Special Guidelines for Submission of Courses Numbered X9XX:

In order to evaluate whether the course should be graded and the number of credit hours, the University Curriculum Committee requires a sample syllabus for independent studies, practicum courses, internships, readings, and special topics. The sample syllabus should contain all the components listed in the syllabus outline. Although it is not necessary to provide a daily/weekly schedule for readings, the sample syllabus should include a listing of sources, examples of sources, or other set of descriptors. If the courses are variable credit, the outline should indicate the volume of work associated with each credit.

Explanation of types of instruction associated with specific numbers:

1) Independent Study: (Standard Course Number: X90X)

Specialized project or research undertaken by one or a few advanced undergraduate or graduate students under the guidance of a professor.

Normal grading is S/U

2) Practicum: (Standard Course Number: X91X)

Supervised practical application of previously learned theory.

3) Internship: (Standard Course Number: X92X)

A training period in supervised actual service, usually to a profession.

Note: The internship generally happens in the senior year, whereas a practicum may occur at an earlier point in the educational experience. The practicum typically carries fewer credit hours than the internship.

4) Special Problems: (Standard Course Number: X93X)

The Special Problem is similar to the specialized project or research undertaken by one or a few advanced undergraduate or graduate students under the guidance of a professor. In this case, the grading is normal grading. (A,B,C, D, F)

5) Seminar (Standard Course Number: X95X)

At the Graduate level, this number is reserved for the experience in which graduate students present the outcomes of their thesis work. S/U grading is required by the Graduate School.

6) Readings: (Standard Course Number: X96X)

One or more students following a list of reading and reporting to the professor or a discussion group on a regular basis. Typically, the readings course is a collection of books and articles that will be assigned to an individual or a small group of students for discussion with the faculty member and evaluated by examinations or research papers.

7) Special Topics: (Standard Course Number: X97X)

Classes to be taught on a temporary or experimental basis. In some colleges/schools, this course would be taught in the form of a seminar. If the class is to be taught on a continuing basis, the department should consider offering it as a permanent regular course and submit the appropriate paperwork through the University Curriculum Committee.

The justification should include the reason why the course is being offered in a special topics format rather than as a permanent course. It should also include an explanation why the material in the special topics course is not being covered in another course.