Course Explanations

Course Explanations

Classification of Courses

This section contains a list of symbols for all courses offered at the University, excluding the courses offered at the School of Law.

000-099 Courses offered in this number range do not carry degree-granting credit.
100-299 Lower dvision courses-degree-granting credit.
300--499 Upper division courses-degree-granting credit.
500-599 Upper division undergraduate courses in which graduate students may enroll and receive graduate

credit.  Undergraduate students may not enroll in 500-level courses offered by the School of Education.

600-699 Graduate courses-degree granting credit.
800-899

 LMU Extension courses.  Courses offered in this number range do not carry degree granting credit.

5000-6999

 School of Education graduate courses-degree-granting credit.

7000-7999

 School of Education Doctor of Education courses-degree-granting credit.

8000            School of Education required course through LMU Extension

In exceptional circumstances, seniors may take courses in the 600 series with the written permission of the Chairperson of their major department and the appropriate College or School. In such cases, they register for 599—Independent Studies. In this instance, the course is calculated in the undergraduate career. No undergraduate student may register for a course in the 600 series. Only students accepted into the Graduate Division may register for 600-, 5000-, 6000-, and 7000- numbered courses.

Special Studies (98)

Courses whose numbers have as the last two digits “98” are Special Studies. These courses have a special syllabus and description not listed in the Bulletin. They can be held in a lecture, discussion, or seminar format at a specified or arranged time and place for a group of students. Each department sponsoring Special Studies courses maintains these course descriptions.

Independent Studies (99)

Courses whose numbers have as the last two digits “99” are Independent Studies. This is an individualized study arranged by a student with a faculty member and approved by the Chairperson of the Department and the Dean.

These courses are for the educational enrichment of the student particularly qualified for the kind of experiences that are beyond the scope of a regular course. Under the supervision of a faculty member, the work will be of research or similarly creative nature and will normally culminate in a project or examination. Only full-time matriculated students are eligible, and approval will be given for only one Independent Studies course per semester. Freshmen and first-semester transfer students are not eligible.

Arrangements to undertake an Independent Studies course must be completed during the semester prior to the one in which the student expects to enroll in the course. An Independent Studies course is considered part of the student’s semester program. Registration for such courses takes place only during the regular registration periods.

Course Load

In Fall or Spring semesters, students in good standing from the previous semester may register for 18 semester
hours; 19 semester hours or more constitutes an academic overload, for which approval from the student’s Dean is required. Extra tuition is charged to any student who registers in 19 semester hours or more. For Summer, students in good standing may register for 6 semester hours per session.

Credit by Challenge Examination

A student may obtain credit by examination for undergraduate courses in the Loyola Marymount University Bulletin in selected undergraduate courses as approved by the course Chairperson and student’s Dean. To challenge an LMU undergraduate course by examination, a student must be regularly enrolled and a full-time student. A course may be challenged only onceand only during the Fall and Spring semesters, not during the Summer. Students may not challenge a course that is at a level more elementary than one in which they are currently enrolled or for which they have already received credit. Moreover, a student may not challenge a course which has been audited. Nor may students challenge a course for which they have received a W, I, NC, or F until a period of one year has elapsed from the time of their original registration in the course. A challenge examination once failed may not be repeated. 100- and
200-level courses in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures may not be challenged.

A petition for receiving course credit by examination must be obtained from the Office of the Registrar. The examination carries a fee of $50, payable in advance and non-refundable.

Credit/No Credit Grading

Students may not be graded on a Credit/No Credit basis in courses which are part of a major, minor, or core
curriculum program. Credit courses count toward the fulfillment of graduation requirements. Neither credit (CR) nor no credit (NC) grades affect the student’s grade point average. Once the petition for either grade or credit/no credit basis has been filed in the Office of the Registrar, it may not be rescinded or changed after the last day of registration.

Students may be graded on this basis for not more than 20% of their total semester hours at LMU. Students wishing to be graded on this basis must file the appropriate petition in the Office of the Registrar by the published date in the Academic Calendar.

In the case of courses that are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis, the student may petition the instructor for a letter grade with the approval of the Dean, before the end of the third week of the semester.

In order for a student to receive a grade of Credit, the work must be of C (2.0) or better.

Cross-Listed Courses

A cross-listed course is one that carries credit in more than one department or program. Students may not enroll in more than one section of a cross-listed course and may receive credit in one department only.

Diploma

Diplomas are granted and mailed to students who have completed all academic degree requirements and who have no outstanding financial obligations to the University. Diplomas left unclaimed are destroyed after three years. Students must re-order destroyed diplomas.

Double Credit
A student may not count the same course to meet the requirements for both an undergraduate and a graduate degree.

Electives
Elective courses do not fulfill requirements in the student’s University Core, major(s) or minor(s) programs,
but they do fulfill overall semester hours requirements.

Final Examinations
Students are required to take all scheduled examinations. Final examinations are to be held at the time published by the Office of the Registrar. No student is allowed to take a final examination before the scheduled time.

Full-Time Standing
Any undergraduate student carrying 12 or more semester hours in the Fall or Spring term is considered a full-time student. Students carrying fewer than 12 semester hours are classified as part-time students. This applies to the academic standing. For Summer, an undergraduate enrolled in 6 or more semester hours is considered a full-time student and fewer than 6 semester hours a part-time student. Please refer to the Financial Aid full-time/parttime standing for an explanation of how that department defines full-standing and the impact on financial aid awards.