Guide to Course Numbering

University Course Numbering System

• 001-099 Courses which do not earn graduation credit, but which do earn semester credit; grades in these courses are factored into the student’s grade point average (such as courses needed to make up entrance deficiencies, scheduled tutorials, etc.).
• 100-199 Lower division undergraduate; freshman level.
• 200-299 Lower division undergraduate; sophomore level.
• 300-399 Upper division undergraduate; junior level.
• 400-499 Upper division undergraduate; senior level.
• 500-599 Combined graduate/undergraduate; suitable for upper division undergraduates.
• 600-699 Master’s or first year graduate courses
• 700-799 Doctoral or advanced graduate courses
• 800-899 Doctoral or advanced graduate courses
• 900-999 Post terminal degree

The following numbers are assigned to special courses and academic activities:

• 190, 290, 390, 490, 590, 690, 790, 890 New courses being taught on an experimental basis+
• 191-195 Seminars; undergraduate, freshman level+
• 291-295 Seminars; undergraduate, sophomore level+
• 391-3, 395 Seminars; undergraduate, junior level+
• 491-3, 495 Seminars; undergraduate, senior level+
• 394 Integrative Experience*
• 494 Integrative Experience*
• 591-595 Seminars; combined graduate/undergraduate+
• 691-695, 791-795, 891-895 Seminars+
• 196, 296, 396, 496, 596. 696. 796, 896 Independent Study/Special Problems courses
• 197, 297, 397, 497, 597, 697, 797, 897 Special Topics seminars+
• 198, 298, 398, 498, 698 Practicum/Field Experience
• 499 Capstone Experience (Honors Theses and Projects)
• 699 Master’s Thesis
• 899 Doctoral dissertation

+When a department has more than one course bearing one of these numbers, it distinguishes among them with an “alphabetical extension” – one or more upper case letters following the course number.

*394 or 494 are now assigned to all newly approved IE courses. However, some preexisting permanent courses numbered 394 or 494 that are not IE courses have been allowed to retain their old number and some preexisting courses with other numbers that were approved for IE status later also kept their old number. In these cases course descriptions need to make clear whether the course has been designated as an IE course.

Source: University Course Numbering System