Course Description Definitions

  • Course Number:
    The course number consists of a two-digit and/or four-digit letter abbreviation indicating the subject area of the course (consult the Discipline Code list below) followed by a three-digit number to which, in some instances, an additional letter is appended.

  • Course Description/Contact Hours:
    The course information contains the description, the discipline code (two or four digits), the course number, the course title and the course weight. The credit weight may be preceded, if deemed appropriate, by an abbreviation (consult Abbreviations in the Glossary) indicating the term or session in which the course is normally taught. The course information line is followed by a brief description of the content of the course (more information is available from the department) and may end with a statement that the course is cross-listed in another academic discipline. The description is followed, where applicable, by a prerequisite, co-requisite,  credit exclusion statement and/or notes.

    Contact Hours: Any deviation from the normal number of three contact hours per week for 12 weeks, or 36 lecture hours per term, for a course, will be noted after the credit value in the course description.
    Example:  GG369

  • Credit Weight:

    The credit weight is the relative value assigned to the course. A 1.0-credit course carries twice the weight of a 0.5-credit course and normally consists of three contact hours per week over two terms (September – April). A credit denotes a 1.0-credit (or full-credit) course with 1.0 indicated in the course description. A 0.5-credit course carries twice the weight of a 0.25-credit course and is normally conducted over a four-month period. A half-credit course is indicated with the 0.5 weight in the course description, and a quarter-credit course as 0.25 in the description and is normally taught over a six-week period. However, courses may be taught over varying periods of time than these listed. In the program descriptions, the following symbols are used following the course number:

    Credit Weight Symbol
    One and a half credits (1.5)
    One credit (1.0) *
    Quarter-credit (0.25) º


     (0.5 credits do not have a symbol appended.)

     Half (0.5-credit) courses are indicated simply by the course number consisting of the discipline code and a three-digit number. This system of notation represents a change from that used in all calendars prior to the 1993-1994 version, in which the symbol * was used to identify 0.5-credit courses.

    For example, a student who earned an A in a 1.0 credit course would be given an 11, a C- in a 0.5 credit course would be given a 2 (4 points/2) and a B+ in a 0.25 credit course would be given a 2.25 (9 points/4). To calculate the GPA, all grade points are added together and divided by the total weight of the credits. In this case the GPA would be 8.71 (15.25 grade points divided by 1.75 credits).
    Where letter grades are derived from percentages, conversion follows this chart unless the instructor announces otherwise, in writing, at the start of a course.

  • Discipline Codes:

    LORIS Code LORIS and Transcript Code Discipline
    Faculty LORIS
    Code
    LORIS and Transcript Code
    Discipline
    Faculty LORIS
    Code
    LORIS and Transcript
    Code
    Discipline
    Faculty
    AB ARAB
    Arabic
    Arts FR
    FREN
    French
    Arts
    MI
    MEDS
    Mediterranean Studies
    Arts
    AF ARTS
    Faculty of Arts Arts FS
    FILM
    Film Studies
    Arts
    ML
    MLST
    Medieval and Medievalism Studies Arts
    AN ANTH
    Anthropology Arts GC
    CRGC
    Christian Studies and Global Citizenship Martin Luther University College MX
    MDST
    Media Studies
    Liberal Arts
    AR
    ARCH
    Archaeology
    Arts ---
    GESC Geography and Environmental Studies Science MU
    MUSI
    Music
    Music
    AS ASTR
    Astronomy Science GG
    GEOG
    Geography
    Science MZ
    MUSL
    Muslim Studies
    Arts
    BF
    BRFO
    Foundations
    Human and Social Sciences and
    Liberal Arts
    GL
    GEOL
    Geology
    Science NO
    NAST
    North American Studies
    Arts
    BI BIOL
    Biology
    Science GM
    GERM
    German
    Arts PP
    PHIL
    Philosophy
    Arts
    BU
    BUSI
    Business
    Business and Economics GS
    GLST
    Global Studies
    Arts PC
    PHYS
    Physics
    Science
    CC CRIM
    Criminology Human and Social Science GR
    GREE
    Greek
    Arts PD
    PLCG
    Policing
    Human and Social Sciences
    CH
    CHEM
    Chemistry Science HD
    HEAD
    Health Administration
    Human and Social Sciences PO
    POLI
    Political Science
    Arts
    CL
    CLAS
    Classical Studies Arts HE
    HESC
    Health Sciences
    Human and Social Sciences PS
    PSYC
    Psychology
    Science
    ---
    CMEG
    Community Engagement
    Arts HI
    HIST
    History
    Arts RE
    RL&C
    Religion and Culture
    Arts




    ---
    HMLD
    Humanities with Leadership Foundations
    Liberal Arts




    --- COOP Co-operative Education
    HN
    HBIO
    Human Biology
    Science SC
    SCIE
    Science
    Science
    CP CPTG Computer Science Science HP
    HPSC
    History and Philosophy of Science
    Arts SE
    SOCE
    Social Entrepreneurship
    Arts
    CS COMS
    Communication Studies Arts HR
    HUMN
    Human Rights and Human Diversity
    Liberal Arts SL
    SCWL
    Social Welfare
    Social Work
    --- DATA Data Science Science HS
    HEST
    Health Studies
    Human and Social Sciences --- SOJE
    Social and Environmental Justice
    (was Society, Culture and  Environment), 
    (and formerly Contemporary Studies)

    Human and Social Sciences
    and
    Liberal Arts

    DD
    DESI
    Game Design and Development
    Human and Social Sceinces ID
    INDG
    Indigenous Studies
    Liberal Arts ST
    STAT
    Statistics
    Science




    ---
    INED
    International Education Studies
    Faculty of Arts/Faculty of Education




    DH
    DHUM
    Digital Humanities
    Arts
    IT
    ITAL
    Italian
    Arts SY
    SOCI
    Sociology
    Arts
    --- DMJN Digital Media and Journalism
    (formerly JN -  Journalism)
    Liberal Arts KP
    KPPE
    Kinesiology and Physical Education Science SP
    SPAN
    Spanish
    Arts
    EC
    ECON
    Economics
    Business and Economics
    KS
    CULT
    Cultural Studies
    Arts UU
    INDS
    University Interdisciplinary

    EM
    EDMI
    Education minor
    Education
    LA
    LATN
    Latin
    Arts UX
    UEXD
    User Experience Design
    Liberal Arts
    EN
    ENGL
    English
    Arts
    LL
    LGLT
    Languages and Literatures Arts ---
    UNDC
    Global Crime and Justice
    Human and Social Sciences
    ---
    ENTR
    Entrepreneurship
    Business and Economics
    LY
    LWSC
    Law and Society
    Liberal Arts
    --- WASC
    Applied Water Science
    Arts and Science
    ---
    ENVX Environmental
    Science
    Science
    OL
    LEAD
    Leadership
    Human and Social Sciences ---
    WOMS
    Women and Gender Studies
    Arts
    ES
    EVST
    Environmental Studies
    Science
    MA
    MATH
    Mathematics
    Science
    --
    WORK
    Labour Studies and Career Development
    Liberal Arts
    EU
    EDUC
    Bachelor of Education
    Education
    MB
    BUTM
    Business
    Technology
    Management
    Business and Economics
    YC
    YCST
    Youth and Children's Studies
    Liberal Arts