Course Information

Click on a link to be taken to the entry below.

Curriculum Entries

Course Descriptions

BIOL¹ 101² Biology Survey I³ (COM)⁴ … … … … … 3⁵
Study of the nature, diversity, and classification of life; ecology; cells and cell cycles, Mendelian and modern Genetics. Intended for those not majoring in Biology. Duplicate credit for 101 and 151 not allowed.⁶

1. Course prefix.
2. Course number.
3. Name of the course.
4. Common Course within the Regental System.
5. Number of credits assigned to the course. One credit is usually interpreted as one hour of class work per week or as two to four hours of lab work per week.
6. A brief description of the course. This section will also include other information affecting your enrollment in the course. A course description might include, for instance: “P, MATH 102.” This means that MATH 102 is a prerequisite and must be taken before enrollment in this course. Other information included in various course descriptions would be: “Alternate years,” “Not open to majors,” “May be repeated for a total of six credits,” etc.

Course Numbering

Graduate Courses
500-599 Entry level graduate (may be dual listed with a 400 level undergraduate course and may include limited enrollment by undergraduates)
600-699 Graduate level (undergraduate enrollment only by exception) Also open to senior students for graduate credit under the following conditions: Within 15 credits of completing Bachelor’s degree; Have an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher, or a Junior-Senior grade point average of 3.0 or higher; Enroll for no more than 18 credits (9 credits during Summer Term); The course or courses are not required for the Bachelor’s degree.
700-799 Graduate level (graduate students only)
800-899 Doctoral and post-doctoral level (doctoral and post-doctoral students only)

Experimental Courses
A course at the 100-600 levels ending in 99 is experimental and may be offered no more than twice within two academic years before it must be submitted as a New Course Request.

Colleges, Departments & Program Abbreviations

Miscellaneous Abbreviations

Course Types/Instructional Methods

Clinical Experience
Students participate in client and client related services that are an integral part of an educational program with instruction occurs in or outside an institutional setting that involves work with clients who receive professional services from students serving under direct or indirect supervision by a faculty member and/or an approved member of the agency staff.

Clinical Laboratory
The course takes place in a clinical laboratory setting. This includes practice labs, hospitals, or other agencies. Students apply methods and principles of a clinical discipline. Course size varies depending upon accreditation standards, clinical space limitations, level of offering, availability of client experiences, the nature of the clients, and equipment limitations. Faculty members control the assignments and maintain direct and close supervision of the students.

Competency-Based/Self-Paced Study
Students proceed through a course of study at their own rate, or as directed often assisted by computer or other technology. Mastery is based on achieving competencies and benchmarks, rather than attaining a schedule of assignments. An instructor monitors student progress. May be supplemented by individual or group tutorial sessions. Includes self-paced Internet courses. Instructional Method: B.

Design/Research
Courses focusing on design research with a plan of study negotiated between the faculty member and the students (excluding thesis or dissertation). The plan of study is negotiated by the faculty member and the students with contact between the two expected to be both extensive and intensive. Programs may use the course to meet research/design requirement for a degree where research/research problems are included as long as the course is not theoretical in nature.

Discussion/Recitation
A course, or a section of a larger course, designed for group discussion or student recitation.

Graduate Thesis
A formal treatise presenting the results of study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of an advanced degree (Masters, Specialists, and Doctoral degree programs).  The process requires intensive interaction between the candidate and the thesis director, and includes activities that are in excess of the number of credit hours in the student’s plan of study or the maximum applicable to the degree pursued.

Independent Study
Students complete individualized plans of study (i.e., directed studies, special projects, mentored, special problems, etc.) negotiated between a faculty member and a student.

Internship/Practicum
Applied, monitored and supervised, field-based learning experience for which the student may or may not be paid (field work/experience, supervision courses, student teaching, cooperative education).  Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and/or directed plan of study where the section size varies depending on the level of supervision or monitoring provided by the instructor for the of small groups involved.

Laboratory
Courses meeting in a defined physical setting (i.e., laboratory) for the purpose of the application of methods and principles of a discipline.

Lecture
Faculty members give oral presentations of facts, principles, context, or interpretation. Instruction takes place in a traditional classroom setting.

Modified Physical Education Activity
Similar structure employed for Physical Education Activity type courses but enrollments are limited to accommodate students with physical disabilities.

Music Ensemble, Large
Large group musical performance courses, with a group of more than 10 performers.

Music Ensemble, Small
Intended for small musical groups, either instrumental or vocal in nature.

Physical Education Activity
A course devoted to participation in or the performance of some form of physical activity. Knowledge associated with the proper performance of the activity is presented.

Private Instruction
Course involves individual instruction (i.e., one-to-one demonstration, performance critique, music, fine arts or performing arts, flight instruction, etc.).

Seminar
A highly focused and topical course employing a format that includes student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practices, problems, or research.

Small Group
Because of known and ongoing constraints, section size is restricted to 9 or fewer students. Such constraints are physical in nature; they tie to a limited number of work stations, specimens, necessary pieces of equipment, etc.

Special Topics
Course devoted to a particular issue in a specified field where the course content is not wholly included in the regular curriculum. In some instances guest artists or experts may serve as the primary instructor of record for the course.

Studio Course
Course content compels significant one-to-one student/instructor interaction; the course is very hands- on with extensive student engagement.

Thesis/Research Sustaining
Zero credit hour course used solely to track students who are not currently working with faculty on thesis or research activities.  Institutions may require students to register under this instructional method to remain active degree candidates.

Tracking Courses
Zero credit hour course used primarily for tracking student enrollment in a given degree program.

Undergraduate Thesis
A formal treatise presenting the results of study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an undergraduate degree.  The process requires extensive and intensive one- on-one interaction between the candidate and professor with more limited interaction between and among the candidate and the other members of the committee.

Workshop
Special sessions in specific topic areas that may include lectures, conferences, committee work, and group activity. Workshops may vary in time range but traditionally 45 hours of work is required for each hour of credit.

Other Important Definitions

Common Course Numbering
The South Dakota Regental institutions utilize common course numbering, meaning that a course designated as a common course (COM) is automatically transferable between institutions. Any courses on the following pages without the COM designation are considered to be unique to SDSU.

Crosslisted Courses
A crosslisted course is a course which carries more than one course prefix (i.e., HIST, POLS, GEOG) with credit being offered under any one of the listed prefixes at the same time. Students choose to take the course under the prefix that is more beneficial to their course of study. All students meet at the same time in the same place, with the same instructor(s). A crosslisted course may also be multi-numbered.

Dual Numbered Courses
A multiple-numbered course is a single course specifically designed for simultaneous delivery at two or more levels with the two or more numbers taught simultaneously. In some instances, the course may be offered for credit at different levels (i.e., courses may be offered for upper/lower division credit or for undergraduate/graduate credit). The dual-numbered course may also be crosslisted.

x9x Common Course Descriptions

The following middle digit 9 course numbering scheme is used in the South Dakota public university system. These courses may have multiple sections. A section’s title may or may not reflect the material covered in that section. See the academic department for section information, e.g., description, prerequisites such as instructor or department consent, GPA required, junior or senior standing, etc.

*As appropriate, an S or D should be appended to a course number to distinguish between courses for specialist or doctoral degree seekers.

Definitions:

x90 Seminar
A highly focused and topical course. The format includes student presentations and discussions of reports based on literature, practices, problems, and research. A seminar may occur over electronic media such as the Internet and are at the upper division or graduate levels. Enrollment is generally limited to fewer than 20 students. Instructional method: Seminar.

x91 Independent Study
Includes Directed Study, Problems, Readings, Directed Readings, Special Problems, and Special Projects. Students complete individualized plans of study including significant one-on-one student/teacher involvement. The faculty member and students negotiate the details of the study plans. Enrollments are usually three or fewer students. Meetings depend upon the requirements of the topic. Instructional method: Independent Study.

x92 Topics
Includes Current Topics, Advanced Topics, and Special Topics. A course devoted to a particular issue in a specified field. Course content is not wholly included in the regular curriculum. Guest artists experts may serve as instructors. Enrollments are usually 10 or fewer students with significant one-on-one student/teacher involvement. Instructional Method: Special Topics.

x93 Workshop
Special, intense sessions in specific topic areas. Approximately 45 hours of work are required for each hour of credit. Workshops may vary in time range but typically use a compressed time-period for delivery. They may include lectures, conferences, committee work, and group activity.. Instructional method: Workshop.

x94 Internship
Applied, monitored, and supervised, field-based learning experience for which the student may (or may not) receive payment. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and or directed plan of study. Instructors provide a higher level of supervision than provided by instructors in Field Experience courses. Instructional method: Internship/Practicum.

x95 Practicum
Applied, monitored, and supervised, field-based learning experience for which the student may (or may not) receive payment. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and or directed plan of study. Instructors provide a higher level of supervision than provided by instructors in Field Experience courses. Instructional method: Internship/Practicum.

x96 Field Experience
Applied, monitored, and supervised, field-based learning experience for which the student may (or may not) receive payment. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and or directed plan of study established between the student, instructor and field experience supervisor. Due to the presence of a field experience supervisor, the instructor provides a lower level of supervision in these courses than is the case with an Internship or Practicum course. Instructional method: Internship/Practicum.

x97 Cooperative Education
Applied, monitored, and supervised, field-based learning experience for which the student may (or may not) receive payment. Students gain practical experience; they follow a negotiated and or directed plan of study established between the student, instructor and field experience supervisor. Due to the presence of a field experience supervisor, the instructor provides a lower level of supervision in these courses than is the case with an Internship or Practicum course. Instructional method: Internship/Practicum.

788 Master’s Research Problems/Projects
Independent research problems/projects that lead to a research or design paper but not to a thesis. The faculty member and candidate negotiate the plan of study. Contact between the faculty member and candidate may be extensive and intensive. Does not include theoretical research courses. Instructional Method: Design/Research.

789 Master’s Research Problems/Projects Sustaining
A zero credit hour instructional method type used to track students who are not currently working with faculty on thesis or doctoral activities. Universities may require students to register under this instructional method type to remain active degree candidates. Instructional Method: Thesis/Research Sustaining.

798/898S/898D* Thesis/Dissertation
A formal treatise presenting the results of study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the applicable degree. The process requires extensive and intensive one-on-one interaction between the candidate and a faculty member with more limited interaction between and among the candidate and other members of the committee. Instructional Method: Graduate Thesis.
*As appropriate, an S or D should be appended to a course number to distinguish between courses for specialist or doctoral degree seekers.