Course Numbering Information

How to Read Course Listings

Courses listed in this catalog have been approved by the faculties of the schools in which the courses are taught. Only courses that have been approved by the faculty are eligible for academic credit. The following information introduces components of the course descriptions listed in each school’s section. Curriculum and/or program committees in each school are expected to assume the necessary monitoring and oversight function, including adherence to the University’s Policy on the Determination and Assignation of Academic Credit.

Level

The initial digit of the course number corresponds to the level, which parallels the three-digit numbering system (e.g., 100-level courses become 1000-level courses). Course numbers below 5000 are undergraduate level, while those numbered 5000-9999 are graduate and/or professional level. Graduate level coursework may not be a requirement for an undergraduate academic program.

• 100-999: Non-credit, non-degree: courses, offered primarily by the School of Continuing and Professional Studies and the Curry School of Education, that do not apply to a degree program.
• 1000-1999: Lower-level introductory undergraduate courses. Generally, there are no prerequisites.
• 2000-2999: Lower-level intermediate undergraduate courses. May have prerequisites.
• 3000-3999: Upper-level intermediate undergraduate courses. Likely have prerequisites or require instructor permission.
• 4000-4999: Upper-level advanced undergraduate courses. Usually have prerequisites or require instructor permission.
• 5000-5999: Introductory-level graduate courses.
• 6000-7999: Intermediate-level graduate and professional courses.
• 8000-9999: Advanced-level graduate and professional courses.

Designated Numbers

• Cross-listed courses should have the identical course number and title, and vary only in subject area (mnemonic).
• The _500 to _599 numbers in each thousand series (e.g., 2500, 2501, 2503, 4500, 8500) are reserved for topics courses, for which a topic will appear in addition to the course title on a transcript and in the schedule of classes (course offering directory).  These courses may include permanent courses offered with variable topics (e.g., Modern American Authors) or courses that allow for one-time offerings as variable topics (e.g., Studies in American Literature).
• The numbers _990-_999 in each thousand series (e.g., 2990, 4993, 8998) are designated for special usage:
  • _990 Honors courses
  • _991 Capstone courses
  • _992 not used; reserved for future use
  • _993 Independent Study courses
  • _994 not used; reserved for future use
  • _995 Research courses
  • _996 not used; reserved for future use
  • _997 not used; reserved for future use
  • _998 not used, except for 4998, 8998, and 9998 (8998 and 9998 are research-rate courses for the graduate programs)
    • 4998 Undergraduate Thesis
    • 8998 Thesis Research (before advisor selected)
    • 9998 Dissertation Research (before advisor selected)
  • _999 not used, except for 4999, 8999, and 9999 (8999 and 9999 are research-rate courses for the graduate programs):
    • 4999 Undergraduate Thesis
    • 8999 Thesis Research (after advisor selected)
    • 9999 Dissertation Research (after advisor selected)

Course Numbering System