Breadcrumb
Course Numbering Policy
Applies to: Faculty Student
Month/Year Posted: Jun 2025
Policy Number: VPAA 24-11
Purpose of the policy
Establishes numbering and lettering conventions for courses of various designations.
Policy Details
- General numbering scheme.
001- 099: Pre-Baccalaureate courses
100- 199: Courses typically taken as a first-year student while pursuing a baccalaureate
degree.
200 -299: Courses typically taken as a second-year student while pursuing a baccalaureate
degree.
300 -399: Courses typically taken as a third-year student while pursuing a baccalaureate
degree.
400- 499: Courses typically taken as a fourth-year student while pursuing a baccalaureate
degree.
500- 699: Graduate level courses. 700 -799 : Graduate, professional level courses - Special courses.
The numbers assigned to the following special courses shall be used by all academic units:
180/280/380/480/580/680/780: Baccalaureate/Master's Special Topics
482/582/682: Baccalaureate/Master's Internships
485/585/685: Senior/Master's Seminar
490/690: Senior/Master's Thesis
491/691: Baccalaureate/Master's Comprehensive Examination
492/692: Baccalaureate/Master's Project
293/493: Supplemental Work (to make up deficiencies in previous coursework)
495/695: Senior/Master's (Field, Applied, Directed) Research
198: Supplemental instruction (SI). SI courses are led by trained peer leaders who utilize
collaborative learning activities in small groups to review course content and enhance student
experience and performance in another specific course.
199/299/399/499/599/699/799: Baccalaureate/Master's Directed Independent Study - Letter suffixes.
Activity, discussion, laboratory, major, and research courses, which are associated with a
lecture but may be offered independently from the lecture, shall be given the same number as
the appropriate lecture course, with the addition of the suffixes A , D , L , M , and R , respectively.
For example, BIOL 114 (Genetics) and BIOL 114L (Genetics Laboratory). - Service learning courses.
The use of S in a course number is reserved for courses designated as service learning courses
through the university curriculum process. For example, SPAN 208S is an approved service
learning course; SPAN 208 is the same course taught using a different methodology. - Writing intensive courses.
The use of W in a course number is reserved for courses designated as writing intensive
courses through the university curriculum process. Completion of a W-designated course
satisfies the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). For example, PSCI 485W
indicates an approved writing intensive course. - Courses assigned the same number.
Letters B , C , E , F , G , H , I , J , K , N , O , P , Q , T , U , V, X, Y , and Z may be used to distinguish between courses assigned the same number (for example, THEA 103, 103B, 103C). Such courses may or may not be a part of a sequence.
History
Academic Policies Committee: 10/28/14
Reviewed: Provost: 12/15/2014
Revised: Academic Policies Committee: 02/02/2018
Reviewed: University Senate: 02/20/2018
Reviewed: Provost: 03/01/2018
Revised: Academic Policies Committee: 11/30/2022
Reviewed: Academic Policies Committee: 11/30/2022
Reviewed: University Senate: 12/13/2022
Reviewed: Provost: 12/14/2022
Revised: Academic Policies Committee: 3/27/2025
Reviewed: Academic Policies Committee: 3/27/2025
Reviewed by University Senate: 04/01/2025
Approved by Provost: 04/02/2025
Supersedes: