Catalog Guide

Course Designators


ACCY-Accountancy

ACSC-Actuarial Science

AHCD-Allied Health and Communicative Disorders

AHLS-Medical Laboratory Sciences

AHPT-Physical Therapy

ANTH-Anthropology

ART-Art

ARTD-Design and Media Arts

ARTE-Art and Design Education

ARTH-Art History

ARTS-Studio

BADM-Business Administration

BIOS-Biological Sciences

BKST-Black Studies

CHEM-Chemistry

COMD-Communicative Disorders

COMS-Communication Studies

COUN-Counseling

CSCI-Computer Science

ECON-Economics

ELE-Electrical Engineering

ENGL-English

ENVS-Environmental Studies

EPFE-Foundations of Education

EPS-Educational Psychology

ETR-Research and Assessment

ETT-Instructional Technology

FACS-Family and Consumer Sciences

FINA-Finance

FLAL-Applied Linguistics and General

FLAR-Arabic

FLBU-Burmese

FLCH-Chinese

FLCL-Classical Languages

FLFR-French

FLGE-German

FLIN-Indonesian

FLIS-Foreign Language Independent Study

FLIT-Italian

FLJA-Japanese

FLMT-Foreign Language Methods

FLPL-Polish

FLPO-Portuguese

FLPT-Foreign Language Student Teaching

FLRU-Russian

FLSL-American Sign Language

FLSP-Spanish

FLST-Special Topics

FLTA-Tagalog

FLTH-Thai

FLTR-Foreign Language Translation

FSMD-Fashion Merchandising

GEOG-Geography

GEOL-Geology

HDFS-Human Development and Family Sciences

HESA-Higher Education and Student Affairs

HIST-History

HLTH-Health Studies

HOSP-Hospitality and Tourism Management

HSCI-Health Sciences

IDSP-Inter-College Interdisciplinary

IEET-Interdisciplinary Engineering and Engineering Technology

ILAS-Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and Sciences

INTL-International Programs

ISYE-Industrial Engineering

JOUR-Journalism

KNDN-Physical Education Dance

KNPE-Physical Education

LEBM-School Business Management

LEEA-Educational Administration

LESM-Sport Management

LTDH-Deaf and Hard of Hearing

LTIC-Bilingual/ESL

LTLA-Language Arts

LTRE-Reading

MATH-Mathematical Sciences

MEE-Mechanical Engineering

MET-Meteorology

MGMT-Management

MILS-Military Science

MKTG-Marketing

MLTL-Middle Level Teaching and Learning

MUED-Music Education

MUHL-Music History and Literature

MUSC-Music General

MUSE-Music Ensembles

MUSP-Music Performance

MUTC-Music Theory and Composition

NNGO-Nonprofit and NGO Studies

NURS-Nursing

NUTR–Nutrition, Dietetics, and Wellness

OELP–Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation

OMIS-Operations Management and Information Systems

PHHE-Public Health and Health Education

PHIL-Philosophy

PHYS-Physics

POLS-Political Science

PSPA–Public Administration

PSYC-Psychology

REHB-Rehabilitation and Disability Services

SCL-Social Change Leadership

SEEC-Early Childhood Education

SESE-Special Education

SEVI-Visual Impairments

SIHP-School of Interdisciplinary Health Professions

SOCI-Sociology

SPGA-School of Public and Global Affairs

STAT-Statistics

TECH-Technology

THEA-Theatre Arts

TH-D-Dance Performance

TLCI-Curriculum and Instruction

TLEE-Elementary Education

UBUS-Interdisciplinary Business

UEDU-Interdisciplinary Education

UEET-Interdisciplinary Engineering and Engineering Technology

UHHS-Interdisciplinary Health and Human Sciences

UNIV-University-Wide Interdisciplinary

WGSS-Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies


X-This letter following a course number indicates that the course is crosslisted in another department. A student can receive credit for such a course in only one department.

Abbreviations Used in This Catalog

Baccalaureate Degrees


B.A.-Bachelor of Arts

B.F.A.-Bachelor of Fine Arts

B.G.S.-Bachelor of General Studies

B.M.-Bachelor of Music

B.S.-Bachelor of Science

B.S.Ed.-Bachelor of Science in Education


Other Abbreviations


CRQ-Corequisite

GPA-Grade point average

PRQ-Prerequisite

Course Information


The system of numbering courses is as follows


Noncredit courses: 1-99

Lower-division courses: 100-299

Upper-division courses: 300-499

Graduate courses: 500-799

Or as assigned by the department


COURSE NUMBER

  • 100 to 499 - Undergraduate Courses for Beginner Certificate level

    • Introduction courses

    • Overview theory and practice courses

    • Laboratory coursework

    • Fieldwork / Field Trip

    • Portfolio

    • Capstone - 499

  • 500 to 599 - Graduate Courses for Expert Certificate level

    • Workshop

    • Seminar

    • Colloquium

    • Portfolio

    • Internship

    • Special Project - 598

    • Professional Applied Research or Master's Capstone- 599

  • 600 to 799 - Advance Graduate Courses for Specialist Certificate level

    • Issues & Trends

    • Special Topic

    • Directed Research / Readings

    • Independent Research / Study

    • Practicum / Clinical / Clerkship

    • Fellowship Research - 795

    • Thesis & Dissertation -799


Undergraduate course offerings appear in the following pages by department, with the departments arranged alphabetically within the colleges. Interdisciplinary courses appear at the beginning of college sections and under “International Programs.” (Departmental and college sections may be located by means of the table of contents.)


Each course is assigned a certain number of semester hours of credit. In general, one semester hour represents the equivalent of one class hour of lecture or recitation or two hours of laboratory work per week for one semester. The semester-hour value of each course listed is shown by an arabic numeral in parentheses immediately after the title of the course. Some course descriptions include a list of topics for intensive or specialized study which the course may cover in different semesters.


Definitions of Terms Used in This Catalog

Academic dismissal: Dismissal from the university for not maintaining the required grade point average (GPA).


Add/Drop Period: Constitutes the first two weeks of the semester for 16 week courses and the first week of the semester for 8 and 4 week courses.


Auditing: Registering for and attending a class regularly without completing the work required for credit. (No grade points or credit hours are granted for audited courses.)


Certificate of Undergraduate Study: A certificate of undergraduate study is awarded upon successful completion of a specified coherent set of undergraduate courses around a specific theme. Notation of a specific certificate of undergraduate study will be posted on the student’s transcript upon the successful completion of the requirements for that certificate.


Competency examination: An examination given to determine if a student meets or surpasses the expected level of achievement for a foundational studies requirement in the general education program. Passing a foundational studies examination fulfills the requirement for the foundational studies but gives no credit, i.e., it reduces the required number of hours in general education but does not reduce the number of hours required for a degree. Information on competency examinations is available from the Office of Testing Services.


Concurrent enrollment: Enrollment by a student at both Alt+U and another institution, if any course taken at the other institution is in session at any time during the Alt+U semester or summer session in question.


Corequisite: A requirement, usually enrollment in a course, which should be undertaken at the same time as the course being described (if the corequisite has not been completed previously).


Course Add: The process of adding, changing a course, or changing sections of the same course.


Course Drop: Refers to the process of un-enrolling from one or more courses in the first two weeks of the semester, but remaining enrolled for credit in at least one course.


Course Withdrawal: Refers to the process of un-enrolling from one or more courses beginning the 3rd week of the semester, but remaining enrolled for credit in at least one course.


Credit by examination: A procedure through which a student can obtain college credit by passing examinations. Credit is available through Advanced Placement (AP), the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Alt+U proficiency examinations. AP examinations are administered by high schools, while the Office of Testing Services administers some CLEP and proficiency examinations; proficiency examinations are also administered by academic departments.


Departmental requirements: Courses offered by a department and specified by that department as necessary for completion of a given course of study.


Drop: A procedure which allows a student to delete a course from the schedule through the second week of the semester. This course does not appear on the student’s permanent academic record. An administrative office may drop students from courses in which they are not eligible to enroll.


Elective: A course that a student chooses to enroll in, as distinguished from a required course at the university level or in a given departmental course of study.


Emphasis: A subdivision of an undergraduate major. Courses and total hours required may vary in a multiemphasis major.


Encumbrance: A hold placed on a student’s record as a result of an unfulfilled obligation to the university or of a disciplinary action. A student with an encumbrance preventing registration is not eligible to participate in class work.


Endorsement: The written notation entered upon the face of an educator licensure designating additional specific subjects and/or grade levels which an individual is qualified to teach. Endorsements are earned by taking designated course work in a specific discipline area.


GPA hours: The number of semester hours for which grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D, or F are recorded.


Grade point: The numerical value given to letter grades. See Grading System.


Grade point average (GPA): A student’s scholastic average, computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total number of credit hours attempted at Alt+U.


Half-session courses: Courses which are offered for the first or second half of an academic term, rather than a full term.


Hold: See “Encumbrance.”


Honors courses: Special courses or sections of courses designed to offer intellectual challenge and personal attention to particularly able students. Honors courses are identified by an H suffix on the course number.


Incomplete: A grade (I) sometimes granted when a student is temporarily unable to complete course requirements or take a final examination because of unusual personal circumstances.


Major: An extensive program of study in a designated subject area at the undergraduate level.


Minor: A limited course of study in a designated subject area at the undergraduate level. A student may not take a minor offered by the department of his or her major unless this is specifically permitted in the description of the minor.


Nondegree student: An undergraduate student who is not currently seeking a degree.


Part-time student: A student who takes fewer than 12 semester hours during the semester or fewer than 6 semester hours during the summer session.


Prerequisite: A requirement, usually completion of a course, which should be met before a student can register for a course.


Proficiency examination: A way for a student to receive course credit for individual or special study. Proficiency examinations are administered by academic departments and the Office of Testing Services. See “Credit by examination.”


Readmission: A procedure by which a student who was previously enrolled in the university but whose attendance was interrupted for more than one year is reaccepted into Alt+U.


Recognized institution: An institution in a country outside of the U.S. that is recognized by that nation’s Ministry of Education, or similar authority, as a post-secondary, academic-degree-granting-institution.


Reinstatement: An admission procedure followed by a student who was formerly enrolled in the university but was academically dismissed.


Semester hour: The University’s unit of academic credit reflecting a standard expectation of course activity.


Semester Withdrawal: Refers to the process of un-enrolling from all courses for the semester in question, regardless of when it occurs in the semester.


Transcript: A copy of a student’s permanent academic record at a particular institution.


Visiting student: A student who is regularly enrolled at another institution but who is taking courses at Alt+U. Application for this status should be made to the Office of Admissions.


Withdrawal: Formal action by which a student officially discontinues participation in a course; a record of enrollment remains on the student’s permanent academic record.