Course Schedule Types Definitions and Scheduling

The delivery of instruction often requires educational material to be organized and presented to students in a variety of ways. Schedule types are intended to reflect the nature of activities required of students, the relationship between students and their instructors and the settings required to deliver the content of an instructional offering.

See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling a course in full and parts of term.

Contact hours listed below for each schedule type are listed in both nominal hours and clock hours.

• Nominal hours (50 clock minutes = 1 nominal hour) are displayed in Banner, CIM system and course descriptions in the University Catalog.
• Clock hours (60 clock minutes = 1 clock hour) are used for course scheduling purposes.

CLERKSHIP

A clerkship applies only to the podiatric medical training program, during which students in third and fourth years of medical school are required to participate in clinical sciences and patient care. Clerkships expose students to all facets of podiatric medicine and surgery in the hospital, surgery center, professional office and other clinical settings. In addition to podiatric clerkships, students are required to complete clerkships in general medicine. Elective and international clerkships may also be available. The student clerk gains essential experience managing the care of patients and learning the roles and responsibilities of a podiatric physician. They also witness first-hand the interaction with other health-care professionals. They are expected to observe and participate in patient care including the performance of basic podiatric and medical procedures under direct supervision. Students elicit patient histories, complete physical examinations, write progress notes, and assist in surgeries and medical procedures. Students are evaluated by the clerkship coordinator at each affiliated site. No stipend or pay is provided to the students.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Clerkship (CLR)
• Grade modes permitted: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: No; courses are 4 credit hours each
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 4 credit hours are awarded for a clerkship that typically comprises five mandatory months and one optional month of rotations, during which the work hours are that of a full-time job (i.e., 40 clock hours per week), generally similar to that of medical residents. Students may also be required to work on weekends and to be on call.

CLINICAL LABORATORY

A clinical laboratory allows for medical- or healthcare-focused experimental work where students meet at a health-related agency rather than in on-campus laboratory facilities to test, observe, experiment or practice a profession in a hands-on environment. A Kent State faculty member or a university-approved skilled practitioner (preceptor) directly supervises the clinical instruction.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Clinical Laboratory (CLN)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: Credit hour is awarded on the same basis as a laboratory course.

COLLEGE TEACHING

College teaching is designed to provide supervision and/or instruction in the special aspects of college teaching.

• Designated number: xxx94
• Schedule type: Lecture (LEC)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 3 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

COLLOQUIUM

A colloquium is an exchange of scholarly information on a specific topic, usually in a small group setting with lectures by several different specialists in that field. Content of course is relatively unchanged for each offering; a colloquium with content that varies per offering should be designated as variable content colloquium (see definition below).

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Colloquium (COL)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

COLLOQUIUM – VARIABLE CONTENT

A variable content colloquium has the same definition of a colloquium (see definition above), except that the content varies per course offering while overarching focus and learning outcomes are unchanged. The full title of the course includes the word “Colloquium,” and the individual title of each offering begins with “COLL:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s transcript. A colloquium that has relatively unchanging content and is offered with regularity should be assigned an unreserved number.

• Designated number: xxx97
• Schedule type: Colloquium (COL)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 3 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

COMBINED LECTURE AND LABORATORY

A combined lecture and laboratory integrates both activities into one course with one grade.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Combined Lecture/Laboratory (LLB), Lecture (LEC), Laboratory (LAB)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: Credit hour is awarded on the same basis as lecture and laboratory courses and dependent on how the contact hours are allocated for each activity. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

COMBINED LECTURE AND STUDIO

A combined lecture and studio integrates both formalized lecture and studio instruction into one course with one grade.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Combined Lecture/Studio (LST), Lecture (LEC), Studio (STU)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: Credit hour is awarded on the same basis as lecture and studio courses and dependent on how the contact hours are allocated for each activity. See XX for scheduling in full and parts of term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION

Cooperative education is administered by the University College and is full-time off-campus paid employment that enhances students’ degree program by relating theory to practice and applying what they have learned in the classroom to real-life workplace scenarios. Through a co-op experience, students explore career and academic options, test career choices, increase professional skills and earn money to contribute to educational expenses.

• Designated number: COOP 20095
• Schedule type: Cooperative Education (COP)
• Grade modes permitted: Complete/Not Complete
• Variable credit permitted: No credit awarded
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No credit awarded
• Credit-to-contact ratio: No credit awarded; students are expected to be working full time.

DISSERTATION – DOCTORAL

A doctoral dissertation is a highly individualized investigative study that results in the development and writing a scholarly, comprehensive paper. The dissertation must demonstrate that the student has acquired the ability to conduct research in a discriminating and original manner. The dissertation should make a significant enough contribution to the field in which it is written that at least one scholarly article suitable for publication in a professional journal may be derived from it or that the findings of the dissertation would be otherwise publishable.

• Designated number: 8x199 (dissertation I), 8x299 (dissertation II)
• Schedule type: dissertation (DSR)
• Grade modes permitted: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: No; courses are 15 credit hours each
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 15 credit hours are awarded for 18 nominal hours (15 clock hours or 900 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 270 nominal hours (225 clock hours or 13,500 clock minutes) in a term.

EMPORIUM

An emporium is offered in a computer-learning center utilizing software to provide an essential resource for students working collaboratively in a problem-based instructional setting or to provide individualized pathways that allow students to progress through the curriculum, based on assessment results of their mastery of the material. An instructional team provides student assistance.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Emporium (EMP)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

ENSEMBLE

An ensemble course provides vocal and/or instrumental musicians with collaborative learning experiences in building rehearsal techniques, communal music making and ensemble performance.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Ensemble (ENS)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio:
  • For ensembles that require a minimum 2 clock hours of out-of-class practice to prepare for or follow up the class, 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) and a maximum 4 nominal hours (200 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) and a maximum total 60 nominal hours (50 clock hours or 17,400 clock minutes) in a term.
  • For ensembles that require a minimum 1 clock hour of out-of-class practice to prepare for or follow up the class, 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 4 nominal hours (200 clock minutes) and a maximum 6 nominal hours (5 clock hours or 300 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 60 nominal hours (50 clock hours or 3,000 clock minutes) and a maximum total 90 nominal hours (75 clock hours or 4,500 clock minutes) in a term.
  • For ensembles that require little or no out-of-class practice, 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 6 nominal hours (5 clock hours or 300 clock minutes) and a maximum 8 nominal hours (400 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 90 nominal hours (75 clock hours or 4,500 clock minutes) and a maximum 120 nominal hours (100 clock hours or 6,000 clock minutes) in a term.

FIELD EXPERIENCE – see Practical Experience

FLIGHT TRAINING

Flight training comprises individualized practical flight instruction in aircraft, simulator instruction in advanced aviation training devices (AATD) and associated ground-based instruction in aircraft flight theory. Flight training is offered under the authority of an Air Agency Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 141. Flight instruction is offered in the form of flight courses composed of instructional blocks made up of flight lessons that comply with standards of proficiency and competency stipulated in the FAA-approved Training Course Outline and Federal Aviation Regulations Parts 61 and 141.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: flight training (FLT)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 3 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio:
  • 3 credit hours are awarded for a minimum 4.8 nominal hours (4 clock hours† or 240 clock minutes) of flight training, comprising flight instruction in an aircraft, simulator instruction and ground-based instruction in flight theory towards pilot certification in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 72 nominal hours (60 clock hours† or 3,600 clock minutes) in a term.
  • 2 credit hours are awarded for a minimum 2.4 nominal hours (2 clock hours† or 120 clock minutes) of flight training, comprising flight instruction in an aircraft, simulator instruction and ground-based instruction in flight theory towards pilot certification in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 36 nominal hours (30 clock hours† or 1,800 clock minutes) in a term.
  • 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 1.2 nominal hours (1 clock hour† or 60 clock minutes) of flight training, comprising flight instruction in an aircraft, simulator instruction and ground-based instruction in flight theory towards pilot certification in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 18 nominal hours (15 clock hours† or 900 clock minutes) in a term.

†  In the context of flight training hours, flight instruction in an aircraft and simulator instruction is measured in Hobbs time, which is the time from when the engine starts to when the engine stops. Hobbs time is measured in clock hours and tenths of hours. For example, an hour and a half (90 minutes) would be recorded as 1.5 hours. Due to extenuating variables within flight training (e.g., maintenance, weather, pilot limitations) actual flight training time may exceed the stipulated minimum number of clock hours.

INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION

An individual investigation (or independent study) is a student-initiated experience to pursue an area of interest not covered by a regular course offering, with the guidance of a Kent State faculty member. The faculty member, who teaches such courses, has the primary responsibility to decide the subject content, objectives to be achieved and the effort to be expended by the student, and personally provides whatever instruction is required. The student is expected to complete pre-determined assignments, which may include a final research paper and a presentation on the findings of the study. The faculty member periodically assesses the student’s progress, determines the evaluation methods of the work presented and assigns the final grade.

Independent investigation should not be confused with individualized instruction, which is the teaching of a regular, existing course to a single student. Individualized instruction is offered only when the department or school is not offering a course according to the schedule or with sufficient frequency and it is needed by a student for a critical reason. in the case of an individualized instruction, the student should be registered into a section of the regular course, and not an individual investigation course, so that completion of the course is accurately reflected on the student's transcript.

• Designated number: xxx96
• Schedule type: Individual Investigation (IND)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 3 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 3.6 nominal hours (3 clock hours or 180 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 54 nominal hours (45 clock hours or 2,700 clock minutes) in a term.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

A Kent State faculty-led study abroad experience that integrates traditional classroom learning with experiential activities and site visits outside the United States. International experience courses may have pre- and post-travel classroom study. Course activities include, but are not limited to, classroom study, research, fieldwork, internships and service learning. The course is created specifically for the study abroad experience; course content is not offered domestically and does not already have its own course number. The full title of the course includes the words “International Experience,” and, if variable title, the individual title of each offering begins with “Intl Exp:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s transcript. International experience variable offerings should be approved by the departmental curriculum committee and reviewed by the college curriculum committee before being scheduled.

• Designated number: xxx89**
• Schedule type: International Experience (INT) course may also have pre-/post-travel lecture schedule type
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1-4
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for minimum 1.2 nominal hours (1 clock hour or 60 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 18 nominal hours (15 clock hours or 900 clock minutes) in a term. No credit can be awarded for travel time.

INTERNSHIP – See Practical Experience

LABORATORY

A laboratory is an educational activity with students conducting experiments, perfecting skills, practicing procedures or completing simulation experiences under the direction of a faculty member.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Laboratory (LAB)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, satisfactory/unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio:
  • For laboratory instruction that requires little or no out-of-class study, 1 credit hour is awarded for 3 nominal hours (2.5 clock hours or 150 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 45 nominal hours (37.5 clock hours or 2,250 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.
  • For laboratory instruction that is supplemented by out-of-class assignments that normally average 1 clock hour of out-of-class study to prepare for or follow-up the laboratory experience, 1 credit hour is awarded for 2 nominal hours (100 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 30 nominal hours (25 clock hours or 1,500 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

LECTURE

A lecture is formalized instruction, conducted on- or off-campus (including educational field trips), in which the instructor presents an educational experience to students, applying any combination of instructional methods. This definition is applicable only when the course organization requires that the instructor bear the primary responsibility for the instructional activity and is directly involved with all the students in the class. Students will be expected to work on out-of-class assignments on a regular basis over the length of the course, which will normally average two hours of out-of-class study for each hour of formal class activity. This out-of-class study shall not be counted as part of the lecture hour for credit.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Lecture (LEC)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

MASTER’S THESIS

A master’s thesis is a highly individualized investigative study that results in the development and writing of a scholarly, comprehensive paper. The thesis topic is formulated by the student in consultation with the advisor and should be one that will further the student’s educational development by developing research or other skills that will help the student keep abreast of the field and enable the student to pursue independent work.

• Designated number: 6x199 (master’s thesis I), 6x299 (master’s thesis II)
• Schedule type: Master’s Thesis (MST)
• Grade modes permitted: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, 2-6 credit hours (master’s thesis I) and 2 credit hours (master’s thesis II)
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 3.6 nominal hours (3 clock hours or 180 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 54 nominal hours (45 clock hours or 2,700 clock minutes) in a term.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE
(INTERNSHIP, PRACTICUM, FIELD EXPERIENCE, STUDENT TEACHING, DIRECTED PRACTICE)

A practical experience is credit-bearing work experiences that are integrated with academic instruction and relate to an individual student’s occupational goal. Students concurrently apply learned concepts to practical situations within an occupational field under some degree of supervision. The experience is coordinated by a Kent State faculty member, who assists the student in planning the experience and assigns the course grade to the student after appropriate consultation with the employer/supervisor. The student is expected to complete pre-determined assignments. Examples may include a weekly journal, final paper and experience report. Whether the practical experience is paid or unpaid is determined by state or federal regulations, an accreditor or the employer in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The term used by a program to label its practice experience may vary in the course title to accommodate the differences in accreditation nomenclature.

• Designated number: xxx92**
• Schedule type: Practical Experience (PRA)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, in-progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 12 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 3.6 nominal hours (3 clock hours or 180 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 54 nominal hours (45 clock hours or 2,700 clock minutes) in a term.

PRACTICUM – See Practical Experience

PRIVATE LESSON

A private lesson is one-on-one music instruction in an applied performance medium with a separate group practice, during which students perform and are critiqued by the instructor and their peers, and practice outside the lesson and group practice session.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Private Lesson (PRL)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter
• Variable credit permitted: No; courses are 1, 2 or 4 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio:
  • 1 credit hour is awarded for 0.6 nominal hour (30 clock minutes) of private lesson in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 9 nominal hours (7.5 clock hours or 450 clock minutes) in a term.
  • 2 credit hours are awarded for a minimum 0.6 nominal hour (30 clock minutes) of private lesson and 1 nominal hour (50 minutes) of group practice in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 24 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term.
  • 4 credit hours are awarded for a minimum 1.2 nominal hour (1 clock hour or 60 clock minutes) of private lessons and a minimum 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) of group practice in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 33 nominal hours (27.5 clock hours or 1,650 clock minutes) in a term.

PROJECT OR CAPSTONE

A project or capstone (which may include a senior or honor’s thesis) culminates in a scholarly, comprehensive paper or project that integrates knowledge attained through coursework and research experience. The paper or project demonstrates competence in a given academic field or profession and makes a contribution within a well-defined theoretical, applied or creative knowledge domain. It may include, but is not limited to, such products as original empirical research projects, case studies, reports or research results, theoretical or applied design projects, manuscripts for professional journals, theoretical essays, creative works and projects for identified clients.

• Designated number: xxx99**
• Schedule type: Project or Capstone (PRJ)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 9 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

RECITATION

A recitation is a less formal educational experience than a lecture with a smaller number of students, or a subsection of a larger (lecture) course, designed to include more time for discussion, questions and answers directly related to the lecture course and/or for students to demonstrate the application of ideas, theories or methods.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Recitation (RCT)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

RESEARCH

Individual enrollment for research is used to award credit for work carried out by a student under the supervision of a faculty member. The work is designed to promote inquiry on a topic, and it normally should result in a paper or some other appropriate product.

• Designated number: xxx98**
• Schedule type: Research (RES)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 6 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 3.6 nominal hours (3 clock hours or 180 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 54 nominal hours (45 clock hours or 2,700 clock minutes) in a term.

SEMINAR

A seminar is a less formal educational experience than a lecture, in which a relatively small number of students engage in discussions directed by a faculty member. The content of the course is relatively unchanged for each offering; a seminar with content that varies per offering should be designated as variable content seminar (see definition below).

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Seminar (SEM)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

SEMINAR – VARIABLE CONTENT

A variable content seminar has the same definition of a seminar, except that the content varies per course offering while overarching focus and learning outcomes are unchanged. Variable content seminars are not the same as special topics courses, the latter of which allows for each offering to be distinct with different learning outcomes. Specific offerings under this course designation cannot be required in an academic program. The full title of the course includes the word “Seminar,” and the individual title of each offering begins with “SEM:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s transcript. A seminar that has relatively unchanging content and is offered with regularity should be assigned an unreserved number (see definition above).

• Designated number: xxx91
• Schedule type: Seminar (SEM)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 4 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

SPECIAL TOPICS

Special topics courses are used to sample new offerings to determine whether or not formal adoption is desirable. Academic units may offer a specific topic under this course designation a maximum three times prior to full curricular review to become a regular course. Specific offerings under this course designation cannot be required in an academic program. The full title of the course includes the words “Special Topics,” and the individual title of each offering begins with “ST:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s transcript. Special topic offerings should be approved by the departmental curriculum committee and reviewed by the college curriculum committee before being scheduled.

• Designated number: xxx95
• Schedule type: any schedule type
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 4 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: Credit hour is awarded based on the schedule type assigned.

STUDENT TEACHING– see Practical Experience

STUDIO

A studio is a workplace for the teaching or practice of an art.

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Studio (STU)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio:
  • For studio instruction that requires little or no out-of-class study, 1 credit hour is awarded for 3 nominal hours (2.5 clock hours or 150 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 45 nominal hours (37.5 clock hours or 2,250 clock minutes) in the term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.
  • For studio instruction that is supplemented by out-of-class assignments that normally average 1 clock hour of out-of-class study to prepare for or follow-up the studio experience, 1 credit hour is awarded for 2 nominal hours (100 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 30 nominal hours (25 clock hours or 1,500 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

STUDY AWAY

A Kent State faculty-led out-of-classroom experience that integrates traditional classroom learning with experiential activities and site visits within the United States. Study away courses may have pre- and post-travel classroom study. Course activities include, but are not limited to, classroom study, research, fieldwork internships and service learning. The course is created specifically for the study away experience; course content is not offered on a Kent State campus/location and does not already have its own course number. Topics and/or content may be variable or relatively unchanged for each offering. The full title of the course includes the words “Study Away,” and, if variable title, the individual title of each offering begins with “Study Away:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s transcript. Study away variable offerings should be approved by the departmental curriculum committee and reviewed by the college curriculum committee before being scheduled.

• Designated number: xxx90**
• Schedule type: Study away (STA) course may also have pre-/post-travel lecture schedule type
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, In-Progress*
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 4 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for a minimum 1.2 nominal hours (1 clock hour or 60 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a minimum total 18 nominal hours (15 clock hours or 900 clock minutes) in a term. No credit can be awarded for travel time.

WORKSHOP

A workshop is a brief, intensive and interactive educational activity, usually for a small group of people, in which the content is practical and concentrates on the acquisition of specific information or skills. The workshop’s topic is relatively unchanged for each offering; a workshop with topics that varies per offering should be designated as variable topic workshop (see definition below).

• Designated number: None
• Schedule type: Workshop (WSP)
• Grade modes permitted: Letter, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: No
• Repeatable for credit permitted: No
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

WORKSHOP – VARIABLE TOPIC

Variable topic workshops are administered through the Office of Continuing Education and typically are directed toward professional renewal or to the mastery and application of knowledge and skills that address a narrowly defined range of problems or issues related to practice. Variable-topic workshops cannot be required in an academic program. A workshop that has relatively unchanging topics and is offered with regularity should be assigned an unreserved number (see definition above). The full title of the course includes the word “Workshop,” and the individual title of each offering begins with “WKSP:” in the Schedule of Classes and is printed on each student’s enrollee’s transcript. All initial workshop offerings should be approved by departmental curriculum committees and forwarded for review by college curriculum committees. The Ohio Department of Higher Education prohibits the awarding of graduate credit for only attendance at a conference or workshop.

• Designated number: xxx93
• Schedule type: Workshop (WSP)
• Grade modes permitted: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
• Variable credit permitted: Yes, between 1 and 6 credit hours
• Repeatable for credit permitted: Yes
• Credit-to-contact ratio: 1 credit hour is awarded for 1 nominal hour (50 clock minutes) in a standard week of a 15-week semester for a total 15 nominal hours (12.5 clock hours or 750 clock minutes) in a term. See the credit-to-contact breakdown for scheduling the course in full and parts of term.

* An in-progress mark may be permitted if there is an expectation that students will not be able to complete all assignments by the end of the course. Documentation is required for that mark consideration. An in-progress mark should not be confused with an incomplete mark, which is given to a student who—due to that student’s extenuating circumstance—is unable to complete the required work between the course withdrawal deadline and end of class.

** Any undergraduate course with the number xxx89, (international experience), xxx90 (study away), xxx92 (practical experience), xxx98 (research) or xxx99 (project or capstone) fulfills students’ experiential learning requirement (ELR). Developers of these courses do not need to request the attribute; it is assigned by Curriculum Services.

Approved by Faculty Senate on February 12, 2024
Prior Approval Dates: December 11, 2023; December 11, 2017; September 9, 2013; November 5, 2012