Institutional Research Institutional Research Executive Vice President and Provost
University of Minnesota

Appendix 6: Final Decision on Course Numbering


April 22, 1997

TO: Semester Coordinators, Interested Parties

FROM: Peter Zetterberg, Director, Semester Conversion Project

RE: Final Decision Regarding the Course Numbering System

The final course numbering proposal was issued on September 13, 1996, with the understanding that additional detail would be provided regarding numbering conventions. The numbering convention detail was provided on December 16, 1997. On January 16, 1997 we announced the creation of a new course number for MFA Thesis/Project credits. On February 14, 1997 we issued notes of clarification regarding 4xxx and 6xxx/7xxx level courses. Accordingly, the complete semester course numbering system, with notes and clarifications, currently exists in four different documents, all of which have been sent out by e-mail with a request that they be forwarded on to departments and programs.

I have compiled a synthesis of the four course numbering documents so that reference can be made to just one document from this point forward. It is provided below.

SEMESTER COURSE NUMBERING
(April 22, 1997)


Note: The following is a synthesis of the final course numbering proposal and several updates and clarifications that have been issued.


Semester courses will have four digit numbers. The first number designates the course level.

The numbering system is as follows:

0xxx Courses that do not carry credit toward any University degree.


1xxx Courses primarily for undergraduate students in their first year of study.


2xxx Courses primarily for undergraduate students in their second year of study.


3xxx Courses primarily for undergraduate students in their third year of study.


4xxx Courses primarily for undergraduate students in their fourth year of study;


graduate students may enroll in such courses for degree credit.


Note: Use of 4xxx Courses in Graduate Programs
4xxx courses can be counted for a Graduate School degree. However, no 4xxx course can be counted for a Graduate School degree unless it is taught by a member of the graduate faculty or an individual appointed to Limited Teaching Status (LTS). Also, a graduate program may restrict the use of 4xxx courses in the program (e.g., by stipulating that no more than y credits of 4xxx courses may be counted or by stipulating that only certain 4xxx courses may be counted). Such restrictions may be applied both for 4xxx courses in the major field and for 4xxx courses outside the major field. These are matters left to the discretion of each graduate program.
5xxx Courses primarily for graduate students;


undergraduate students in their third or fourth year may enroll in such courses.


6xxx Courses for post-baccalaureate students in professional degree programs.


7xxx Courses for post-baccalaureate students in professional degree programs.


Note: 6xxx and 7xxx Courses
6xxx and 7xxx courses are to be used primarily for post-baccalaureate professional programs that are not offered through the Graduate School. 6xxx and 7xxx courses may be counted for a Graduate School degree, if a degree program wants them to count. Similarly, 5xxx and 8xxx courses may be counted for a non-Graduate School degree, if a program wants them to count. Those departments or programs that offer both Graduate School degrees and non-Graduate School degrees should decide for themselves how best to number courses in the curriculum.
8xxx Courses for graduate students.


9xxx Courses for graduate students.



EXPLANATION AND CONVENTIONS
  1. ALPHA SUFFIXES

    Alpha suffixes will not be used with semester course numbers. Rather the course number and course title should reflect the special characteristics of the course. For example, the course name and number for an honors course on American History should be:

    Name: Honors Course: American History (not American History)

    Number: xxxx (not xxxxH)


    Honors sections will be similarly named in class schedules.

  2. CROSS-LISTING OF COURSES: COURSE DESIGNATORS

    Colleges are encouraged to have departments/programs use the same course number for any course that is listed under more than one designator. It is recognized that this may not be possible in all cases.

    (Note: As an additional way of helping to identify and track cross-listed courses, the University will develop a program to run against its room scheduling system so that it can report those cases when two or more courses are meeting in the same classroom at the same time.)

  3. CROSS-LISTING OF COURSES: MULTIPLE LEVELS

    Similar courses offered at different course levels may be scheduled in the same classroom at the same time (and cross-listed in this sense), but only if the courses are really two different courses (one at each level) with different requirements that are appropriate for the course levels. A single course cannot be offered at two levels.

  4. SEQUENTIAL COURSES

    The courses in a course sequence should be numbered sequentially (e.g., 1001, 1002). Sequential courses should carry a 1, 3, 5, 7 as the ending digit for the first course, then a 2, 4, 6, 8 for the second course.

  5. BEGINNING AND INTRODUCTORY COURSES

    The most introductory courses at any course level should always be assigned the lowest numbers. If there is an obvious introductory course at a particular level, then the preferred number for the course is x001, unless use of x001 would be inconsistent with a department's overall numbering scheme.

  6. ALL-UNIVERSITY NUMBERING CONVENTIONS

    Course designator abbreviations should be the same on all campuses. For example, History should be "Hist" on all campuses.

    All thesis credit courses should use the following numbering conventions.

    8555 Thesis/Project Credits: Master of Fine Arts


    8666 Doctoral Pre-thesis Credits


    8777 Thesis Credits: Masters


    8888 Thesis Credits: Doctoral


    All-University numbering conventions for other kinds of courses are provided below.

    xx91 Independent Study


    xx92 Directed Reading


    xx93 Directed Study


    xx94 Directed Research


    xx95 Problems


    xx96 Field Study; Industrial Assignment


    xx97 Reserved for future use


    xx98 Reserved for future use


    All of the above are examples of courses that may be repeated for credit.

    Use of a zero as the last digit of a course number should be reserved for other kinds of courses that may be repeated for credit (e.g., "topics" courses).

  7. RESPONSIBILITY FOR NUMBERING SYSTEM

    The Office of the Registrar on each campus will be responsible for monitoring the appropriate use of the numbering system.

    Note: The final semester numbering system does allow reuse of existing quarter-based course numbers. Those concerned about possible confusion can avoid reusing existing numbers. Those who feel that other considerations outweigh such concerns can reuse numbers if they want to. Campuses, colleges, and departments are in the best position to decide what will be best for their students.

Semester Conversion Information Page
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Page URL: http://www.irr.umn.edu/convert/newnumb.htm
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