How to Read a Course Description
Courses listed in this section describe all courses approved for offering by the University of Arkansas. The word “course” refers to a unit of academic instruction, while the word “class” refers to a course scheduled during a semester or summer session with a certain number of prescribed meetings each week. Successful completion of a class usually earns a specified number of semester hours of credit toward a degree.
The Schedule of Classes lists classes available in a specific semester, along with the instructor of record, time and place the class is being held.
Course Description Explanations
A course listing comprises the following elements, in order:
Course Prefix: This alpha descriptor is the first identifying part of a course. This four-letter code represents the course prefix name. Usually the course prefix will be the same as the department offering the course, but occasionally the prefix is one of many different courses offered in a single department. For example, ARAB refers to Arabic courses, which are offered through the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures; HIST refers to History courses.
Course Number: Each course is designated by a four-digit number. The first digit identifies the level of the course: 1, freshman level; 2, sophomore level; 3 and 4, junior-senior level; 5, 6, and 7, graduate level. Any exceptions to this practice are stated in the course descriptions.
Students desiring admission to courses offered at levels beyond their standing should request the instructor’s permission to enroll. (For definitions of academic level see Student Classification.)
The second and third digits of the number identify the course within the department that offers it.
The fourth digit identifies the semester-hour value of the course. Credit for certain courses does not count toward some degrees.
Normally, courses meet once each week for 50 minutes for each hour of course credit. Laboratory, drill and other kinds of activity courses typically meet for two 50-minute periods per week for each hour of credit.
The letter ‘V’ is used in place of the last digit for those courses in which credit is variable. The minimum and maximum credit hours possible are given in parentheses after the course title.
The letter ‘X’ is used in place of the last digit for those courses in which fixed credit is ten or more hours.
The first three digits of the number are the same for corequisite courses (for example, a lecture and the corequisite lab or drill).
Course Suffix: A suffix to the course number further identifies the specific type of instruction:
- C - Drill or Lab Component
- L - Laboratory
- H - Honors Course
- M - Honors Laboratory
A course with no suffix is a typical lecture course (not an honors course).
Course Title: The title of the course is printed in bold letters.
Course Semester Offering: Course descriptions include a notation of the semester in which the course is typically offered. Consult the Schedule of Classes to verify that a course is being offered for a given term.
Course Description: A brief description of the course content and its major emphasis are stated. If the course is cross-listed (also offered under another subject) a statement to that effect will be included in the description. Likewise, if the course is equivalent to another course (such as an honors and non-honors offering) a statement to that effect will also be included. If the course is eligible to be repeated for degree credit more than once, a statement will appear to indicate the total hours or times a course may be repeated. If no repeat statement is listed, the course may be used for degree credit only once.
Requisites: Requisites are requirements that must be fulfilled either before a course may be taken or at the same time a course is taken. It is the student's responsibility to make sure the proper prerequisites have been completed before enrolling in any class. Prerequisites are courses or requirements that must be completed prior to enrolling in a certain course. Courses may have prerequisites from inside and outside the department. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure he/she has completed the proper prerequisites before enrolling in any class. Courses listed as corequisite are to be taken in the same semester as the course desired.
A course listed as a pre- or corequisite to another course means that it must be taken during the same semester as that course, unless it has been completed in a previous term.
Students may not enroll in courses for which they do not have the necessary requisites. Students who are in doubt concerning their eligibility to enroll in specific courses should consult with their academic adviser. Students may be dropped from courses for which they do not have the necessary requisites.
