Course Numbering System

100 Level - Introductory

These courses are broad survey or introduction to a discipline. They may have prerequisites if they are sequential courses.

Assumptions: Students demonstrate appropriate reading, writing, and mathematical skills to comprehend fundamental college-level materials.

Introduce students to terms, concepts, techniques, scholarly research, and ways of thinking/learning within the discipline, typically in the context of a relatively broad survey of topics.
Focus on incorporating, recalling, and understanding basic information and connections among facts and concepts.
Include assessment/evaluation tools that place emphasis on expected outcomes within the discipline.
Practice techniques necessary for the specific discipline.
Recognize and create meaningful categories of terms and concepts from materials presented in the course.
Focus on writing abilities that include but are not limited to composing definitions, paragraphs, or essays.
Practice fundamental reading, comprehension, and writing skills.
Introduce critical thinking skills.

200 Level - Intermediate

These courses have greater emphasis on understanding and making connections to terms and concepts within a discipline. They may have prerequisites.

Assumptions: Students are familiar with expository, narrative, and persuasive writing. Students understand qualitative and quantitative research information in their area of study.

Extend understanding of terms and concepts within the discipline, although typically within a more specifically defined topic.
Include assessment/evaluation tools that place emphasis on expected outcomes within the discipline.
Develop the ability to integrate terms and concepts from throughout the discipline.
Apply analytical and communication skills demonstrated in other courses.
Connect relationships among terms and concepts within the discipline.
Develop written and oral communication skills
Apply college-level reading and writing skills.
Employ critical thinking skills.

300 Level - Upper Division

These are advanced courses that provide depth of study in a specialized topic or practicum experiences. They often require prerequisites and demonstrated readiness for advanced level of study.

Assumptions: Students are able to maintain a rigorous workload that includes, but is not limited to research, writing essays, projects, and meeting deadlines.

Utilize the use of specialized terms, concepts, techniques, and approaches which pertain to more specifically defined topics within a discipline.
Examine a wide variety of assessment and/or evaluation tools requiring outside sources of information to create divergent outcomes.
Construct relationships across multiple concepts for students to develop a deeper understanding of the discipline.
Identify independent values, biases, viewpoints, and theories within the discipline.
Assume the responsibility for seeking instructional assistance, work independently and cooperatively, while practicing time management skills for all course work.
Take part in self and peer evaluation for factual and/or conceptual knowledge within the discipline.
Apply critical thinking skills, concepts, theories, and cause and effect relationships for a more integrated knowledge base specific to the discipline.
Discern the use of appropriate independent sources of research information.
Compose written work and oral presentations appropriate to the discipline.

400 Level - Upper Division

These are highly specialized courses, independent study, capstone seminars, capstone practicum experiences, and/or internships. Prerequisites demonstrate level of readiness, the ability to work independently, and/or advancement within the major are required for this advanced level work.

Assumptions: Students have acquired a substantial amount of knowledge in their area of study. Students produce an extensive amount of work that include, but not limited to essays, portfolios, and oral presentations.

Develop and analyze the most current terms, concepts, theories, techniques, and approaches which shape the discipline.
Formulate diverse responses and/or products that are created with minimal guidance from the instructor.
Appraise innovative techniques and approaches that respect diverse assignments and/or projects.
Constructively analyze, synthesize, and critique the use of scholarship in the discipline.
Create independent application of writing assignments, oral presentations, and/or performances in the standards of the discipline.
Work independently towards the solution of problems and creation of new outcomes.
Construct independent evaluation of problems, solutions, and product creation that is original to the discipline.
Combine a wide variety of assessment and/or evaluation tools requiring primary and secondary resources research information to create divergent outcomes.