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OFFICIAL POLICY
7.6.9
Course Numbering Policy
11/12/2019
Policy Statement
1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this Policy is to provide uniform guidance for students, faculty, staff,
and community members in understanding the intended audience and relative
degree of course difficulty when registering for and completing any credit-bearing
course at the College of Charleston.
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2.0 USE OF THREE-DIGIT COURSE NUMBERS
Three-digit course numbers shall be used at the College of Charleston (hereafter,
"College") to identify courses that can be taken for undergraduate or graduate
course credit.
All three-digit course numbers follow four-letter prefixes that designate a specific
discipline or an interdisciplinary field. For example, "ENGL" has been the four-letter
prefix designation for courses offered by the College's undergraduate and graduate
programs in English, and many undergraduate and graduate courses are approved for
these programs (e.g., "ENGL 110").
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In course syllabi and in the course schedules
provided by the Registrar, course numbers are followed by section numbers. The
combination of course prefix, course number, and section number identifies the specific
course section in which a student enrolls (e.g., "COMM 104 - 02").
The first digit in each three-digit course number indicates the level of the course
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Course numbering policies vary significantly from one university to another. Caution should
be exercised in comparing courses at different institutions, whatever their course numbers
might be.The guidance provided by this policy also may be relevant to zero-credit-hour
courses associated with or linked to credit-bearing courses.
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On occasion, disciplinary or program designations are revised when disciplinary names are changed or
when an insufficient supply of unused course numbers is associated with an older disciplinary
designation.
(e.g., "200-level," "500-level"). As a general guideline, the larger the first digit in the
three- digit number for the course, the more advanced the material for which the
student will be responsible. For example, consistent with the explanation offered
below, a 400-level course should be substantially more advanced than a 200-level
course offered by the same undergraduate academic program.
Credit-bearing courses numbered 000-099 and 1000 or above are not permitted at the
College of Charleston. Course numbers shall have no fewer than and no more than three
digits.
Course numbering shall be interpreted in accordance with the following
explanation of course levels at the College of Charleston:
100-299
300-399
400-499
500-599
901-999
Course prerequisites and co-requisites are designated in each case consistent with
disciplinary context or course-specific needs. The inclusion of prerequisites and co-
requisites - or the decision not to require them - is separate from the determination of
the appropriate level for the course. Presumptively, prerequisites and co-requisites
exist at or below the course level of the course in question. Course sequences at the
same course level -- where one course is the prerequisite for another course at that
same level - are customary and expected in several disciplines.
Undergraduate students may not register for graduate courses at the 500-level and
above, unless such registrations are approved as part of a four-plus-one program or
other program or policy that expressly provides for such registrations and has been
endorsed by the relevant College committees; the Dean of the Graduate School of the
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The terms "introductory" and "advanced" have been used inconsistently in the development and
approval of undergraduate and graduate course titles and descriptions at the College. Such terms, when
used to describe a specific course, should not be understood as inconsistent with the current Policy,
but as a commentary on course content in a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary context.
University of Charleston, South Carolina; and the Provost.
Certain graduate course offerings in the education disciplines are linked to the
development of instructional competencies for graduate students who already
have developed specific sorts of subject-matter expertise; such subject-matter
expertise usually was cultivated while earning previous undergraduate or
graduate degrees.
Graduate courses developing instructional expertise in such cases, while offered
consistent with best practices in higher education, pose special challenges for
interpretation of course numbers and for institutional decisions about cross-listing
and “meets with” courses, as described below.
The adoption of this Policy shall not prevent the President of the College from
proposing, or the Board of Trustees from approving, separate tuition rates or fees
for courses based on their level within the course-numbering system.
3.0 CROSS-LISTING OF COURSES, INCLUDING CROSS-LISTING OF
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE COURSES
Cross-listed courses may be approved when two separate courses are equivalent in
content or share content to a very significant degree, but where separate course
listings are necessary and desirable. Cross-listed courses must be approved by the
faculty Senate.
Two undergraduate courses may be cross-listed with different program prefixes and
numbers, though cross-listing with the same course number is preferred in such
cases. Cross-listed courses shall have identical course catalog descriptions. Cross-
listing of undergraduate courses must be approved by the relevant College
committees and the Faculty Senate. Cross-listed undergraduate courses should be
designated as such in the undergraduate catalog and in the College's course-
management software.
Because cross-listed undergraduate courses are equivalent in content or share
content to a very significant degree, no student shall be permitted to receive credit for
both cross- listed courses. Academic programs may offer both undergraduate versions
of cross-listed courses during the same academic term, or they may offer only one
version of the cross- listed courses, depending on the curricular needs and
enrollment-management goals of the academic programs.
Cross-listing of undergraduate and graduate courses shall be permitted only when
those involved in the approval process are provided with satisfactory evidence that the
course objectives, student learning outcomes, learning experiences, and assignments
will be different and more advanced for students in the 500-level course than for
students in the 400-level course. Consistent with the requirements of College Policy
7.6.10, these mandatory differences in the content and rigor of cross-listed
undergraduate and graduate courses must be readily apparent when the separate
syllabi for the cross-listed undergraduate and graduate courses are examined.
Cross-listing of undergraduate and graduate courses must be approved by the
relevant College committees and the Faculty Senate. The relevant Department Chairs
and Program Directors shall be responsible for assuring that cross-listed
undergraduate and graduate courses are offered and taught in a fashion consistent
with their approval by the Faculty Senate. Cross-listed undergraduate and graduate
courses should be designated as such in the undergraduate and graduate catalogs
and in the College's course- management software.
Because cross-listed undergraduate and graduate courses share content to a
significant degree, no student shall be permitted to receive credit for both the 400- and
500-level versions of the course, except with the written permission of the Provost (or
the Provost's designee). Academic programs may offer both the undergraduate and
graduate versions of cross-listed courses during the same academic term, or they may
offer only one version of the cross-listed courses (i.e., undergraduate or graduate, but
not both), depending on the curricular needs and enrollment-management goals of the
academic programs.
Repeatable courses cannot be cross-listed. Special topics courses may be offered
using a “meets with” scheduling and instructional model, provided that all provisions of
this Policy are followed.
4.0 “MEETS WITH” COURSES DISTINGUISHED FROM CROSS-LISTING OF COURSES
"Meets with" is a scheduling designation. Courses scheduled as “meets with” are co-
located with one or more courses that share facilities or other instructional
resources, but where course content remains significantly different from one “meets
with” course to another. For example, one “meets with” course might share some
lecture sessions with another course, but have separate discussion sections and
assignments. Notwithstanding their co-location, students in these courses are
receiving significantly different instructional content. Courses scheduled as “meets
with” are not equivalent and thus there are no restrictions on students registering for
and receiving credit for each of the courses in a “meets with” status in subsequent
semesters. The relevant Department Chairs and Program Directors shall be
responsible for assuring that meets- with courses are offered and taught in a fashion
consistent with this definition.
A student who enrolls in a “meets with” course section should in no way assume that
she or he has earned the same type of course credit as a student who may have
enrolled in a different course with which the course meets. Also, students in “meets
with” courses should not assume that they may switch their enrollment from one
course section to another or attend discussion sections or labs in which they are not
enrolled.
Consistent with the requirements of College Policy 7.6.10, separate syllabi must be
provided for each “meets with” course. The mandated differences in the content and
rigor of “meets with” undergraduate and graduate courses must be readily apparent
when the separate syllabi for “meets with” undergraduate and graduate courses are
examined.
A variation of “meets with” that requires careful administrative oversight at the
program/department-level is restricted to the scheduling of two or more special and/or
variable topics courses that are co-located, taught by the same instructor and have
identical instructional content or share content to a very significant degree. This
variation is not permitted between courses of the same prefix (e.g., BIOL, ENGL,
MUSC,etc.) or between fixed catalog courses (non-variable/non-special topics). This
variation of “meets with” is intended to facilitate the interdisciplinary activity of
programs with identifying/tagging special and/or variable topics classes for their
respective majors/minors. This variation of “meets with” scheduling for the assigned
professor is only counted as a single course assignment when the collective target
enrollment is achieved for all special and/or variable topics courses in the classroom
in question. Program directors/chairs who oversee the courses taught in this variation
of “meets with” are responsible for tracking the respective courses to ensure students
do not repeat the special topics courses if/when offered with the same content.
5.0 PROGRAM-SPECIFIC COURSE NUMBERING GUIDELINES
Additional course-numbering guidelines may be developed for use in specific
undergraduate or graduate academic programs, as long as those guidelines do not
violate the provisions of this Policy. When a conflict exists between a school-,
department-, or program-specific course-numbering guideline and the current Policy, the
current Policy shall prevail.
6.0 DEVELOPMENTAL AND NON-CREDIT-BEARING COURSES
Developmental and non-credit-bearing courses are not included in the College's Course
Numbering Policy.
7.0 COURSE NUMBERING IN PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY TWO OR MORE
UNIVERSITIES
In consultation with the Registrar, deviations in the application of this Policy to the
course numbers for joint undergraduate programs (i.e., undergraduate programs
administered by two or more universities) may be approved in writing by the Provost
(or the Provost's designee). In consultation with the Registrar, deviations in the
application of this Policy to the course numbers for joint graduate programs (i.e.,
graduate programs administered by two or more universities) may be approved in
writing by the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Charleston, South
Carolina, subject to review and determination by the Provost.
8.0 SPECIAL INSTIUTIONAL PROGRAMS
No element of this Policy shall be interpreted as preventing or interfering with the
ordinary management of and institutional provisions for any institutionally approved
accelerated degree program, dual-enrollment program, degree-completion program,
first-year experience program, four-plus-one program, or other academic program of a
special nature, as so designated by the Provost.
9.0 CLARITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN COURSE NUMBERING
Those developing, reviewing, and approving new course proposals, or proposals for
course modifications, shall avoid, to the best of their ability and in light of all other
academic considerations, the assignment of course numbers with the potential to
cause confusion for students, prospective students, faculty, and staff. While deferring
to the relevant faculty when possible, Deans, the relevant faculty committees, the
Office of the Registrar, and the Office of the Provost shall assist course proposers in
the selection of course numbers that will minimize errors in advising and course
selection and emphasize the movement of students through increasingly advanced
material during their academic careers at the College.
10.0 ORDERLY MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
Disputes regarding the interpretation and/or application of this Policy may be
appealed to the Provost. The decision of the Provost is final.
The Registrar may create additional procedures, guidelines, or conventions for
course numbering, including course section numbers, in consultation with the Office
of the Provost, the Speaker of the Faculty, and/or one or more College, Senate, or
Institutional Committees, as appropriate. Disputes regarding any course-numbering
procedures, guidelines, or conventions created by the Registrar may be brought to
the Provost. In resolving such disputes, the decision of the Provost is final.
All course numbers at the College of Charleston shall comply with this Policy no later
than May 15, 2017.
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In specific, extraordinary cases not involving joint degree
programs, the Provost (or the Provost's designee) may, by written directive, extend this
policy compliance deadline for up to one year. As appropriate, academic
administrators responsible for an academic program in which course numbers are
being revised to comply with this Policy should work with the Registrar to provide
appropriate notice to faculty, students, prospective students, and staff about the
transition from old to new course numbers.
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Multiple undergraduate and graduate course numbers were adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the
current Policy during the 2015-2016 academic year, when the Policy was available in draft form and was under
review.
_______________________________________________________________
Policy Manager and Responsible Department or Office
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs (or Provost's Designee)
Office of the Registrar
_______________________________________________________________
Purpose/Reason for the Policy
The purpose of this Policy is to provide uniform guidance for students, faculty, staff, and
community members in understanding the intended audience and relative degree of
course difficulty when registering for and completing any credit-bearing course at the
College of Charleston.
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Departments/Offices Affected by the Policy
Office of the Provost
Office of the Registrar
All Academic Schools, Departments, and Academic Programs
Honors College
Graduate School
Summer School Office
School of Professional
Studies Treasurer's Office
Academic Advising and Planning Center
_______________________________________________________________
Procedures Related to the Policy
Procedures related to this Policy may be developed by the Provost and/or the Registrar,
as described in the text of the Policy. The procedures adopted by several College,
Senate, and Institutional Committees may have implications for the course-numbering
schemes adopted by or proposed for one or more academic programs.
_______________________________________________________________
Related Policies, Documents or Forms
Faculty Organization and By-
Laws Faculty/Administration
Manual
Forms Maintained by the Curriculum Committee
Forms Maintained by the Committee on Graduate Education, Continuing Education
and Special Programs
Policy 7.6.10, "Policy on Course Syllabi"
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Issue Date: 04/20/2016
Revised: 11/12/2019
Next Review Date: 11/12/2024
POLICY APPROVAL
(For use by the Office of the Board of Trustees or the Office of the President)
Policy Number: 7.6.9
President or Chairman, Board of Trustees Date: 11/19/2019