Course Numbers
The four-digit numbering system is interpreted as follows: the first digit indicates the level of the course; the second digit is the number of credits available; the third and fourth digits are chosen by the department offering the course. The first (level) digit follows this pattern: 1 and 2 indicate freshman and sophomore year courses, 3 and 4 are advanced courses, 5 shows that the course is for seniors or graduate students and courses numbered 6 and above are graduate-level courses. A "V" in place of the second (credit) digit indicates a course in which credits may be arranged at the beginning of each semester for a group of students or an individual student on a variable system at the time of registration by permission of the instructor.
The numbers 5301-5310 are reserved for undergraduate courses taken for graduate credit. Appropriate additional work is assigned to the graduate student.
Occasionally, an advanced undergraduate is allowed to take a graduate course (6000 or above). Permission of the instructor and the appropriate graduate dean is required. If the student agrees to fulfill all graduate requirements of the course, the official course number stands. However, the student may petition to satisfy a lesser set of course requirements in which case the number 5300 is assigned to indicate the course was completed at the undergraduate level.