Learning by the Hour: Student Perceptions on Single-credit-hour Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics Courses

Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics programs have implemented single-credit-hour courses to adapt to program requirements and update trainings in essential and specialized student skills. These courses complement student skill advancement, while benefiting students with manageable course loads and flexibility in scheduling. How do these courses fare? What is their value to students? This study presents information on students opinions on single-credit-hour courses from a study conducted in three agricultural economics and agribusiness-oriented programs that offer single-credit-hour courses. The study was conducted over three semesters from January 2021 to May 2022 and students were surveyed upon completion of the course taken. We found that 57% to 68% of our sample students felt confident in their ability to apply the course information to future work-related assignments. Moreover, students perceived the single-credit-hour course enjoyable, and helpful. Motivation to enroll in single-credit-hour courses was the highest if it was required for the degree. Students' agreement on whether class deliverables were enjoyable or not, student cumulative GPA, and student employment status were among the factors considered for future enrollment in a single-credit-hour course, irrespective of whether it counted towards the degree requirement.