| University Undergraduate Advising Handbook | |
COURSE ABBREVIATIONS
Courses offered by Penn State are identified by a departmental abbreviation and course number (e.g., MATH 140, ENGL 015, ART 020).
To create a unified system of abbreviations at all Penn State colleges and campuses, the Senate Committee on Curricular Affairs has approved new course abbreviations in order to comply with the Uniformity of Course Abbreviations within Disciplines legislation. Implementation was complete spring semester 2008.
The following is an example of the changes that were made: Effective summer 2007, chemistry courses formerly abbreviated CHEM (Eberly College of Science), CHM (Capital College), and CHMBD (Penn State Erie, The Behrend College) will be abbreviated CHEM. A common University numbering system was also enacted. For example, effective summer 2007, CHEM 012 was renumbered CHEM 110.
Monitoring Course Changes
When changes were approved, they were included in a chart maintained by the University Faculty Senate. This listing of course changes includes the old course abbreviation and number with its new abbreviation and course number (or a "dropped" notation if the course will no longer be offered). The chart provides the semester or session that each change was implemented.
In addition to the changes in course abbreviations and numbers, there may have been changes in prerequisites, credits, titles, and descriptions.
Incorporating Changes in Advising Resources and Documents
Advising resources incorporated course changes at different times, as indicated below. Descriptions of courses that have been dropped are not available online; the faculty senate office maintains an archive.
The Undergraduate Degree Programs Bulletin incorporated course changes as they were approved. New course information appears in listings of program requirements, course descriptions, and course prerequisites.
The Schedule of Courses listed new course abbreviations and numbers in the semester or session the change was to be implemented.
Degree audits monitor the completion of courses and serve as a guide for scheduling. To accomplish this, course abbreviations will be listed accordingly:
Fulfilled Requirements: If a student has completed a course, the course abbreviation and number will not be changed on his/her audit; courses will continue to be listed with the same course abbreviation and number that the student scheduled.
Unfulfilled Requirements: New course abbreviations and numbers will appear on students' degree audits at the start of the registration period for the semester or session in which the abbreviation became effective. For example, PSY 002 became PSYCH 100 effective spring 2007. PSY 002 was listed on degree audits at the start of fall semester 2006 to provide correct information to students making adjustments to their fall schedules. At the beginning of the registration period for spring 2007, PSY 002 was changed to PSYCH 100 so that students selecting courses for the upcoming semester would have the correct information.
Transcripts will list the course numbers and abbreviations that the student scheduled.
Questions about course abbreviations and numbers should be directed to Julia Gibboney, University curriculum coordinator (814-863-0996 or jsg1@psu.edu) or the department offering the course.
The University may make changes in policies,
procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please
consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information.
This page is part of the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, DUS@psu.edu.
Reviewed: January 2012
Last Update: October 2009