Help Reading Course Descriptions
and
The Course Numbering System

Course listings are subject to change without notice. Courses listed in the General Catalog are approved to be taught for the specified term, and are not a reflection of what will actually be offered for that term.  For course offerings/availability by term, see the Schedule of Classes.  Each course number links to the Schedule of Classes.

Students must meet the course prerequisites or otherwise satisfy the instructor of his or her preparation to take the course. Prerequisites can be waived only at the discretion of the instructor or department offering the course.

Sample Course Description:

Following is a standard, dummy course description with the individual elements explained in the order in which they appear in the description.  Each course will not necessarily have all of these elements.

SOC 406 Social Structure in Modern Societies (3) [Rpt.] I GRD Critical review of modern theory and research on social structure and social organization in modern societies. 2R, 3L. P, 6 units of sociology or CR. (Identical with HIST 406.) May be convened with SOC 506. Fee. Field Trip. Writing Emphasis Course.

Explanations:

SOC 406 Course number.  Course numbers link to the Schedule of Classes.

Social Structure in Modern Societies Course title.

(3) Number of units.

[Rpt.] May be repeated for credit. A restriction regarding the number of times a course may be repeated for credit (beyond the student's first enrollment) or the total number of units of credit permitted for a course may be designated. [Rpt.] indicates that the course may be repeated for credit once, for a total of two enrollments. [Rpt./2] indicates that the course may be repeated for credit twice, for a maximum of three enrollments in the course; [Rpt./6 units] means that the course may be repeated until the student has received a total of 6 units of credit. [Rpt./] indicates that the course may repeated an unlimited number of times; students should consult with department for details and possible restrictions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that course content is not duplicated.

I Semester in which a course is usually offered. I indicates Fall semester; II, Spring; and S, Summer. If no semester designation is present, the course is usually offered each term. Courses are sometimes offered during a term other than that indicated in the Catalog; for offerings in a particular term, consult the Schedule of Classes for that term.

GRD/CDT GRD and CDT indicate that the course is available by examination. GRD indicates that the course is available by examination for a grade and credit, and CDT indicates that the course is available by examination for credit only. These options are not available for graduate credit.

Critical review of modern theory and research on. . .  societies Course description.

2R, 3L Class structure. R, L, S, and D indicate "recitation" (lecture), "laboratory", "studio", and "discussion". 2R, 3L indicates that the class meets for two hours of recitation and three hours of laboratory per week (based upon 15 weeks). For courses consisting of recitation periods only, the number of class hours per week is the same as the unit value and is not specified in the course listing.

ED, ES In addition to the above abbreviations for class structure, the College of Engineering and Mines uses the abbreviations ED and ES to designate the number of units in the areas of "engineering design" and "engineering science". Thus 1ED, 2ES signifies that the course meets the requirement for 1 unit of engineering design and 2 units of engineering science.

P Prerequisites. Identifies courses or other experiences which must be completed prior to enrolling in the course listed.   Students must meet the course prerequisites or otherwise satisfy the instructor of his or her preparation to take the course. Prerequisites can be waived only at the discretion of the instructor or department offering the course.

CR Concurrent registration. Identifies courses which must be taken during the same term as the course listed.

(Identical with HIST 406) Cross listing. Identifies other departments which give credit for the same course. The complete course description is shown in the course list of the "home" department which has instructional responsibility for the course. An abbreviated listing appears in the course list of the "cross listing" department. Exceptions are house numbered courses, which do not have course descriptions.

May be convened with 506 Certain 400- and 500-level courses with the same number and title may be convened jointly. Students may receive credit for such courses only once, whether jointly convened or separately, unless designated [Rpt.] or unless special approval is granted by the student's major advisor. The 500-level listing designates additional requirements for graduate credit.

Fee Special course fees apply.  If special fees apply, the Schedule of Classes will include a note and a link to the appropriate Special Fees table.

Field Trip Course activities include one or more field trips.

Writing Emphasis Course Every undergraduate degree program includes at least one required writing-emphasis course. Writing-emphasis courses are regular junior- or senior-level courses in an academic discipline in which at least half the grade awarded is determined by written work appropriate to the academic discipline. Such courses are identified with the phrase "Writing Emphasis Course" at the end of the course description. Prerequisite to a writing-emphasis course is a satisfactory performance on the Upper-Division Writing Proficiency Examination (UDWPE) or, for those students whose UDWPE is evaluated as unsatisfactory, further developmental work in writing.  For more information see the UDWPE Policy.

The Course Numbering System

The number by which a course is designated indicates the level of the course. Courses are numbered as follows:

100-299: Lower-division courses primarily for freshmen and sophomores.

• 100-199: Primarily introductory and beginning courses.
• 200-299: Intermediate-level courses.

300-499: Upper-division courses primarily for juniors and seniors.

• 300-399: Advanced-intermediate-level courses.
• 400-499*: Advanced-level courses.

500-599*: Graduate courses. Open to exceptionally well-qualified seniors with the prior written approval of the course instructor and the Graduate College.  Also see the Graduate Credit for Seniors policy.

600-699: Graduate courses. Not open to undergraduate students.

700-799: Graduate courses limited to doctoral students.

800-899: Courses limited to students working toward degrees offered by the College of Medicine or the College of Pharmacy. Not available for credit toward other degrees.

900-999: Independent graduate study involving research, thesis, or dissertation. Not open to undergraduates.

*Certain 400- and 500-level courses with the same number and title may be convened jointly. Students may receive credit for such courses only once, whether jointly convened or separately, unless designated [Rpt.] or unless special approval is granted by the student's major advisor.