Definitions and Approval

Course Definitions

Course Component Types

• Combination: Format combines lecture and laboratory components in each class meeting.

• Directed Research: Used for independent study, seminars, thesis, and dissertation courses. A regular meeting of students, under faculty guidance, in which each conducts research and exchanges information, problems, and results through informal lectures, reports, and discussion.

• Discussion: Additional classroom session(s) associated with a credit bearing course, often a lecture. The discussion session is led by an instructor but involves significant student input and typically gives students the opportunity to engage with course content in a small group. 

• Laboratory: Allow for hands-on, practical exposure to subject matter. These courses typically meet 100 minutes or more once a week for the semester (15 weeks) for 1 credit hour. 

• Lecture: Lecture courses typically meet 50 minutes once a week for the semester (15 weeks) for 1 credit hour. 

• Performance: Emphasize students performing specific skills and receiving performance critiques. 

• Professional Practice: Consists of one or more credit-generating, academic/career related, salaried or non-salaried work experiences. Professional practice is a supervised work-related experience and includes pre-student teaching, student teaching, professional practice, internships, clinical hours, fieldwork, and/or other external experiences.

Contract Courses

Contract educational services, programs and courses are delivered through mutual contract to a business site for a specific cohort or business entity. Refer to the Provost's Office website for more information including the application process. 

Credit/No Credit Grading Basis 

CR- Credit: Assigned to students who do satisfactory work in a course which is offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis. Certain courses in the University are offered only on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis.
NC- No Credit: Assigned to students who do not do satisfactory work in a course which is offered only on a Credit/No Credit basis. Certain courses in the University are offered only on a Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) basis.

For new and revised courses indicate "yes", the course will be offered only as Credit/No Credit on the course proposal. Will apply for every offering (section) of the course.  

Cross Listed Courses

Cross listed courses are ONE course that is jointly developed by two or more departments/schools and may be offered by those units. A cross listed course is one course regardless of the department or school through which the student registered for the course and the course will meet all the same requirements. This is a general rule that applies to all cross listed courses taken for any purpose.
Example: If a student earned credit in FCS/SOC 112 by enrolling in and earning credit in a FCS offering of the course and they attempt to enroll in a SOC offering of the course, they will get a Repeat message (See Course Repeat rules) since they would be attempting to enroll in the same course they already have earned credit in. 

The course proposal should include the following statement in the course description so students are aware that the course is offered by multiple subject areas but is the same, equivalent course: Equivalent course, offered as ABC, DEF, XYZ 111; repeat policy will apply.

For new cross listed course proposals, one department/school should begin the New Course Proposal and indicate the other department(s)/school(s) who will be cross listed with the course. The proposal will then be routed for approval to all department chairs or school directors, college curriculum committee chairs, and college deans where approval is required. In every case, including if a cross listed course is being revised, all involved departments/schools must be represented on the proposal form for the proposed cross listing of a course. 

If, at a later date, one or more of the department(s)/school(s) wishes not to be affiliated with the cross listed course, they should submit a Course Revision Proposal and request to be removed from the course. The other affiliated department(s)/school(s) should be included on the proposal so they are aware of the request. If the department/school then wishes to create their own separate course they should submit a New Course Proposal. If there is significant overlap in the content they should include "Not for credit if earned credit in ABC 123" in the course description. 

Courses that Allow Multiple Enrollments with a Unique Grade Assigned for Each Enrollment

Courses that allow for multiple enrollments (for a separate grade each enrollment) are not the same as Decimalized/Topics Courses. Students are able to enroll in the course for credit up to the maximum of credit hours or number of total enrollments stated. The University's Course Repeat policy does not apply to courses that are approved as multiple enrollments for credit; a student cannot repeat these types of courses to replace a previously earned grade. Examples of multiple enrollment courses are independent studies, professional practices, university band and ensembles. The course description should include the phrase "multiple enrollments allowed, maxiumum of X credit hours or the maximum number of enrollments.

Decimalized/Topics Courses

Topics courses, seminars and other courses follow the procedures for new courses and are approved by the University Curriculum Committee Executive Secretary. A base 'topics' course is developed with a general description, this base course is not offered and should include this statement in the description: "Various topic areas of this course are available for enrollment, 222aXX." The approval of new topics, decimalizations of the base course having similar objectives and student outcomes, are approved following the procedures for new courses. The decimalized topics courses must have the same course prerequisites and multiple enrollments are not allowed, so if a student repeats a decimalized course, the repeat policy applies and the subsequent grade will replace the first grade. If a new topic area is needed, a new decimalized topics course should be proposed using the New Course Proposal Form.

Distance Education Courses

A course in which the majority of the instruction (more than 75%) occurs when student and instructor are not in the same location at the same time. Field-based courses such as professional practice courses (198, 298, or 398) are not considered distance education. Instruction may be synchronous or asynchronous. When preparing a course proposal where the mode of instruction of the course is being revised from regular to a distance education format (or vice-versa), check the appropriate box on the proposal web site. 

Independent Study Courses 

• Intensive study in a special area of the student's interest under the direction of a qualified member of the faculty. Each individual investigation is to culminate in a comprehensive written report and/or examination and/or artistic project. Independent Study is designated by the number "287" or "400" and is offered for one to six credit hours. A maximum of six semester hours of independent study may be applied toward graduation. 
• A maximum of twelve hours of "500" Independent Study may be applied toward the Master of Fine Arts and the Doctoral degree. Intensive study in a special area of the advanced student's interest under a qualified member of the faculty. Each individual investigation is to culminate in a comprehensive written report and/or examination. Open only to graduate students who have completed considerable work in a degree program, who are in good academic standing, and who have demonstrated ability to profit from independent study. A written proposal approved by the faculty member, the student's advisor, and the department chairperson or school director is required prior to registration. See statement on limitation of credit above.

Interdisciplinary (IDS) Courses

Interdisciplinary courses are designated as IDS (rather than listing departments/schools in cross-listed courses). Interdisciplinary courses offer faculty and students a unique opportunity to synthesize knowledge that spans two or more academic disciplines. Interdisciplinary courses proceed through the regular curriculum process with the Council on General Education approving in lieu of the College Curriculum Committee and the administrator in charge of General Education, approving in lieu of the College Dean, after which the proposal is routed as new course proposal.

Laboratory 

Laboratory courses allow for hands-on, practical exposure to subject matter. These courses typically meet 100 minutes or more once a week for the semester (15 weeks) for 1 credit hour. 

Lecture

Lecture courses typically meet 50 minutes once a week for the semester (15 weeks) for 1 credit hour. 

Performance 

Performance courses emphasize students performing specific skills and receiving performance critiques. 

Professional Practice

Professional Practice consists of one or more credit-generating, academic/career related, salaried or non-salaried work experiences. Professional practice is a supervised work-related experience and includes pre-student teaching, student teaching, professional practice, internships, clinical hours, fieldwork, and/or other external experiences.

The experience is planned, administered, and supervised at the department or school level. Student teaching experiences are also coordinated by the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center. Professional Practice courses are designated by the numbers 198, 298, 398, 498, and 598. In a graduate degree program, Professional Practice 498 cannot constitute more than 20 percent of the hours applied for graduation. Undergraduate students may count a maximum of 16 hours of Professional Practice toward graduation requirements.

• Graduate-level Professional Practice: Professional Practice is open only to graduate students who have completed considerable work in a degree program, who are in good standing, and who have demonstrated ability to profit from professional practice experience. 
  • 498a90 and 598a90-  For graduate students in their final semester or in a 9-12 month internship, who have completed all course work, and whose culminating experience includes an internship related to licensure/accreditation, a full-time academic load consists of at least 1 hour of 498A90. The 498A90 may be desirable to students who need to maintain full-time enrollment for financial aid status. Students who desire the “1 hour equals full time” designation must be approved for that designation by their graduate coordinator. 
• The preferred title for such courses is: "Professional Practice" or Professional Practice followed by a descriptive title, e.g. "Professional Practice: Internship in Accounting." Decimalization of Professional Practices courses is permitted when a department or school has more than one valid fieldwork offering.
• One hour of credit implies a minimum of 40 hours of on-the-job, supervised work experience.
• Professional Practice course proposals must be submitted using the new/revised course proposal form. 

Temporary Courses and Workshops

These courses are approved for a time period not to exceed one year. If a unit wants to continue to offer the course after a year they should submit a new course proposal. The approval process for a new temporary course is to submit the online proposal form for Temporary Courses and Workshops and it will be routed to Department Chair/School Director and the UCC Executive Secretary or the Graduate School Director for approval.

• Temporary Courses and Workshops may not be required in the curricular or graduation requirements of majors, minors, or sequences. Temporary courses may not be used for Independent Study.
• Temporary courses are experimental courses designed to take advantage of the skills of a faculty member who will be at the University for a limited time period, or courses responding to particular short-term trends and interests of students and faculty. Temporary courses should not be active longer than one year and are designated by the numbers 189, 289, 389, 489 or 589. If a department/school wants to make a temporary course permanent, a new course proposal must be submitted. In the new course proposal include "Formerly ABC 289a03" in the course description and explain that the new course is the permanent course for the temporary course "289a03" in the proposal. This will prompt the Registrar's Office to build the new course with the same Course ID in our student information system so students who may have previously completed the temporary course (289a03) will get a Repeat message if they attempt to enroll in the new course.  
• Workshop courses: Intensive and applied work on special problems in one or more subject areas for one to six credit hours. Workshop opportunities are provided on special problems not covered in any regular University courses. A workshop differs from a regular course in that it offers not only a solid theoretical component but has a practical "hands-on" character and offers intensive work in a given area of knowledge. Courses proposed for workshops should be designed for a specific clientele and intended to provide an updating of skills and knowledge needed by that clientele, and should offer a combination of material and/or approaches not ordinarily found in existing courses at the University. Workshops for credit may be either for degree credit in the department/school offering the workshop or in another department/school (193, 293, 393, 493) or not for graduate degree credit in any department/school (429).

Independent Research for the Master's Thesis - 1-6 Semester Hours (499 and 499a90)

• A student electing the thesis option must take from four to six hours of 499. While registration beyond six hours may be permitted for the convenience of the student, he or she may not count more than a total of six hours of 499 among the hours required for the master's degree. Multiple enrollments allowed up to a maximum of 6 credit hours. 
• For graduate students in their final semester who have completed all course work and whose culminating experience includes a thesis, a full-time academic load would consist of at least 1 hour of 499A90. The 499A90 may be appropriate for students who need to maintain full-time enrollment for financial aid status. Students who desire the "1 hour equals full time" designation must be approved for that designation by their graduate coordinator. 

Doctoral Research - 1-15 Semester Hours

• Research involving the gathering of data to form the basis of the doctoral dissertation. For further information refer to the appropriate degree in the section on Programs of Study and Degrees Granted. Multiple enrollments allowed.
• For doctoral students in their final semester who have completed all course work and whose culminating experience includes a dissertation, a full-time academic load would consist of at least 1 hour of 599A90. The 599A90 may be appropriate for students who need to maintain full-time enrollment for financial aid status. Students who desire the "1 hour equals full time" designation must be approved for that designation by their graduate coordinator.

Study Abroad Course IDS 430 Graduate Study Abroad - 1-16 Semester Hours 

Coursework taken outside the United States. Students should discuss study-abroad opportunities with their Graduate Advisor during the first semester in their program. Students who participate through Illinois State University’s Study Abroad will be evaluated for ISU graduation requirements, such as residency hours. Multiple enrollments allowed. May not be taken P/NP. Prerequisite: Consult with an advisor in International Studies for additional information.

Course Instruction Modality

Refer to the Office of the Registrar's website for instruction modality definitions. 

Course Scheduling Guidelines 

Refer to the Office of the Registrar's website for course scheduling guidelines, including standard time blocks. 

Course Levels

100-199 Lower-division undergraduate courses, primarily for freshmen and sophomores. As a minimum, in this 100-level course, a student can be expected to:

• gain a basic knowledge of this topic
• acquire basic skills in the topic
• learn fundamental principles and theories of the topic
• learn how fundamental principles and theories in the topic are applied
• learn the general methods of analysis and problem-solving in the topic
• learn how to communicate ideas about the topic clearly and effectively
• learn how to develop creative and expressive capacities in the topic
• learn how to examine basic values in the topic
• develop breadth in the topic

200-299 Upper-division undergraduate courses, primarily for juniors and seniors. A student should normally have completed 45 semester hours before enrolling in a course at this level. As a minimum, in this 200-level course, a student can be expected to:

• use basic knowledge and skills in the field of study
• gain specialized knowledge in the field of study
• acquire specialized skills in the field of study
• learn specialized principles and theories in the field of study
• learn specialized methods of analysis and problem-solving in the field of study
• develop creative and expressive capacities in the field of study
• examine basic values in the field of study
• receive general training to meet career objectives

300-399 Advanced undergraduate courses, open to juniors, seniors. A student normally should have completed at least 75 semester hours before enrolling in a course at this level. As a minimum, in this 300-level course, a student can be expected to:

• use specialized knowledge and skills in the field of study
• acquire "state-of-the-art" knowledge and skills in the field of study
• apply principles and theories in the field of study
• employ methods of analysis and problem-solving in the field of study
• communicate ideas about the field of study
• clearly and effectively demonstrate creative and expressive capacities in the field of study
• receive specialized training to meet career objectives
• practice career-related skills in the appropriate settings

Dual credit courses are those 300 level courses in which a graduate student can receive graduate credit. These types of courses are no longer being approved. Existing 300-level courses offered for dual-credit will continue to be offered for graduate students (at the 300-level). Once an existing 300-level dual credit course is revised, both a 300 and 400 level course should be created. The 300-level course will go through UCC and the 400 level course will go through the GCC.

400-499 Graduate courses

500-599 Courses limited to advanced graduate students in terminal degree programs such as the M.F.A., Au.D., DNP, Ed.D., and Ph.D.

Bachelor of Science - Science, Mathematics, and/or Technology (BS-SMT) Course Approval Process

Students with a B.S. must have one additional science, mathematics, statistics, and/or technology (SMT) course (beyond the General Education requirements) which must meet three criteria: (a) courses must be three semester hours or greater; (b) courses must list specific prerequisites from mathematics, or natural science, or approved natural science alternative courses, or courses in the quantitative reasoning category; and (c) course content must be mathematical, scientific, and/or technological, and must constitute a significant extension of the courses that count as prerequisites.

To submit an existing course for consideration as an approved BS-SMT course, submit a Course Revision Proposal in the Curriculum Forms System. For a new course, the BS-SMT review should be requested at the same time the New Course Proposal is submitted. For both proposal forms, Be sure to check "Yes" to the question on the proposal form regarding the BS-SMT graduation requirement and include in the Comments section on how the course meets the BS-SMT criteria. BS-SMT course requests will be reviewed by the Council on General Education (CGE) for approval.

AMALI Graduation Requirements - cultures and traditions of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America or Indigenous Peoples of the World

Students must complete at least one 3 credit hour course in 'AMALI' (that is, cultures and traditions of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America or Indigenous Peoples of the World), which must meet the following criteria: (a) the course focuses primarily upon facets of specific cultures from these regions or these cultures in general (a minimum of 75% of the course content must deal directly with the culture(s) from these regions); (b) exploration of the culture(s) is developed in a comparative perspective which helps the student understand and appreciate differences between culture(s) under consideration and American culture; and (c) the course includes exposure to primary writings and artifacts from the culture(s).

To submit an existing course for consideration as an approved AMALI course, submit a Course Revision Proposal in the Curriculum Forms System. For a new course, the AMALI review should be requested at the same time the New Course Proposal is submitted. For both proposal forms, be sure to check "Yes" to the question on the proposal form regarding the AMALI graduation requirement and include a rationale in the comments section on how the course meets the AMALI criteria. AMALI course requests will be reviewed by an AMALI panel of experts who will review and grant/deny the AMALI designation.

Learning Outcomes

AMALI designated courses should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to accomplish the following learning outcomes:

1. Develop cultural, historical and geographic knowledge of AMALI areas of the world.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural imagination, empathy, personal and social responsibility in AMALI context.
3. Analyze existing knowledge, research, and/or perspectives in AMALI context.
4. Develop analytical skills in AMALI context.
5. Demonstrate textual comprehension in AMALI context.
6. Report information effectively, take perspective, and make informed judgments in a variety of genres, contexts, and disciplines in AMALI context.

IDEAS: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in U.S. Society Graduation Requirement

In Fall 2021 the Academic Senate approved a new graduation requirement starting fall 2023 for all incoming first time in college students. Each student must complete at least one 3 credit hour course in “IDEAS.” These are courses designed to recognize the benefits and challenges of living in a diverse society and to address the influence of power among social groups within the United States.

IDEAS designated courses may count both towards this graduation requirement and general education requirements; however, IDEAS courses cannot count towards both the IDEAS graduation requirement and the AMALI graduation requirement.

Ways Students May Satisfy the IDEAS Graduation Requirement 

Students can satisfy the IDEAS graduation requirement in three ways:

1. Complete an IDEAS-approved course at Illinois State University.
2. Complete an approved Illinois Articulation Initiative General Education Core Curriculum "D" designated course.
3. Complete a baccalaureate-oriented associates degree (A.A. or A.S.) at an Illinois community college.

Learning Outcomes

Courses with an IDEAS designation should address some significant aspects of U.S. society as their central focus. A minimum of 75% of the course content must deal directly with topics that will meet the learning outcomes.

IDEAS designated courses should be designed to facilitate the students’ ability to accomplish the following learning objectives:

1. Analyze the influence of power among social groups in the United States. Discuss how markers of difference (e.g., class, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, language) interact in the formation, experiences, and transformations of individual actors and complex group.
2. Identify the strengths and contributions of diverse groups within the U.S.
3. Analyze the sources of preconceptions and bias influencing the experiences of diverse social groups in the U.S.
4. Articulate the historical, social, and economics contexts that shape inequality, marginalization, and exclusion within U.S. society.
5. Reflect on one’s own cultural identity, beliefs, biases, and privilege within dynamic socio-historical contexts.
6. Examine how individuals from diverse groups express their identities and shape society in the U.S. through the arts, sciences, cultural practices, political and civic engagement, etc.

Course submissions should list and describe which of the IDEAS learning outcomes are addressed in the course. Not all learning outcomes must be addressed. Sample learning outcomes descriptions can be found on the Sample Alignment Table.

How to Submit an Existing or New Course for the IDEAS Designation

• To submit an existing course for consideration as an approved IDEAS course, submit a Course Revision Proposal in the Curriculum Forms System.
• For a new course, the IDEAS review should be requested at the same time the New Course Proposal is submitted.
• For both proposal forms, be sure to check "Yes" to the question on the proposal form regarding the IDEAS graduation requirement and include a rationale in the comments section on how the course meets the IDEAS learning outcomes.
• IDEAS course requests will be reviewed by an IDEAS panel of experts who will review and then approve/deny the IDEAS designation requests. The Panel will focus their review on ensuring that syllabi include the IDEAS graduation requirement statement, the syllabi include alignment to 1 or more of the six IDEAS learning outcomes, and that 75% of the course content directly connects to IDEAS learning outcomes. The approval of courses will also be in alignment with the intent of the IDEAS graduation designation itself, in so far that the course title and/or catalog description somehow convey or represent the IDEAS learning outcomes. Note: Courses that are IAI articulated will also be reviewed based on the IAI category descriptors and their alignment with IDEAS learning outcomes.
• Once approved, IDEAS courses will be reviewed every 5 years to maintain their designation.

 

Variable-Hour Courses/Repeat Policy

Variable-hour courses are those courses that have a range of possible credit hour options. Variable credit courses are repeatable for credit up to the number of hours shown in the catalog. The student will be graded each time they take the course. These courses do not fall under the "Repeat Policy" where a student can retake a course for a better grade.

For example, the University-wide listing of course numbers includes professional practice courses (198, 298, 398) that may be used by any department or school that wishes to offer a professional practice experience for their students. These courses are established for variable credit hours (1-16). After the course has gone through the curricular process (a proposal approved by the department chair/school director, Director of Professional Practice and UCC Executive Secretary) the department will establish the range of credit hours for that particular semester, as long as it does not go over the range of hours for which the course was initially approved. All versions of the x98 courses (including any decimalizations) can be established with variable hours so that the department or school has control over the number of hours for which a student enrolls in a given semester. (See professional practice: 198, 298, 398 under Definitions of Course Formats.)

Another type of variable credit course is STT 399 Student Teaching. To use this course, a department or school does not send through a proposal, they request a decimalization of STT 399 from the University Curriculum Committee Secretary and supply a syllabus (See "Decimalized Courses" under Definition of Course Formats). Students will register for the number of hours that the department or school has established within the range for student teaching which is 1-16 hours.

Limits of Required Hours

Undergraduate programs are governed by Policy 2.1.9, Baccalaureate Degree Programs, which sets certain limits on what may be required. Please refer to the section "Requirements and Limitations for Degree Programs, Majors, Minors, and Semester Hours Mandated by a Major Department" in Policy 2.1.9 for information on hour limits and other program requirements.