Graduate classes at Rider University may follow a 14-week semester or an accelerated 7-week schedule. Rider uses the true number of minutes per hour-long session; i.e., a one-hour meeting is actually 60 minutes. Three-credit classes meet for 60, 90, or 180 minutes, corresponding to, respectively and typically, 3, 2, or 1 meeting per week.
In the College of Arts and Sciences all performance courses receive credit as follows:
- all ensembles receive 1 credit;
- other performance-based courses receive 1-3 credits;
- a full-semester Student Teaching experience receives 12 credits;
- applied music instruction receives 1-3 credits.