Course Designations

Maximum Semester Credit Limit

The usual course load for full-time graduate students is 9 credits/semester. Depending upon the program requirements and abilities of the student, individuals may carry more than 9 credits each semester. However, the absolute maximum number of total credits (combined undergraduate and graduate) for which a graduate student will be allowed to register is 18 credits/semester. The maximum number of thesis or dissertation credits for which a student may enroll in any given semester is nine credits.

Course

Numbering System and Designation:

  • 4000-4999 - Undergraduate courses usually designed for juniors or seniors; no more than six credits may be taken for graduate credit with the permission of the graduate coordinator.
  • 5000-5999 - Courses for graduate credit, but which may be taken by advanced undergraduates with the advisor's permission.
  • 6000-6999 - Graduate courses which are open only to graduate students.
  • 7000-7999 - Seminars, special topic courses, projects, or thesis research for advanced candidates in master's and doctoral degree programs.

Each course offering is designated by a four letter prefix and a four-digit course number (e.g., BIOL.5290).

Continuing Graduate Research

Once a student has completed the required number of credits for master's or doctoral thesis/dissertation research with grades of PR or S (see summary of degree credit requirements), he or she will not be allowed to sign up for additional thesis/dissertation research credits. Instead, if required for teaching/research assistantships or immigration/visa purposes, the student may enroll in 3, 6, or 9 credits of Continuing Graduate Research designated _ _763, 766, or 769_ _ _ where the first two blanks represent the departmental designation, 3, 6, and 9 indicate the respective number of credits, and the last three blanks are the standard numbers which code to a particular faculty member in the department.

The two digit college prefix identifies a college department and/or special area. The three-digit course number identifies the course level.

Course Prefixes

Each college department and/or special subject area has been assigned an identifying two digit number within the numerical ranges specified as follows:

  • Education - EDUC
  • Engineering - CHEN, CIVE, EECE, ETEC, ENVE & MECH, MTEC, ENGY, ENGN, PLAS
  • Health - PUBH & AREO, HSCI, NURS, DPTH, NUTR, HSCI, MLSC, EXER
  • Humanities/Social Sciences, Fine Arts - AMST, LGST, ENGL, HIST, CRIM, PHIL, POLI, PSYS, ASP, SOCI, ECON, WLFT, WLGE, WLIT, WLAR, WLKH, WLCH, WLPO, WLAN, WLSI, WLSP, WLLA, ARHI, FAHS & ARTS, MUTH, MUAP MUED, MUHI, MUPF, MUEN,MUBU, MUSR, AEST
  • Management - ACCT, FINA, MKTG, POMS, MIST, ENTR, MGMT, BUSI
  • Science and Math - BIOL, LIFE, CHEM, ATMO, ENVI, GEOL, INFO, COMP, MATH, MSIT, PHYS, POLY, RADI
  • Biomedical Engineering - BMBT
  • Marine Science - im

Audit

A graduate student may, upon approval of the advisor and the instructor, register for a course on an audit basis, but must pay the full amount of tuition and fees. An audit student is not required to take tests or the final examination. A change in registration from audit to credit or credit to audit must be done during the add/drop period. Under no circumstances can a course taken for audit be given credit at a later date.