Course identification

The following identifies all courses at the University:

• four letters indicate the department, school or subject (ex. CHMI = Chemistry)
• four numbers designate the course (ex. 1501)
• one letter indicates the language of instruction (F or E)
• one letter indicates the campus where a course is offered (L = Laurentian campus)*
• two numbers indicate the particular section of a given course (ex. 01)*

* Although these codes are not included in the Calendar, they are very important components of registration documents.

Example:

Course numbers

The 1st digit always indicates the year in which a course is normally taken. In the Calendar, we refer to courses as "4000-series courses", "courses from the 2000 level" or "1st-year courses", etc., according to the number.

1000-1999 = 1st-year level
2000-2999 = 2nd-year level
3000-3999 = 3rd-year level
4000-4999 = 4th-year level
5000-6999 = graduate-level courses

As for the 2nd and 3rd digits, an academic unit may choose to indicate a subdivision (of a program or discipline) by assigning particular numbers in these positions.

The last digit indicates a full course (6 credits), a half course (3 credits), or a special course with varying credit value. It also shows whether a course may count towards a concentration, specialization or continuation within the department/school offering the course. Credit value is also indicated at the end of the course description.

0 = a full course; does not count in concentration, specialization or continuation
1 or 2 = a half course; does not count in concentration, specialization or continuation
4 = a special course with varying credit value
5 = a full course; counts towards a concentration, specialization or continuation
6 or 7 = a half course; counts towards a concentration, specialization or continuation
8 = a 1-credit course
9 = a 1.5-credit course

Language of instruction

Courses described in English are taught in English; those described in French are taught in French. In the Department of Modern Languages, course numbers are without the suffix E or F because the courses are taught in the relevant language.

Method of instruction code

The method of instruction used in a course is normally indicated, in parentheses, at the end of each course description in the Calendar. There are six codes, each followed by the number of hours that are devoted to this method weekly.

exp = experiential*
lab = laboratory
lec = lecture
sem = seminar
tut = tutorial
cst = case study

* This may include clinical or field study or activities, and other types of practical or experiential instruction that is distinct from the traditional laboratory.

Examples:

(lec 3, lab 3) = a Chemistry course with 3 hrs of lecture + 3 hrs of laboratory weekly.
(exp 3) = a Human Kinetics activity course worth 1.5 credits
(lec 2, tut 2, exp 2) = a Nursing course with 2 hrs of lecture, 2 hrs of tutorial + 2 hrs of clinical laboratory weekly.
(lec 3, lab/tut 3) = a Biology course with 3 hrs of lecture + 3 hrs of laboratory/tutorial weekly.
(lec 3, lab 3, exp) = a Geology course with 3 hrs of lecture, 3 hrs of laboratory + field work (time unspecified).
(lec 3, lab 3, exp-fall) = the same Geology course with field work during the fall.
(cst 3) = a Commerce course with a case study approach.

Course credits

Courses are normally taught as full courses (6 credits) or as half courses (3 credits), as indicated here, although there are exceptions. Normally, a course is taught at a rate of either: three 1-hour classes per week, two 1.5-hour classes per week, or one 3-hour evening class per week. Generally, one credit is granted for each hour of class time per week per term.

Spring Session courses are normally taught, in the evening, at the rate of two 3-hour classes per week for 12 weeks.

Credit value is indicated at the end of each course description.

cr 3 = half course
cr 6 = full course