Convert quarter credit hours to semester hours, or semester credits back to quarter hours, using the standard 2:3 academic credit ratio.
Credit Hours to Semester Hours Formula
The common conversion from awarded quarter credit hours to semester credit hours uses two-thirds. Reverse the conversion by multiplying semester credits by 1.5.
Variables:
- SH is the equivalent semester credit hours.
- QH is the awarded quarter credit hours.
- For an institution-specified factor f in semester credits per quarter credit, use SH = QH × f.
Multiply awarded quarter credits by two-thirds for the common numerical equivalent. Already-awarded semester credits do not need this conversion. An accelerated semester course can distribute equivalent work over fewer weeks without reducing its approved credit value; weeks alone do not determine its credits.
| Quarter Credits | Equivalent Semester Credits | Nearest Whole (Informational) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.667 | 1 |
| 2 | 1.333 | 1 |
| 3 | 2.000 | 2 |
| 4 | 2.667 | 3 |
| 5 | 3.333 | 3 |
| 6 | 4.000 | 4 |
| 7 | 4.667 | 5 |
| 8 | 5.333 | 5 |
| 9 | 6.000 | 6 |
| 10 | 6.667 | 7 |
| 11 | 7.333 | 7 |
| 12 | 8.000 | 8 |
| 13 | 8.667 | 9 |
| 14 | 9.333 | 9 |
| 15 | 10.000 | 10 |
| 16 | 10.667 | 11 |
| 17 | 11.333 | 11 |
| 18 | 12.000 | 12 |
| 19 | 12.667 | 13 |
| 20 | 13.333 | 13 |
| * Equivalent semester credits rounded to 3 decimals. Nearest whole values illustrate rounding only; the receiving institution determines accepted credits and its rounding policy. | ||
What are Credit Hours and Semester Hours?
Credit hours measure institution-approved student work, including instruction and work outside class. Quarter and semester credits use different academic systems. For the common numeric equivalence, three quarter credits equal two semester credits. Contact hours per week and course length alone do not establish an awarded-credit conversion or transfer acceptance.
How to Calculate Semester Hours?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Semester Hours.
- First, confirm that the transcript reports quarter credit hours and note their count (QH).
- Next, check the receiving institution’s conversion and rounding policy.
- For the common conversion, calculate SH = QH × 2/3. Use an institution-specified factor when required.
- Keep the unrounded numerical equivalent until you apply the institution’s rounding rule.
- After inserting the values and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Quarter Credit Hours (QH) = 3
Equivalent Semester Hours (SH) = 3 × 2/3 = 2
