Time Commitment
Below are estimated time commitments for the various types of educational offerings. Actual time required may vary for individuals who have been away from the classroom for a period of time or are new to online learning.
Graduate Courses
Every unit for which credit is given represents 1 hour of class time plus approximately 2 additional hours of work per week for the average student.
Therefore a 3-unit course requires a minimum time commitment of 9 hours per week. Learn more.
Professional Courses
Most professional courses have continuing education units (CEU), which translate to 10 hours of actual work per CEU. Courses range from 1 to 30 hours in length.
Master's Degrees
Most part-time students take an average of 3 to 5 years to complete the 45-unit requirement. You must complete a master's degree within 5 years of starting the program.
Graduate Certificates
Graduate certificates are designed to be completed within 1-2 academic years.
Professional Certificates
On average, students complete professional certificates within 1-2 years. Since online courses are self-paced, you may complete a certificate on an accelerated timeline.
Estimated time commitments for courses in each certificate program appear below:
| Professional Certificate | Time Commitment |
|---|---|
| Advanced Computer Security | 6-8 hours/online course |
| Advanced Project Management (APM) |
20 hours/online course or 2.5 days at Stanford |
| Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies |
3 hours/online course |
| Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate |
8 hours/online course |
| Strategic Decision and Risk Management (SDRM) |
20 hours/online course or 2.5 days at Stanford |
The time commitment consists of the following:
- videos, readings, and an online exam for online courses
- lecture, class projects, and readings for APM and SDRM courses at Stanford
Readings vary by course and may increase or decrease the time commitment slightly.
