Course Number Explanation

Courses of Instruction

Effective with the Fall 2011 semester, a new course numbering system was implemented using an alpha subject field (up to 8 characters) and 4-digit course number.  Prior to Fall 2011 and through Summer 2011, the 3-digit department prefix and 3-digit course number was used and appears on the transcript under this 3-digit numbering system through Summer 2011.

Following is the numbering scheme used for both the current alpha subject field/4-digit course number system effective Fall 2011 and the previous 3-digit numbering system used through Summer 2011: 

Number System Effective Fall 2011:

Courses are designated by an alpha subject field (up to 8 characters) and 4-digit course number.  The alpha subject field refers to the department or area of the course; the number refers to the specific course.  For example, in the course designated ART 3011, ART refers to the Department of Art and the 3011 refers to the course. 

Courses numbered 0000 through 0999: Non-credit courses and courses that are offered to non-matriculated students (such as CIEP). 

Courses numbered 1000 through 1999: Introductory, elementary, and general education courses that are appropriate for first year students and others with no special background. A course in this series will have few if any prerequisites. 

Courses numbered 2000 through 2999: Lower level undergraduate courses; those that ideally are taken by second and perhaps third year students. These courses might build on materials and knowledge from the 1000 series courses and may have prerequisites. 

Courses numbered 3000 through 3999: Upper level undergraduate courses, courses for majors, courses which require significant prerequisites.

Courses numbered 4000 through 4999: Advanced upper level undergraduate courses including seminars, advanced independent study courses, honors thesis work, etc.

Courses numbered 5000 through 5999: Introductory graduate or first year graduate courses.

Courses numbered 6000 through 6999: Upper level graduate courses.

Courses numbered 7000 through 7999: Doctoral courses. 

Previous Number System Through Summer 2011:

Courses are designated by two numbers, separated by a colon. The first number refers to the department or area of the course; the second number refers to the specific course. For example, in the course designated 600:111 the "600" refers to the Department of Art and the "111" refers to the course.

Courses numbered 0-99 are primarily designed for freshman and sophomore students. 

Courses numbered 100-199 are primarily designed for junior, senior, and graduate students. However, only those 100-level courses whose numbers are followed by a "g" provide graduate credit, e.g., 400:173(g). In all courses of the 100(g) series, greater academic achievement, both qualitative and quantitative, is expected of those receiving graduate credit than those receiving undergraduate credit. Freshmen and sophomores may not register for 100(g)-level courses. Only in very special cases may an exception be granted by the appropriate department head. 

Courses numbered 200-299 are primarily designed for graduate students. Undergraduates seeking admission to graduate courses must secure the permission of the head of the department offering the course. Courses numbered 200 taken as an undergraduate cannot later be used for an advanced degree unless the student was eligible to earn graduate credit. 

Courses numbered 300-399 are primarily designed for doctoral students.