Contents > Classification of Courses
Classification of Courses
Information about all lower- and upper-division courses offered at all ASU campuses appears in the General Catalog, available on the Web at www.asu.edu/catalog. Course information at this Web site is more current than in the printed catalog.
Graduate-level courses offered at all campuses are described in this catalog.
Classes scheduled for the current or upcoming fall or spring semester are listed in the Online ASU Interactive Schedule of Classes. Classes scheduled for the summer sessions are listed in the Summer Sessions Bulletin. Class schedules are available on the Web at www.asu.edu/registrar/schedule.
Course Listings
See Course Prefixes, for the location of all ASU courses by prefix.
Campus codes are used in the General Catalog only for course prefixes used by more than one campus. Campus codes are used for all courses offered at the Polytechnic campus (E), Tempe campus (M), and West campus (W) in the Registration and Tuition Payment Guide and the Summer Sessions Bulletin. (Tempe campus was formerly known as ASU Main.)
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Some requirements, known as prerequisites, must be met before registering for a course. Other requirements, called corequisites, must be met while taking a course. A student registering for a course should be able to show that prerequisites have been met and that corequisites will be met as stated in the catalog or Schedule of Classes or must otherwise satisfy the instructor that equivalent preparation has been completed.
Lower-division courses, numbered from 100 to 299, are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores. Certain classes are closed to freshmen who lack the designated prerequisites or whose majors are outside the unit offering the course. This information is available in the General Catalog, in the Online ASU Interactive Schedule of Classes, or from the student’s academic advisor.
Upper-division courses, numbered from 300 to 499, are designed primarily for juniors and seniors. Prerequisites and other restrictions should be noted before registration. Courses at the 400 level apply to graduate degree requirements for some graduate programs when approved by the Graduate College. See Reserving of Course Credit by Undergraduates.
Graduate-level courses, numbered from 500 to 799, are designed primarily for graduate students. However, an upper-division undergraduate student may enroll in these courses with the approval of the student’s advisor, the course instructor, the department chair, and the dean of the college in which the course is offered. If the course does not meet an undergraduate graduation requirement, it may be eligible for use in a future graduate program on the same basis as work taken by a nondegree graduate student.
Omnibus numbers are used for courses offered on an experimental or tutorial basis or for courses in which the content is new or periodically changes. Academic units use their prefixes with omnibus course numbers. The general nature of the work required for a particular omnibus course is consistent from unit to unit, but subject matter varies. Omnibus courses are often offered for a variable number of semester hours. See the appropriate academic unit in the General Catalog or major in the Graduate Catalog for omnibus courses.
Within the catalogs and Schedules of Classes, abbreviations are frequently used with a colon to introduce specific omnibus course topics (e.g., MGT 494 ST: Cultural Factors in International Business). See the Omnibus Course Abbreviations table below.
194, 294, 394, 494 Special Topics. (1–4)
Covers topics of immediate or special interest to a faculty member and students.
Structured practical experience following a contract or plan, supervised by faculty and practitioners.
Small-group study and research for advanced students within their majors. Major status in the department or instructor approval is required.
499 Individualized Instruction. (1–3)
Provides an opportunity for original study or investigation in the major or field of specialization on an individual and more autonomous basis. Neither a substitute for a catalog course nor a means of taking a catalog course on an individual basis. Requires application well in advance of regular registration with the student’s advisor, the advisor’s signature, and approval by both the instructor with whom the student will work and the chair of the department offering the course. This course may be taken only by outstanding senior students who have completed at least one semester in residence and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher in the major or field of specialization. A special class fee may be required.
500, 600, 700 Research Methods. (1–12)
Course on research methods in a specific discipline.
580, 680, 780 Practicum. (1–12)
Structured practical experience in a professional program, supervised by a practitioner and/or faculty member with whom the student works closely.
583, 683, 783 Fieldwork. (1–12)
Structured, supervised field experience in a field science or other discipline requiring experience in field techniques.
584, 684, 784 Internship. (1–12)
Structured practical experience following a contract or plan, supervised by faculty and practitioners.
590, 690, 790 Reading and Conference. (1–12)
Independent study in which a student meets regularly with a faculty member to discuss assignments. Course may include such assignments as intensive reading in a specialized area, writing a synthesis of literature on a specified topic, or writing a literature review of a topic.
A small class emphasizing discussion, presentations by students, and written research papers.
Independent study in which a student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts research that is expected to lead to a specific project such as a thesis or dissertation, report, or publication. Assignments might include data collection, experimental work, data analysis, or preparation of a manuscript.
593, 693, 793 Applied Project. (1–12)
Preparation of a supervised applied project that is a graduation requirement in some professional majors.
594 Conference and Workshop. (1–12)
Topical instruction, usually in compressed format, leading to academic credit. Often offered off campus to groups of professionals.
595, 695, 795 Continuing Registration. (1)
Used in situations where registration is necessary but where credit is not needed. Replaces arbitrary enrollment in reading and conference, research, thesis, dissertation, etc. Used by students when taking comprehensive examinations, defending theses or dissertations, or fulfilling the continuous enrollment requirement in doctoral programs. Credit is not awarded, and no grade is assigned.
Topical courses not offered in regular course rotation—e.g., new courses not in the catalog, courses by visiting faculty, courses on timely topics, highly specialized courses responding to unique student demand.
Supervised research focused on preparation of thesis, including literature review, research, data collection and analysis, and writing.
Independent study in which a student, under the supervision of a faculty member, conducts research that is expected to lead to a specific project such as a dissertation, report, or publication. Assignments might include data collection, experimental work, data analysis, or preparation of a manuscript.
Supervised research focused on preparation of dissertation, including literature review, research, data collection and analysis, and writing.
The preceding courses are described in announcements of the Graduate College and are also available in the respective departments. Under special circumstances, arrangements may be made at the dean’s request, through the approval of the executive vice president and provost of the university, to increase the standard semester hours of credit.
The numbers 597, 697, and 797 in the LAW prefix have been reserved for the Visiting Student Program in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.
Specialized Prefixes
Students who are designated as participating in a Maricopa Community College Alliance Program are registered in ALL 001 as a placeholder in the Student Information System. Questions should be directed to the University Registrar’s Office.
Various prefixes that start with an “X” are used for registration purposes. These courses are used by Campus Match (see Campus Match) in the University College; Learning Communities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; EnGAGE in the Ira. A. Fulton School of Engineering; and other cohort management groups.
Some elementary education methodology courses use the prefix EDB for purposes of registration. These courses are reserved for students admitted to professional programs. EDB courses are converted to permanent ASU education courses (with other prefixes) following the drop-add period, as determined by the registrar’s calendar.
Students who are determined to be ineligible for their current college are registered in ICO 001 as a placeholder in the Student Information System. Ineligible students may be withdrawn from all other enrolled classes and have a limited time period to make arrangements to change their college while enrolled in this class. Questions should be directed to the University Registrar’s Office.
Courses with the prefix IPO numbered 496 and 596 are reserved for International Programs Office study abroad and exchange programs. They are placeholder courses. Students must register for the number of credits equivalent to full-time study here at ASU. For most programs, participating undergraduate students register for 12 semester hours and graduate students register for nine semester hours. Students participating in an IPO Study Abroad Program must register for the subtopic IPO: Study Abroad Program; participants in an IPO Exchange Program register for the subtopic IPC: Exchange Program. Following completion of the student’s international program, this course is dropped and is replaced by the ASU equivalencies of those courses completed on the program. In this way, actual credits and grades earned for particular courses completed on IPO programs are recorded at ASU.
Joint Admission Continuous Enrollment
Courses with the JAC prefix are used to track students admitted to ASU who are concurrently or solely enrolled in courses offered by a community college.
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