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[frogfactory]

Does anyone have any idea what this means?  The instructor isn't responding, and there's no indication of a variable workload for different amounts of credits earned in the syllabus.  All google is telling me is that a lot of graduate classes are offered on a 2 or 4 credit basis, but I can't figure out what it means.  This is a lecture-based intensive class with weekly assignments plus exams and term papers, not a seminar.

[orangebeans]

At my institution, a 6 credit course runs all year long over two semesters (from Sept. to April), whereas a 3 credit course is considered a "half course" only 4 months long.  I don't know if that's they way they've divided it up at your university.

[stanwyck]

FF--my department offers many 2/4 credit courses.  Usually what happens is M.Arch./M.L.A. students take the 2 credit option, while the Ph.D. students take the 4 credit option.  Everyone does the same amount of reading, attends the same number of courses, does the same amount of base prep for class, but the 4 credit students write more. For instance, in some of my classes, the 4-credit students would turn in 20-30 page research papers at the end of the semester, in addition to the shorter writing assignments throughout the semester.  The 2-credit students did not write the longer paper.  In one of my 2/4 courses, the 4-credit students also gave final presentations, while the 2-credit students were not required to do so.

[scampster]

FF--my department offers many 2/4 credit courses.  Usually what happens is M.Arch./M.L.A. students take the 2 credit option, while the Ph.D. students take the 4 credit option.  Everyone does the same amount of reading, attends the same number of courses, does the same amount of base prep for class, but the 4 credit students write more.

I've never heard of this practice! At my school, the often cross list courses as 4xx/5xx and you only get grad credit if you take is as a 5xx and essentially they make you do the same (write an extra major paper, do a big presentation, etc.). But that's a little different I guess since it is differentiating between undergrads and grad students as opposed to masters and PhD students...