Reading this Catalog

Catalog Content

The content of this catalog is subject to change without notice and does not constitute a contract between Southern Oregon University and its students or applicants for admission. This catalog is for information purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the in-formation published, but circumstances change frequently at an educational institution and new decisions may affect the accuracy of this information.

Terminology

Course.

A subject or instructional subdivision of a subject offered during a single term.

Corequisite.

Indicates a course that must be taken simultaneously with the course described.

Credit.

One unit of credit represents approximately three hours of time each week for one term. This time may comprise work in the classroom, the laboratory, or outside.

Curriculum.

An organized program of study providing integrated cultural or professional education.

Discipline.

A branch of learning or field of study ( e. g. , biology, English, or psychology).

Elective.

An optional rather than a required course.

Grade Point Average ( GPA).

Grade point av-erage is computed by dividing grade points earned by the number of credits attempted. Grades of E, I, P, NP, W, WP, WF, and X do not carry grade points, and credits for these grades are not calculated in the GPA. The University's GPA includes only SOU courses. See page 3 for more information.

Practicum.

A supervised experience, usually off campus, arranged with the approval of the instructor and conducted under requirements set by the instructor.

Prerequisite.

Indicates a course that must be completed prior to the course described; for example, Mth 95 is required before taking Ch 201. See Course Prerequisites Policy on page 30.

Reading and Conference.

A selection of mate-rials to be read by an individual student and discussed in conference with a professor.

Residence Credit.

Academic work completed while a student is formally admitted and oficially registered at SOU.

Seminar.

A small group of advanced students studying a subject with guidance from a professor. Each student conducts original research and exchanges the results with fellow group members through informal lectures, reports, and discussions.

Sequence.

Closely related courses extending through more than one term.

Term.

Approximately one-third of the academic year and one-quarter of the calendar year. May be fall, winter, or spring.

Reading a Course Description

The following example illustrates the elements of a typical course listing:

TA: Prefix.

An abbreviation representing the de-partment offering the course. See this page for a listing of prefixes.

442: Number.

Indicates the approximate level of the course (see Course Numbering System below).

Theatre Sound Design: Title.

3 credits:

Indicates the number of credits awarded for successful completion of the course.

Offers . :

Description of course content.

Prerequisite: TA 242:

The required background course necessary for admittance to the course. Students who have not completed the stated prerequisites but have equivalent background should consult the instructor of the course they are interested in. The instructor has the authority to waive the prerequisite requirement in such a case. See Course Prerequisites Policy on page 30.

Course registration details ( including the Course Reference Number ( CRN) , grading method, time and location of class meetings, and instructor . s name) are available in the class schedule, which is available in hard copy and online each term.

Course Numbering System

1-99

Noncredit courses or credit courses of remedial nature that do not count toward graduation or degree and are not included in calculating the grade point average.

100-299

Lower division courses.

300-499

Upper division courses. A student must achieve sophomore standing before being permitted to enroll in 300-level courses and junior standing before being permitted to enroll in 400-level cours-es. If the instructor of the course is satisfied that a student meets the criteria for a course, then the consent of the instructor permits enrollment. This does not supersede specific prereqisites, which may be stated in the course description.

400-499

Upper division courses primarily for seniors.

400-499/500-599

Upper division/ graduate courses for seniors and graduate students. Courses listed in this catalog with a joint 4xx/ 5xx number may be offered during any quarter (see the class schedule) under either of two options:

1. For undergraduate students only; listed under the 4xx number.
2. For both graduate and undergraduate students; listed under 4xx/ 5xx. Graduate students enroll in the 5xx number, while undergraduates enroll in the 4xx number. The class schedule includes the 4xx listing and a separate 5xx listing.

500-599

Graduate courses. These courses are listed in the class schedule and on the student's transcript with a G added to the course number.

Class Schedule

Students should read the class schedule, which is available at registration and on the Web. This publication contains rules, regulations, academic requirements, class schedules, and other information unavailable when the catalog was published. Students are also urged to consult faculty advisors for additional information and assistance.

Rules and Procedures

Students are expected to follow University rules and procedures. Students assume personal re-sponsibility for designing a course of study and fulflling the academic requirements of SOU.