how to read a course catalog

by Jerod Robel 10 min read

From the Course Catalog Management, select the relevant course catalog. From the Course Catalog Administration panel, select the relevant action. Course Catalog Settings - From here, you can view the course catalog title, site URL, and site template, and add or delete course catalog administrators.

How to Read Course Descriptions
  1. Course subject.
  2. Course number.
  3. Course title.
  4. Number of semester hours (credits)
  5. Contact hours type(s) if non-lecture.
  6. Full description of the course.
  7. (if applicable) Prerequisites, co-requisites, recommended preparation or other requirements.

Full Answer

What is included in a college catalog?

A college catalog is packed with information that will make your college experience easier. Though each school's catalog contains slightly different information, most include details about the school itself, financial aid, degree requirements and even course descriptions. They are easily available on most school websites.

Can course catalogs recommend courses based on previous courses?

When course catalogs are fully connected with other campus systems, they conceivably could make course recommendations to individual students based on the courses they’ve already completed.

What makes an online course catalog successful?

The ability to connect and interact with various systems is a hallmark of an online course catalog. For example, the University of Colorado Boulder integrates its catalog with scheduling and curriculum management systems, allowing information from the catalog to flow directly into such systems, says Registrar Kristi Wold-McCormick.

Are the changes to the catalog useful to current students?

These changes make the catalog just as useful to current students as it is to new students. Catalogs are usually published every year, so make sure you're using the most current version. Specific topics covered include:

What do the numbers on courses mean?

Course Numbers These numbers are the main way colleges organize their course catalog. No two courses at a college will share the exact same course number. The most useful thing for students to understand about these numbers is how to distinguish between upper-level credit and lower-level credit.

Why is it important to read the course catalog?

The catalog is the single most important navigation tool available to your student. Your own familiarity with the catalog can be a huge help when your student is confused about what's expected of them in college. Before you pick up the phone to call the school, take a look at the catalog — it may answer your question!

What does course Catalogue mean?

Essentially, it is a multi-page document that lists the courses taught at a school by discipline, complete with a brief description of each course.

How do you read a college course number?

Courses are designated by two numbers, separated by a colon. The first number refers to the department or area of the course; the second number refers to the specific course. For example, in the course designated 600:111 the "600" refers to the Department of Art and the "111" refers to the course.

How do you describe course content?

Course Description Guidelines should be no longer than 125 words. should begin most sentences with a verb. should be student-centered and explain how the reader would benefit from the course. should be written in the present tense and active voice.

How do you describe a course description?

What is a Course Description?a short, pithy statement which informs a student about the subject matter, approach, breadth, and applicability of the course.focuses on content ... we are looking for a list of topics.about 80 words maximum.

What is the catalog number of a class?

The Catalog Number is the number that is associated to the class that you want to search for. For example, if you search for Accounting, the Catalog Number will begin with 10101.

What do credit hours mean?

A credit hour is the unit of measurement used to indicate the amount of instructional and learning time required to achieve the student learning outcomes of a college-level course.

What is course booklet?

a book used by students when they do a particular course of study.

What does 1000 level courses mean?

first-year coursesFor example, 1000-level courses are first-year courses, 2000-level are second year, and so on.

What does a course code look like?

Typically, a course code includes a letter or number for each specific department; a letter or number for each specific subject (i.e., American history in the history/social studies department OR biology in the science department.)

What does 201 mean in college?

The first number indicates year (101 = Freshman level class) 101/Freshman, 201/Sophomore, 301/Junior, 401/Senior. Anything above these numbers is usually a graduate level course.

What is a course description?

The course description summarizes the purpose and key topical areas of the course and includes special requirements if any exist. Some course descriptions end with information about whether the course was "formerly" another course, how many times the course may be repeated, or whether the course is offered on a "pass/no pass" basis. Some course descriptions identify UC credit limitations, and some indicate an instructional materials fee is required as a condition of enrollment in the course. (Please refer to the Fees section of the catalog for information about required instructional materials fees.)

What does "course typically offered" mean?

Course Typically Offered: Indicates patterns of course offerings; however, students should check the class schedule for the current semester's offering. ( Note: MiraCosta College reserves the right to cancel any course due to insufficient enrollment or other circumstances beyond the district's control.)

What is the 0-49 course number?

(Please refer to the Credit Courses section of the catalog for more detailed information about course numbering.) Course numbers 0-49: Basic skills or college preparatory courses that are not associate-degree applicable. Course numbers 50-99: Associate-degree applicable courses;

What is the course number 50-99?

Course numbers 50-99: Associate-degree applicable courses ; not intended for transfer to a four-year university.

What is prerequisite in college?

Prerequisites: A requirement that must be met in order to demonstrate current readiness for enrollment in the course. When courses in a subject must be taken in a particular order, the prerequisites indicate the required sequence.

What are corequisites for a course?

Corequisites: A course students must take in the same semester/term in order to enroll in the course.

What is the 300-400 class?

Course numbers 300-400: Upper-division courses; available only to students in the baccalaureate degree program in biomanufacturing at MiraCosta.

Introduction

A course catalog is where your courses and training plans are featured. Here, learners can get an overview of the selection of courses. And from the course catalog, course catalog admins can create new courses and training plans.

Creating course catalogs

NOTE: Only users with Microsoft 365 global administrator or SharePoint administrator roles can create course catalogs.

Adding course catalog administrators

Add a user to the Catalog Administrators field to make this person an administrator of the course catalog in question. By default, the user who creates the course catalog will become an administrator of it.

Why do advisors need a digital catalog?

For advisors, a robust digital catalog allows them to quickly find and easily share the information they need to help students because the content is in smaller, more manageable chunks. “Advisors can share a link to a specific program, rather than a document section containing dozens of programs,” Moseley says.

Why are digital catalogs important?

Digital catalogs allow institutions to provide better service to students, faculty and other users. For instance, a mobile-friendly course catalog means users can easily access it anytime, anywhere, says Wold-McCormick.

What is an essential campus document?

In an age of highly connected campuses and smart devices, an essential campus document has been one of the last remnants of an earlier time. The academic course catalog, used regularly by every student and advisor to select courses and chart academic pathways, hasn’t changed much over the years—even as the courses and the registration process have been completely transformed by technology.

Can catalogs be used to make course recommendations?

When course catalogs are fully connected with other campus systems, they conceivably could make course recommendations to individual students based on the courses they’ve already completed. “I can envision a future in which a catalog might deliver a more personalized experience to users, based on major, demographic and other factors, to make the use of the catalog more relevant and less overwhelming to the students,” Moseley says. “The direction we are heading makes that future a possibility.”

Does Bakersfield College have an online catalog?

Most colleges and universities offer an online versions of their catalogs, but few are putting to use the connectivity and smart technology available. For instance, Bakersfield College in California had been posting its catalog online for several years “in a static PDF format,” says Bill Moseley, dean of academic technology.

Does Southern New Hampshire University have a digital course catalog?

Similarly, at Southern New Hampshire University, a new digital course catalog provides more detailed program information compared with past catalogs— an important piece because SNHU’s College for America offers competency-based degree programs with direct assessment for working adults. “Users can click through to see all the competencies that are assessed in each program,” says Romki Constant, assistant vice president of academic operation and strategy in the Office of the University Registrar.

Does Southern New Hampshire have an online catalog?

At Southern New Hampshire, the online catalog is also connected with the course management system for automatic updating. “If there is a change to a course or a program of study in an academic year, we make the change in our curriculum management system, and once the change is made, it’s automatically updated in the catalog and in the addendum,” Constant says. “So people can look at the online catalog and know that it always includes the latest information.” In addition, anyone can view the searchable addendum to see all the changes that have been made during an academic year.

What is a college catalog?

A college catalog is packed with information that will make your college experience easier. Though each school's catalog contains slightly different information, most include details about the school itself, financial aid, degree requirements and even course descriptions.

How often are college catalogs published?

These changes make the catalog just as useful to current students as it is to new students. Catalogs are usually published every year, so make sure you're using the most current version. Specific topics covered include:

What is an institution catalog?

An institution's catalog can often encompasses all the information you need to know about living and learning at the school of your choice, so it can help streamline your college or degree research process. Students already attending a college or university can use the catalog to choose courses and plan schedules for coming semesters.

What are the requirements for a general education degree?

General education requirements vary by school but typically include introductory math, science, writing, and politics/history classes. Final years of the degree focus on courses that are specific for your major, or prepare the student for graduate school. On-the-Job Training.

What are the courses that are required for a career?

Common Courses. Courses are catered to the skills necessary for your specific career. This can include reading, writing, and math classes. Focus on general education courses, which often include introductory math, science, writing, and politics/history classes.

Does Capella University respond to information requests?

Capella University responds quickly to information requests through this website.

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