Earning an Elmhurst Degree

Elmhurst University offers several types of bachelor’s degrees, as well as a number of graduate programs.

Undergraduate credit is awarded in course units. One unit of course credit is equivalent to four semester hours or six quarter hours of transfer credit.

To earn a bachelor’s degree at Elmhurst University, you’ll need to:

  • Complete all aspects of the Integrated Curriculum or General Education program
  • Complete all the requirements for your major
  • Earn a minimum of 32.00 course credits
  • Complete at least 10.00 course credits at the 300/400 level at a four-year institution
  • Achieve a minimum combined and institutional GPA of 2.0 (some majors require a higher GPA)
  • Earn your final 8.00 course credits at Elmhurst University (residency requirement)

If you have questions about degree requirements, check the 2023-2024 and your advisor, or contact the Office of Advising.

Credit Hour Policy

Each semester hour assigned to a course at Elmhurst University corresponds to a minimum of 50 minutes of instructional time each week over a 15-week semester, including finals week. Students are also expected to do 2-3 hours of outside work (including assignments or studying) for every one semester hour of in-class time.

For courses that are in an alternative delivery format, a semester hour corresponds to the appropriate mix of instructional contact, directed activities, and student work that equate to the sum of the in-class and outside time for a semester hour in a traditional course.* For both traditional and alternative delivery courses, these expectations should be outlined in the course syllabus.

*Academic activities complementary to classroom instruction including laboratory work, studio work, practica, and internships are not considered in the calculation of semester hours in class and are thus not included in the expectation of additional out of class time.

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