How to Read the Course Descriptions
This section contains complete information for all UAF courses. Unless otherwise indicated, course frequency refers to the offering of courses at the Fairbanks campus. The courses listed in this catalog are not offered at all UAF sites but may be offered if demand warrants and qualified faculty are available.
Courses are regularly offered at Bristol Bay Campus at Dillingham, Chukchi Campus at Kotzebue, Kuskokwim Campus at Bethel and Northwest Campus at Nome. Through the Interior Alaska Campus, courses are available at Fort Yukon, Galena, McGrath, Nenana, Tok and Unalaska. Information about the frequency of courses at these community sites can be obtained from the local UAF representative.
Course Numbers
The first numeral of a course numbered in the hundreds indicates the year in which a student typically takes the course. For example, ENGL F111X is usually for first-year students and ENGL F318 is for third-year students. Freshman and sophomore students are cautioned to register for upper-division (300- and 400-) level courses only if they have adequate preparation and background to undertake advanced study in the field in which those courses are offered.
000-049--Non-credit courses
050-099--Developmental courses
Developmental courses are preparatory courses that do not apply to associate, baccalaureate or graduate degree requirements.
100-299--Lower-division courses
300-499--Upper-division courses
Freshman and sophomore students may be required to obtain special permission to take 300- and 400-level courses unless the courses are required in the first two years of their curriculum as printed in this catalog.
500-599--Post-baccalaureate professional courses
500-level courses are intended as post-baccalaureate experiences for professionals to continue their education at a level distinct from graduate level education. 500-level special topics and independent study courses (593, 595, 597) do not apply toward any degree, certification or credential program. 500-level courses are not interchangeable with 600-level courses for graduate degree programs.
600-699--Graduate Courses
A few well-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to graduate courses with approval of the instructor. Students may not apply such a course to requirements for both a baccalaureate and a graduate degree.
Stacked and Cross-listed Courses
Some courses are offered by an interdisciplinary program (such as Women’s Studies) with a specific disciplinary content (e.g., History). Some courses containing interdisciplinary content are sponsored by several departments (e.g., Theatre/Art/Music F200X). These courses are "cross-listed" and are designated in the class listings by "cross-listed with____."
Courses are also sometimes offered simultaneously at different levels (for example: 100/200 or 400/600) with the higher level credit requiring additional effort and possibly a higher order of prerequisites from students. Such courses are referred to as "stacked" and are designated in the class listings by "stacked with ___." In the case of 400/600-level stacked courses, graduate student enrollment and a higher level of effort and performance is required on the part of students earning graduate credit.
Courses simultaneously stacked and cross-listed are designated in the class listing as "Stacked with____ and cross-listed with____."
For all stacked courses, the course syllabus (not the catalog) must stipulate course content and requirements for each level. The catalog should indicate the difference in prerequisites for each level.
Graduate students may not take any 600-level courses for credit if they have already received 400-level credit for that course in their undergraduate work. Individual exceptions to this rule include those courses where there has been a major shift in focus, and should be judged by the instructor and the department.
Special or Reserved Numbers
Courses with the suffix X (ENGL F111X, MATH F113X), meet specific baccalaureate core requirements. Courses with suffixes W or O meet upper-division writing intensive or oral communication intensive course requirements for the baccalaureate core.
Courses identified with numbers ending in -92 are seminars, covering various topics which may include group discussions and guest speakers; ending in -93 are special topics courses, normally offered one time only; -94, trial courses, offered in anticipation of becoming a permanent course; -95, special topics summer session courses, offered only during the summer; -97, individual study in subject areas not normally available; -98, non-thesis research/project, preparing for professional practice; and -99, thesis/dissertation, preparing for scholarly or research activity.
Courses identified with these special or reserved numbers may be available at all levels (e.g., 193, 293, 393, etc.) at the discretion of any department, although offerings above the level of approved programs must be approved in advance by the Provost (e.g., 600-level offerings in areas without approved graduate programs or 300- and 400-level courses in areas without approved baccalaureate programs). These courses may be repeated for credit.
One credit represents satisfactory completion of 800 minutes (one hour per week) of lecture, or 1,600 or 2,400 minutes of laboratory (or studio or other similar activity), whichever is appropriate. (It is understood that an average student will be expected to spend 1,600 [two hours per week] minutes of study and preparation outside of class in order to meet the learning objectives for the unit of credit in lecture.)
Laboratory classes require a minimum of 2,400 lab minutes per credit (three hours per week per credit), or a minimum of 1,600 lab minutes (two hours per week per credit) plus 800 minutes (one hour per week) of study and/or preparation outside of class. A course submission with a lab component must include a justification (in terms of required student work minutes outside of lab) if the laboratory does not require at least 2,400 lab minutes per credit.
The following standards establish the minimum requirements for an academic unit of credit:
- 800 minutes of lecture (plus 1,600 minutes of study)
- 1,600 or 2,400 minutes of laboratory (or studio or other similar activity) + 800 or 0 minutes of outside student work.
- 2,400-4,800 minutes of supervised practicum
- 2,400-8,000 minutes of internship (or externship, clinical)
- 2,400-4,800 minutes of supervised scholarly activity
Credit hours may not be divided, except half-credit hours may be granted at the appropriate rate. For short courses and classes of less than one semester in duration, course hours may not be compressed into fewer than three days per credit. Any existing semester-long course that is to be offered in a format that is compressed to less than six weeks must be approved by the college or school’s curriculum council and the appropriate Faculty Senate committee. Any new course proposal must indicate those course compression format(s) in which the course will be taught. Only approved course formats will be allowed for scheduling.
Following the title of each course, the number of credits is listed for each semester. Thus "3 credits" means 3 credits may be earned. Credit may not be given more than once for a course unless the course has been designated as repeatable for credit. Figures in parentheses at the end of course descriptions indicate the number of lecture, laboratory and practicum, internship or scholarly activity hours, respectively, the class meets each week for one semester. For example (2+3) indicates that a class has two hours of lecture and three of laboratory work each week. A designation of (1+0+6) indicates that the course meets for one hour of lecture each week and six hours of practicum, internship or other scholarly activity.
X--The Baccalaureate Core
Courses used to satisfy general baccalaureate core requirements have course numbers ending with the suffix X. For example, English F111X and Communication F141X meet specific core requirements. See baccalaureate core requirements for a listing of other specific courses.
O--Oral Communication Intensive Course
W--Writing Intensive Course
Courses meeting upper-division writing and oral communication intensive requirements for the baccalaureate core are identified in the course description section of the catalog with the suffixes O and W.
Two courses designated O/2 are required to complete the oral communication intensive requirement.
Specific Degree Requirements
Courses that may be used to satisfy specific degree requirements (e.g., humanities elective for the B.A. degree, or natural science elective for the B.S. degree) are identified in the course description section by the following degree requirement designators:
h--humanities
s--social science
m--mathematics
n--natural science
a--content is relevant to northern, Arctic or circumpolar studiesFor example, you may use ANTH F309--Arctic Prehistory (s), to satisfy the "social science elective" requirement for a Bachelor of Arts degree. Some courses, including all special topics and individual study courses, are not given course classifications.
A frequency of offering designator such as "Offered Fall" or "Offered Alternate Spring" follows many course descriptions. Every effort is made to ensure this designator is correct. However, students should review the current class schedule or check with individual departments for the most accurate and up-to-date information on future course offerings.
