Course Designation

 So, you’re enrolled in a class named “Computer Fundamentals,” but your schedule calls it “CISS 1003” – how does that work? Each course is named and labeled according to a specific system. Understanding this system will help you as you find required courses in the catalog, and you might come across a few neat electives that you wouldn’t know about otherwise!

Semester Hours

The unit of credit is the semester hour. A semester hour is one fifty-minute period of instruction per week for 15 weeks or the equivalent. Our undergraduate programs require from 120 semester credit hours to 145 credit hours, depending upon the major. Students can usually complete their degree in four years of study.

Subject Area Designations

Abbreviation

Subject Area

Abbreviation

Subject Area

AMSL

American Sign Language 

LEAD

Ph.D. Leadership

BIBL

Bible

MATH 

Mathematics

BUSI

Business

MUSA 

Applied Music

CHMN

Christian Ministries

MUSC

Music

CISS

Computer Information

Science & Systems

PAST  

Pastoral Ministry

COMM

Communication/Speech

PHED

Physical Education

CSER

Christian Service

PHIL

Philosophy

EDUC 

Education

PSYC

Psychology

ENGL

English

SCIE 

Science

HIST

History

SOST

Social Studies

ICST

Intercultural Studies

STAT

Statistics

INTD 

Interdisciplinary Studies    

 

THEO      

Theology

LANG  

Language 

 

 

 

Course Numbering

Course numbers consist of a four-letter subject area designation and four digits.  Normally, the first digit indicates the course level, the middle two digits indicate the course sequence, and the last digit indicates the number of credit hours to be earned. Lower level courses (1000 or 2000) are appropriate for freshman and sophomores. Upper level courses (3000 or 4000) are appropriate for juniors and seniors. Courses beyond this classification (5000-8000) are graduate level courses and may be taken by undergraduate students only upon the consent of the student’s advisor, the course instructor, and the department chair. Undergraduate students must have a minimum of thirty upper level hours in order to graduate.