what is units in college

In college, a "unit" or "credit" is a way for the school to quantify the amount of academic work required to earn a degree. A unit represents approximately three hours of work per week, so a 3 unit course will probably require 9 hours of work per week, and a 5 unit course will require 15 hours of work per week. A unit is an academic module that forms part of a students course of study and represents a credit point value that contributes towards their course. The terms "credits" and "units" are sometimes used interchangeably, which can create confusion. Credits are the number of hours needed to complete a college degree, and units are awarded for participation in a continuing education program. Continuing education units, or CEUs, are applied toward certifications or professional development requirements and cannot be transferred to college credits because they only require 10 hours of contact study, whereas credits require 40 or more hours of study.