximate equivalent instructional hours are available from the Registrar main page.
  • Hybrid Courses. Hybrid courses use a combination of online and face-to-face meetings and must meet the same hours as equivalent full face-to-face courses, described above. Online portions must follow requirements for online courses, specified above.
  • Accelerated Courses. These courses meet in fewer weeks than the traditional semester format. They must meet the same hours as equivalent full-semester courses, described above.