Course Description Symbols and Terms
The following is a fictitious example of a catalog course description illustrating the notations and symbols used for course descriptions throughout the University Catalog.
UNIV 101A Introduction to Life 1.0-4.0 FS
A comprehensive introduction to life. A series of lectures by University figures, small group discussions and an independent project all geared to orienting the new student to life. 2.0 Hours lecture, 1.0 Hours discussion, 3.0 Hours supervision. ABC/no credit grading only. You may take this course for credit more than once; see the department for information. This is an approved General Education course. Special fee required; see the Class Schedule.
Line 1-Course Identification (Subject and Course Number), Title, Unit Value, and Semester Offered
The first line of the course description contains the official Course Identification used in the Class Schedule, student registration lists, and transcripts. It is followed by the complete course title, unit value, and semester-offered symbol.
Credit for courses offered by California State University, Chico is awarded in terms of semester units. The unit value of a course is computed on the basis of one unit for each hour of lecture or discussion, two hours of activity, two to three hours of laboratory, or three hours of independent study or internship per week, for a 16-week semester (15 weeks instruction plus mandatory final week for two additional hours minimum). Courses meeting for fewer than 16 weeks will require an equivalent number of hours pro-rated on a per-week basis. For most courses, two hours of out-of-class preparation will be expected for each hour of in-class lecture or recitation.
The semester a course is normally offered is symbolized as follows:
Lines 2 & 3-Prerequisites, Corequisites, Faculty Permission
Registration requirements are outlined on the line immediately following the course title and are defined as follows:
Prerequisites: You must fulfill specific course work or other conditions before you will be allowed to enroll in the course. Prerequisites may be waived by the faculty member only on approval of a formal petition which fully outlines the equivalent attainment. You must have a passing grade for a prerequisite course. Your total number of units determines whether you meet a prerequisite for class level (e.g., sophomore), unless the requirement is otherwise defined and listed in the catalog.
The prerequisites line may also contain the following information:
Recommended Background: It is recommended that you have prior course work or knowledge; the term is used to advise and caution, but not to prevent your enrollment.
Corequisite: You must take concurrently the course or courses indicated. The requirement may not be waived.
Recommended Co-enrollment: You are advised to take a recommended concurrent enrollment; it is used to advise you of proper course sequence.
Faculty Permission: You must obtain permission of the instructor before registration can be allowed. Inquire in the department office for specific instructions regarding permission to register.
Line 4-The Course Description:
A complete course description is provided. You may assume courses meet for one hour of lecture per unit of credit with regular letter grading employed unless otherwise stated. At the end of the course description, a statement or series of statements will appear to indicate any special features of the course: activities, labs, or supervised activity; ABC/NC or CR/NC grading; courses permitting registration more than once; special fees associated with a course; and courses approved for General Education and U.S. Diversity or Global Cultures studies. Courses with approved equivalents under the California Articulation Numbering (CAN) System also provide the equivalent CAN course number at the end of the description. This practice is subject to change without notice.
Course Numbering System
The following course numbering system is employed.
001-099: Pre-Baccalaureate
These courses are generally developmental or preparatory and carry no baccalaureate credit.
100-199: Freshmen or 1st Year, Lower-Division
These courses are designed for freshmen, but may be taken by others. Many community college courses may be comparable.
200-299: Sophomore or 2nd Year, Lower-Division
These courses are designed for sophomores, but may be taken by others. Some community college courses may be comparable.
300-399: Junior or 3rd Year, Upper-Division
These courses are designed for juniors, but may be taken by others. This course designation is appropriate for GE Upper-Division Themes. None of these courses are comparable to community college courses. Since community college courses cannot qualify for upper-division credit, it is presumed that upper-division courses at CSU, Chico should not be equivalent to similar courses at any community college.
400-499: Senior or 4th Year, Upper-Division or Graduate
These courses are designed for seniors, but may be taken by others. This course designation is appropriate for senior seminars and courses that require a high degree of disciplinary sophistication or a high degree of specificity in content. It assumes considerable prerequisite knowledge and experience. None of these courses is comparable to community college courses. Students receiving graduate credit for these courses generally are required to complete additional course work compared to students receiving baccalaureate credit.
500-599: Advanced Senior or Graduate
These courses reflect advanced study, which is appropriate for both seniors and graduate students. Students receiving graduate credit for these courses generally are required to complete additional course work compared to students receiving baccalaureate credit. These courses can include post-baccalaureate courses, such as those in credential programs, which are not permitted to be included in course work for graduate degrees.
600-699: Graduate
Graduate courses are open to post-baccalaureate students only, except that undergraduates with permission of the Dean of the Graduate School may enroll. They require an identification and investigation of a theory or principle; application of theory to new ideas, problems, and materials; extensive use of bibliographic and other resource materials; or competence in the scholarly presentation of independent study research.
700-799: Reserves For Future Use
800-899: Other
These courses focus on problems encountered in professional service and aim to meet the needs of groups seeking vocational improvement and career advancement. They are designed primarily for the purpose of meeting objectives that cannot be served by established graduate and undergraduate courses. Credit for these courses does not apply to degrees. However, in exceptional cases and with the approval of the appropriate department and college dean, students may apply these towards degree and credential programs for which such courses are deemed acceptable. Determination of the acceptability of these courses for degree and credential credit will depend primarily upon course content and approach. Students should not consider registering in these courses for credential or degree purposes without first consulting with the appropriate department.
900-999: Non-Credit
These non-credit courses are designed to provide opportunities to pursue cultural, intellectual, and social interests.
Reserved Course Numbers
189, 289, 389, 489, 589, 689: Internship and other experience-based courses. These courses involve community work with placement in a public or private agency under the supervision of a qualified professional. A maximum of 15 internship units may be applied to a bachelor's degree (a department may limit the number of units which count towards its major requirements).
198, 298, 398, 498, 598, 698: Special topics and experimental courses offered on a one-time only basis or new courses offered between catalogs. No University limit on the number which may count for a degree. A major may limit the number of units which count towards its major requirements.
199, 299, 399, 499, 599: Special problems courses used for independent study with variable units. You are strongly advised to enroll in no more than 3 units of independent study per semester; a total of 6 units may apply towards a bachelor's degree, although a major may further limit the number which counts toward major requirements. Special problems courses numbered 599 and lower may not apply in a master's degree program.
399H, 499H, 599H: Honors courses are available only to students admitted to Honors in the Major or Honors in General Education, typically for independent study leading to Honors. These 3- or 6-unit courses are normally taken in the senior year. These units do not count toward the maximums listed in the preceding paragraph.
697: Independent Study: See "Graduate Education."
696: Comprehensive Examination: See "Graduate Education."
699: Master's Study: See "Graduate Education."
Sustainability Courses
Courses marked with a leaf symbol are a part of CSU, Chico's devotion to sustainability practices and education. These green courses emphasize environmentally responsible awareness and learning.
Course Subject Abbreviations
The following course subject abbreviations are used in the University Catalog, the Class Schedule, student study lists, academic planning guides, evaluation materials, and transcripts.
Abbreviation Definition
AAST Asian American Studies
ABUS Agriculture Business
ACCT Accounting
AFAM African American Studies
AFRI African Studies
AGET Agriculture Engineering Technology
AGRI Agriculture
AIST American Indian Studies
AMST American Studies
ANSC Animal Science
ANTH Anthropology
APCG Applied Computer Graphics
ARAB Arabic
ARTH Art History
ARTS Art
ASST Asian Studies
BADM Business Administration
BIOL Biological Sciences
BLAW Business Law
BLMC Education-Bilingual/Multicultural
BSIS Business Information Systems
CHLD Child Development
CDES Communication Design
CHEM Chemistry
CHNS Chinese
CHST Chicano Studies
CIMT Concrete Industry Management
CIVL Civil Engineering
CMGT Construction Management
CMSD Communication Sciences and Disorders
CMST Communication Studies
COMM Communication
CSCI Computer Science
EECE Electrical & Computer Engineering
ECON Economics
EDAD Education Administration
EDCI Education-Curriculum and Instruction
EDMA Education-Master's Program
EDSL Education-Second Language
EDTE Education-Teacher Education
EDUC Education
EFLN English as a Foreign Language
ENGL English
ENGR Engineering
ENVL Environmental Literacy
FINA Finance
FLNG Foreign Languages and Literatures
FREN French
GEOG Geography
GEOS Geological and Environmental Sciences
GERM German
GNED General Education
GSTP General Studies Thematic Program
HBRW Hebrew
HCSV Health and GerontologyHIST History
HNDI Hindi
HNRS Honors
HUMN Humanities
IDES Interior Design
IDST Interdisciplinary Studies (Graduate Level)
INST International Studies
INTB International Business
INTD Interdisciplinary Studies (Undergradute Level)
ITAL Italian
JAPN Japanese
JOUR Journalism
KINE Kinesiology
LAST Latin American Studies
LATN Latin
LBST Liberal Studies
LDRS Leadership Studies
MATH Mathematics
MCGS Multicultural and Gender Studies
MECH Mechanical Engineering
MECA Mechatronic Engineering
MEST Middle Eastern Studies
MFGT Manufacturing Technology
MGMT Management
MINS Management Information Systems
MJIS Modern Jewish and Israel Studies
MKTG Marketing
MTHE Mathematics Education
MUSC Music
NFSC Nutrition and Food Science
NSCI Natural Sciences
NSCT Natural Science Teaching
NURS Nursing
PHED Physical Education
PHIL Philosophy
PHYS Physics
POLS Political Science
PORT Portuguese
PSSC Plant and Soil Science
PSYC Psychology
QBAN Quantitative Business Analysis
RDGL Education-Reading/Language Arts
REAL Real Estate
RECR Recreation Administration
RELS Religious Studies
RUSS Russian
SCMS Supply Chain Management Systems
SOCI Sociology
SOSC Social Science
SPAN Spanish
SPED Education-Special Education
SWRK Social Work
THAI Thai
THEA Theatre
UGED Undergraduate Education
UNIV University Academics
VIET Vietnamese
WMST Women's Studies