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On July 1, 2020, the United States Department of Education changed its definition of the student credit hour. Fundamentally, the change shifted responsibility for credit hour compliance to the accreditation agency and/or to the state.
As such, the CSU’s accreditor, the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), has published its own updated definition of student credit hour and related accreditation processes. The new regulations no longer require an accrediting agency to review an institution’s credit hour policy and procedures. It does require the WSCUC to review the institution’s definition of credit hour and an institutions’ processes and policies for ensuring the credit hour policy is followed.
The CSU credit hour definition is consistent with federal law (600.2 and 600.4 revised July 1, 2020) and the requirements of the WSCUC. The CSU defines a credit hour as an amount of work represented in stated learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement. Such evidence is an institutionally established equivalency that:
- Approximates not less than:
- One hour of direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester or equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or
- At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph 1.a. of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours; and
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Permits an institution, in determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, to take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines and degree levels. Institutions have the flexibility to award a greater number of credits for courses that require more student work.
As in the past, a credit hour is assumed to be a 50-minute (not 60-minute) period. In some courses, such as those offered online, in which “seat time” does not apply, a credit hour may be measured by an equivalent amount of work, as demonstrated by student achievement.
For purposes of accreditation, all CSU campuses are required to develop, communicate and implement procedures for regular, periodic review of this credit hour policy to ensure that credit hour assignments are accurate, reliable and consistently applied. WSCUC published new draft guidelines that took effect in June 2021. Campuses are responsible for publishing a clearly stated practice or process that ensures they are in compliance with the student credit hour definition.
Course Numbering
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Course Level Identification
| 0001-0999 |
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Prebaccalaureate courses. These courses do not carry unit credit toward the 120 units required for a bachelor’s degree and are not included in grade point average calculations. May be used in financial aid unit calculations and excess unit approval requirements. |
| 1000-2999 |
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Lower-division courses designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores |
| 3000-4999 |
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Upper-division courses designed primarily for juniors and seniors, and certain selected courses for graduate students. These courses should be taken by freshmen and sophomores only under unusual circumstances approved by both the instructor and major advisor. |
| 5000-5999 |
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Graduate courses. Open only to qualified graduate students. (Last-semester seniors within 9 units of graduation may enroll for postbaccalaureate credit with written approval.) |
| 6000-6999 |
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Professional postbaccalaureate courses. These courses do not substitute for course credit in a credential sequence and will not be applied toward General Education, major, minor, or elective requirements for the bachelor’s degree. |
| 7000-7999 |
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Noncredit courses. These courses are not applicable to baccalaureate or advanced degrees, or to a credential program. |
| 8000-8999 |
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Extended Education Certificate program courses and those yielding continuing education units (CEUs). These courses are not applicable to baccalaureate or advanced degrees, or to a credential program. |
| 9000-9999 |
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Doctoral courses. Open only to qualified doctoral students. |
Note: Only courses numbered 1000-4999 for undergraduate students carry unit credit toward the 120 units required for a bachelor’s degree.
Special Course Numbering
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For uniformity, certain types of courses have been listed under a single number by all departments and divisions as follows:
| 491X |
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Cooperative Education |
| 494X, 594X, and 994X |
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Internship/Field Work |
| 295X, 495X, 595X, and 995X |
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Selected Topics |
| 496X |
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Senior Seminars |
| 498X, 598X, and 998X |
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Individual Study |
| 499X, 599X, and 999X |
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Thesis/Dissertation |
| 596X, 996X |
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Graduate Project |
| 7005 |
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Continuing Thesis or Project |
| 7006 |
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Continuing Comprehensive Examination |
Note: In previous years, the fourth digit may have been used to indicate course unit value.
Explanation of Course Notations
The notations used in course descriptions listed under the various departments are as follows:
- Courses offered for varying units are so indicated, e.g., (2‑4 units).
- A notation such as (Formerly 4500) within a course description indicates the course was previously numbered 4500 and credit for both courses is not allowed.
- To assist in planning an academic program, many courses in this catalog are marked to indicate when they will be offered, e.g., fall, spring, or summer. Check the Schedule of Classes.
Individual Study Courses
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At the option of the instructor, Individual Study courses may be available in certain fields to a student who has demonstrated capacity for independent study. A total of nine units of individual study credit earned at Stanislaus State is the maximum permitted toward a degree, credential, or other educational objective. These courses are numbered 4980, 5980, and 6980 following the subject field prefix.
A student seeking to enroll for an Individual Study course must file the original copy of an approved Request for Course by Individual Study form at registration. Request forms are available at the Enrollment Services Office. The request for individual study must be approved by the student’s individual study instructor, the instructor’s department chair, the major adviser, and the appropriate college dean at the time the student registers for the course. The approved request form must be received in the Enrollment Services Office on or before the last day to add classes.
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