Course Information

Numbering

Each course bears a distinguishing number for identification and indication of its academic level. The numbering system is as follows:

0-99: These courses are non-credit courses, primarily for continuing education students. 

100-199: Lower-division undergraduate courses, primarily for freshmen and sophomores.

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

300-399: Advanced undergraduate courses. Open to juniors, seniors, and sometimes graduate students. A student normally should have completed at least 75 semester hours before enrolling in a course at this level.

400-499: Graduate courses. Courses at this level are for graduate students. With approval from the instructor, the department chair/school director, and the Graduate School, advanced undergraduates may be permitted to enroll in 400-level courses for undergraduate credit only. Those credits will not apply to a graduate degree. Details are on the standard override form.

Seniors seeking to enroll in 400-level courses for graduate credit prior to graduation must first apply and be provisionally admitted to a graduate degree program at Illinois State. Additional rules and restrictions apply. See instructions for “Seniors Taking Graduate Courses for Graduate Credit” in the Admission to Master’s Programs section of the Graduate Catalog.

500-599: Courses limited to advanced graduate or doctoral students.

Course Descriptions

The Course Finder website provides the following information for each course: department/school/subject abbreviation, course number (three or five digits preceding the title); course title; and credit value in semester hours. Following the above information, a brief description of the course, any prerequisites, restrictions on enrollment, and any special considerations are noted. A course prerequisite is knowledge or experience a student is required or recommended to have prior to enrolling in a course.

Terms Used In Course Descriptions

Also offered as: (cross-listed course) means that the specified courses are identical and are thus considered interchangeable in meeting all requirements. Credit can only be earned in one of the specified courses.

Concurrent registration required: (or recommended) means that concurrent registration in two courses is required (or recommended).

Consent of the department advisor:  The advisor(s) of the department offering the course must give consent before a student may register for the course.

Consent of the department chair: The chairperson of the department offering the course must give consent before a student may register for the course.

Consent of the instructor: The course instructor must give consent before a student may register for the course.

Consent of the school director: The director of the school offering the course must give consent before a student may register for the course.

Formerly offered as: indicates a course previously offered under a different number or title. The course is interchangeable with the previous course number or title.

Includes clinical experience: indicates that certain Clinical Experiences in the student’s field are required in the course.

Junior standing: indicates that a student must be a Junior (60+)  For registration purposes we allow hours in progress at Illinois State to count towards the 60 credit hours to satisfy prerequisites.

Materials Fee: indicates a fee will be charged for course materials (exceptions can apply).

Multiple enrollments allowed: indicates that a course may be taken for credit more than once if different content is planned; however, there may be a maximum amount of credit specified for the course.

Not for credit if had: (course) means that content overlap exists between the specified courses and that students should not be able to count both toward graduation. Such courses are not, however, considered interchangeable in meeting all requirements.

Not for credit major/minor: means that the credit from this course may not be applied to the major or minor program requirements.

Variable credit courses: are those courses leading to differing number of credit hours. For example: Independent Studies (course number 287) have variable credit hours from 1-6. A Student should plan with the supervising faculty the number of hours to be sought in a variable credit course.