Course Description Information

SUU’s Course Numbering System

Each course offered at Southern Utah University is assigned a unique number, indicating what type of course it is and what credits may be earned in the course. Throughout this catalog, you will find courses numbered as follows:

Understanding Catalog Terminology

The course title is followed by the number of credit hours for the course.

Some courses carry variable credit. These are specified by either a hyphen or slash. Examples: a theatre arts listing (1-3) indicates that an amount of credit between 1 and 3 hours are available. A chemistry seminar listing (2/4/6) indicates that the course can be taken for 2, 4, or 6 hours credit. Variable laboratory hours are similarly listed.

Special credit is available through most departments for work completed through readings and conferences (4830, 6830), workshops or institutes (2920, 4920, and 6920) cooperative education (2840, 4840, and 6840) and 4890/5890/6890 internship sponsored by SUU. Consult the department chair for more information on these programs.

NOTE: TBA denotes TO BE ARRANGED. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the course instructor.

Useful Definitions

The academic terms defined below are used throughout this catalog.

Area of Specialization (Education): 18 semester hour minimum in a regent approved discipline as approved by the Utah State Office of Education

Course: A subject, or an instructional subdivision of a subject, offered through a single semester.

Credit: Indicates one semester credit hour; representing approximately one hour of the student’s time each week in attendance in a class, lecture or seminar per semester. (Could require up to three hours effort per week.)

Composite teaching major: 47 semester hour minimum in a field approved by the Utah State Office of Education.

Composite major: 52 semester hour minimum in a discipline; no minor is required.

Curriculum: An organized program of study arranged to provide a sequence of professional education.

Discipline: A branch of learning or field of study such as history, chemistry or accounting.

Electives: Courses that students may choose to take, as contrasted with required courses.

Emphasis/Concentration: 12 semester hour minimum within the major.

Major: 36 semester hour minimum in a regent approved discipline that is nationally classified by the U.S. Department of Education.

Major (Education): 36 semester hour minimum in a regent approved discipline that is nationally classified by the U.S. Department of Education and is approved by the Utah State Office of Education.

Minor: 16 semester hour minimum in a regent approved discipline.

Option: A choice within a specialization as defined by a department.

Prerequisite: A course or other education requirement that must be completed prior to another course or before proceeding to more advanced study.

Semester: Approximately one-third of the academic year, either fall, spring or summer.

Seminar: A small group of advanced students studying a subject under a faculty member’s supervision.

Track: A focus within a graduate program.