The standard course description includes a variety of abbreviations or symbols indicating essential information. The following is a sample course description with the individual abbreviations and symbols explained in the order in which they appear in that description.
BIO 202. General Biology: Cellular and Molecular. 3 credits. FA, SP, SU
Introduces the conceptual bases of biology and presents the molecular and cellular aspects of metabolism, genetics, and other selected systems. P: One year of college or high school chemistry of sufficient depth and rigor to enable the student to participate in the study of the molecular aspects of biology; Understanding Natural Science; CHM 105 with a grade of B- or better, or CHM 203 with a grade of C-or better; or IC.
| Symbol | Definition |
|---|---|
| BIO | Department (subject or discipline) abbreviation. Standard three-letter symbols are used throughout the University to identify the subject fields. |
| 202 | Course number. If a course has been renumbered, the old course number appears in parentheses following the new number. |
| General Biology: Cellular and Molecular | Course Title |
| 3 credits | Credit value of the course in terms of number of semester hours of credit. |
| FA, SP, SU | Term offered. FA indicates fall semester; SP indicates spring semester; SU indicates summer semester. |
| W | Indicates winter session. |
| AY | Alternate year, indicating that the course will be offered every other year. |
| SU (OD) | Indicates the course is also offered in the summer term on demand. |
| ENY, ONY | Indicate that course is offered in term shown of even-numbered years (ENY) or odd-numbered years (ONY). |
| 3R, 3L | Class structure. R, L, S, C, D, Q indicate recitation lecture, laboratory, studio, conference, discussion, quiz. Hence, 3R, 3L indicates three hours of lecture-recitation and three hours of laboratory per week. For courses consisting of lecture-recitation periods only, the number of class hours per week, unless indicated otherwise, is the same as the credit value of the course and is not specified in the course description. |
| P | Prerequisite: the preliminary requirement that must be met before the course can be taken. When prerequisites are set forth in the introductory department statements preceding the course listings, they apply as indicated even though not repeated with the individual course descriptions. |
| CO | Corequisite: a requirement, usually another course, that must be completed in the same term. |
| DC, IC | DC, department consent, and IC, instructor consent, signify that a student must have the permission of the department or instructor in addition to or in lieu of other course prerequisites. |
NOTE: Not all of the foregoing information may be noted in any individual course.