Charleston School of Law Juris Doctor Program Catalog and Student Handbook 2023-2024: Course Syllabi Requirements and Faculty Policy on Credit Hour Determination

Below is a brief outline of the Charleston School of Law Academic Catalog. Click the + sign to see the linked list under each heading. You can also click on the top tabs to see a complete list under each heading tab. A complete list of content under each heading is found in the Detailed Academic Catalog Guide Outline.

By the first day of class, or in no event later than the second class, each professor must have a course syllabus available to students. In addition to listing the professor’s name, contact information and office hours, the course syllabus shall include the following components:

1. Required course materials;

2.  Course objectives;

3. Basis for the course grade:

a. Whether there are any quizzes, projects and/or midterms and, if so, the weight of each component in the final grade;

b. Whether there is a final exam and, if so, the weight of the final exam in the final grade;

c. If there is a final exam, whether the final exam is proctored or non-proctored, and whether students will be allowed to use any materials during the exam;

d. Whether participation, in-class or otherwise, is a component of the final grade and, if so, the weight of participation in the final grade. 

4. The school’s attendance policy;

5. A notice that students with disabilities should contact the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs as soon as possible to request reasonable accommodations should those accommodations be desired; and,

6. Outside Work-per-credit hour.

Pursuant to ABA Standard 310 “Determination of Credit Hours for Coursework,” the Charleston School of Law faculty has adopted the below policy:

1. The Law School will designate courses as offering a particular number of “credits.” Each credit must reasonably approximate at least:
   1. Not less than 750 minutes (12.5 hours) of in-class or direct faculty instruction:
      1. Time devoted to taking a required final examination of an appropriate length for a particular course may count towards the in-class time required for that course.
   2. At least 30 hours (1800 minutes) of out-of-class student work:
      1. Time devoted to studying for a required final examination of an appropriate length for a particular course may count towards the out-of-class time required for that course.

2. Externships and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours must include at least an equivalent amount of work as in section 1 above.

3. If a course meets for more than the minimum number of minutes or requires more than the minimum amount of work, no additional credit will be awarded beyond the approved amount.

4. The Curriculum Committee and the faculty will designate the number of credits that each course will carry. Course proposals should explain expectations for the amount of in-class instruction, direct faculty instruction, and out-of-class work by students.

5. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs will schedule courses in a manner appropriate for the designated amount of credits and length of the academic term. Academic terms typically are of the following length:
   1. Fall and Spring Semesters: 14 weeks of classes and an appropriate final examination period.
   2. Maymester Session: 2 weeks (10 days) of classes and an appropriate final examination period.
   3. Summer Standard Session: 11 or 12 weeks of classes and an appropriate examination period.
   4. Summer “Regular” Session: 9 or 10 weeks of classes and an appropriate examination period.
   5. Winterim Term: 1 week of classes.

6. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may make interpretations of this policy, and the faculty may amend this policy.

Please see information on this page for:

• Course Syllabi
• Faculty Policy on Credit Hour Determination