3.2 COURSES
3.2.1 DEFINITION OF "COURSE"
[US: 5/1/2023]
A course is a unit of educational content with paced delivery to enrolled learners, which includes required interactions with the supervising credentialed instructor during a fixed period of time and that culminates in the instructor's assessment of the learner's attainment of specific learning outcomes. Courses may be credit-bearing courses or non-credit bearing.
An activity will meet the Senate definition for a course when it substantially has the features below as determined by the Senate.
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Has educational content
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Has paced delivery
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Is delivered to learners
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Learners are enrolled in the activity
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Interactions with an Instructor are required
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The Instructor has the necessary credentials
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The course occurs during a fixed period of time
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The course has specific learning outcomes, requirements, or the equivalents
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The Instructor assesses learning
3.2.1.1 Credit-Bearing Courses
Credit-bearing courses are reflected on an academic transcript and are under Senate's purview.
3.2.1.2 Non-Credit-Bearing Courses
[US: 5/1/2023]
Non-credit-bearing courses are not recorded on an academic transcript.
When overseen by the college faculty of an educational unit (or other Senate-approved faculty body), as delegated by the Senate per SR 3.2.3.3.1, non-credit-bearing courses do not require approval beyond the educational unit, notwithstanding any other college- or department-level rule requirements.
3.2.2 REGULAR AND SUBSTANTIVE INTERACTION
All credit-bearing courses must support regular and substantive interaction (RSI) between the students and the instructor, regardless of the course's delivery mode (e.g., in-person, hybrid, or online). (See also 6.1.1.1) [US: 12/13/2022]
3.2.3 COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
3.2.3.1 Standard Numbering System
The number system reflects the level of course material and associated rigor. With the exception of upper graduate level and professional courses, any prerequisite restrictions limiting the level of a student accepted into a course shall be specified in a course’s prerequisites. [US: 11/14/2016] Courses shall be numbered as follows:
001-099 No credit, non-degree and/or developmental courses; [US: 9/10/2001]
100-199 Freshmen-level course; undergraduate credit only; [US: 11/14/2016]
200-299 Sophomore-level course; undergraduate credit only; [US: 11/14/2016]
300-399 Junior-level course; undergraduate credit only; [US: 11/14/2016]
400-499 Advanced junior- and senior-level course; undergraduate credit only;
400G-499G Senior and first-year graduate-level course; graduate credit for non-majors only; [US: 11/14/2016]
500-599 First-year graduate-level course; undergraduate and graduate credit; [US: 11/14/2016]
600-799 Upper graduate-level course; open only to graduate students; [US: 11/14/2016]
800-999 Professional programs course; open only to students enrolled in professional degree programs (see SR 9.14). [US: 2/13/2012; 11/14/2016; 3/19/2018]
3.2.3.2 Exceptions
Exceptions to the requirements for admission to courses may be made as follows [US: 11/14/2016]:
Seniors with superior ability or preparation may be admitted to courses numbered between 600 and 799, upon approval of the instructor, the dean of the student's college and the dean of the Graduate School.
3.2.3.3 Blocks of Numbers for Certain Courses
The following blocks of numbers are set aside by the Registrar's Office for use of specific courses as indicated:
3.2.3.3.1 395 Independent Work or Independent Study
If a department offers more than one such course, numbers lower than 395 shall be used.
3.2.3.3.2 Community Engagement and Other Experiential Learning Courses
3.2.3.3.2.1 Definitions
For the purposes of experiential learning activities created and delivered from a unit faculty (SR 3.2.3.3.2), the following apply. Any experiential learning activity that is required for a certificate, degree or academic honor recorded on the transcript must be tracked by a Senate numbered course for zero or more credit hours.
Community engagement describes the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.
3.2.3.3.2.1.1 Community-based learning experiences
These are for-credit courses in which students apply, and thereby achieve greater mastery of, theoretical knowledge in real-world settings under the supervision of a faculty member.
3.2.3.3.2.1.2 Service-learning.
This is an integrative experience through which learners engage in thoughtfully organized actions in response to community identified assets and needs. Experiences are designed to be reciprocal exchanges of knowledge and resources accomplished through service and reflection. Learning outcomes promote academic and civic engagement and are focused on an equal balance between holistic learner development and community well-being. Service-learning can be credit bearing or non-credit bearing.
3.2.3.3.2.1.3 Outreach.
This is a focus on the application and provision of institutional resources for community use. Outreach can be formal or informal educational approaches to deliver university (research-based) information to the people and communities.
3.2.3.3.2.1.4 Civic engagement.
This is working to make a difference in the civic life (both political and non-political processes) of our communities and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference.
3.2.3.3.2.2 Reserved numbers for courses
3.2.3.3.2.2.1 396 University experiential education
3.2.3.3.2.2.2 399 Departmental field based experiential education
May be repeated to a total of 30 hours. To provide the opportunity for students with the approval of a faculty member and the department chairman--or the department chairperson's designee--to earn credit for work-study experience. The student must work with a faculty member to describe the nature of the experience, the work to be performed, accompanying learning experiences, appropriate course credit for the work, and criteria by which the student's work may be evaluated. This information must be written and filed in the departmental office and the Office for Experiential Education prior to the student's registration for the course. Catalog descriptions of these courses shall include an explicit statement of the need for filling out a learning contract.
3.2.3.3.3 CONS 599
Reserved for enrollment of consortium agreement students for purposes of assigning and tracking financial aid awards and full-time/part-time status [US: 9/13/2021]
3.2.3.3.4 748 Master's Thesis Research
May be repeated three calendar years (0 credits). [US: 3/6/2000]
3.2.3.3.5 749 Dissertation Research
May be repeated three calendar years (0 credits). [US: 3/6/2000]
3.2.3.3.6 767 Dissertation Residency Credit
Residency credit for dissertation research after the qualifying examination. Students may register for this course in the semester of the qualifying examination. A minimum of two semesters are required as well as continuous enrollment (Fall and Spring) until the dissertation is completed and defended. (2 credit hours). [US: 2/13/2012]
- When the Senate approves a new graduate degree program the establishment of the 767 course is automatic, and does not need to be submitted per se through the course approval process. [SREC: 3/28/2012]
3.2.3.3.7 768 Residence credit for master’s degree
May be repeated once (1-6 credits equivalence).
3.2.3.3.8 769 Residence credit for doctoral degree
May be repeated indefinitely (0-12 credits equivalence).
3.2.3.3.9 770–779 Seminar courses
3.2.3.3.10 790–799 Research courses
3.2.3.3.11 880–889 Seminar courses in professional degree programs
[US:3/19/2018]
3.2.3.3.12 895–899 Independent work in professional degree programs
[US:3/19/2018]
3.2.3.3.13 Reserved for the Council on Postsecondary Education
The following are reserved for enrollments to report numbers in these categories to the Council on Postsecondary Education:
3.2.3.3.13.1 PD 099
Reserved for enrollment of Postdoctoral Scholars and Postdoctoral Fellows
3.2.3.3.13.2 MC 800
Reserved for enrollment of Residents and Clinical Fellows in the health care professional programs
3.2.3.4 Remedial Courses
All remedial courses created by the University Senate shall be designated with the letter R following the course designation and number. No course designated with an R shall count for credit towards a degree at the University. [US: 3/7/88; US: 4/10/2000; US9/10/2001; SREC: 6/8/2006]
3.2.3.5 Expectations in 400G and 500-level courses
Combined instruction of graduate and undergraduate students in 400G and 500-level courses must be structured to ensure appropriate attention to both groups, and a corresponding differentiation in expectations. This differentiation is to be accomplished by (i) the completion of additional or distinct assignments by the enrolled graduate students that are consistent with graduate-level scholarship; and/or (ii) the establishment of different grading criteria in the course for graduate versus undergraduate students, reflecting a higher standard for graduate students. The grading scale for both graduate and undergraduate students must be clearly stated in the syllabus. [US: 5/5/2003]
[See 6.1.2.1 on documenting this information in a course syllabus.]