Graduate Sections of "Mixed" Credit 3000 or 4000-Level Courses (Undergraduate Courses that are Approved for Graduate Credit)
FAQs for Everyone
1. What is the change?
Many courses at OSU have been approved to be offered for both undergraduate and graduate credit. These 3000-level and 4000-level courses are identified by an asterisk next to the course number in the Catalog. A student must perform extra work as specified in the course syllabus to earn graduate credit for such a class. The instructor for any course for which graduate credit is received must be a member of the OSU Graduate Faculty.
Both students seeking undergraduate credit and those seeking graduate credit in such courses typically meet in the same classroom at the same time with the same instructor. It is nearly impossible to determine after the fact whether or not a student did indeed perform the extra work necessary to earn graduate credit (e.g., in determining whether such courses can be used on a graduate plan of study). Furthermore, the current ambiguity in the course numbering system may, in the case of course sections for which graduate credit is available but for which no students actually seek it, incorrectly “flag” course sections that are not assigned to graduate faculty.
Therefore, beginning Fall 2010, OSU will require that “mixed” courses that are available for both undergraduate and graduate credit identify which type of credit is being offered through the use of different section numbers for each type of credit.
2. How will the different sections of "mixed" courses be denoted?
Undergraduate sections will be denoted by section numbers that are wholly numeric, whereas graduate sections will contain the letter ‘G’ in the section number, usually in the last digit. For example, consider PHYS 4513* (Introductory Quantum Mechanics). In any semester this course is offered for graduate credit, at least two sections will be open. PHYS 4513-001 will be for students seeking undergraduate credit and PHYS 4513-01G will be for students seeking graduate credit. Both sections will meet at the same time, on the same days, in the same classroom, with the same instructor.
Student FAQs
1. I'm an undergraduate student and I only want undergraduate credit for a course. What section do I take?
You should enroll in any section that does not have a ‘G’ in the section number. Although the class may have graduate students in it, you will not be required to do the extra work that is required of students who earn graduate credit.
2. I'm an undergraduate senior and I want graduate credit for a course. What section do I take?
You should request to take the course for graduate credit by filling out the Application for Graduate Credit for Graduating Seniors form. Once approved, take the signed form to the Registrar’s office and enroll in the section of the course containing a ‘G’ in the section number. This must be completed before the end of the restrictive drop/add period (the first two weeks of a 16-week semester or proportionate times for courses that are offered on a different schedule). You will be required to do the extra work that is required of students who earn graduate credit.
3. I'm a graduate student and I want graduate credit for a course. What section do I take?
You should enroll in the section of the course containing a ‘G’ in the section number. You will, of course, be required to do the extra work that is required of students who earn graduate credit.
4. I'm a graduate student, but I don't need a course for my degree, and so I only want undergraduate credit for the course. What section do I take?
You should request to take the course for undergraduate credit by filling out the Undergraduate Credit for 3000/4000 Asterisk Courses form. Once approved, take the signed form to the Registrar’s Office and enroll in the section of the course that does not contain a ‘G’ in the section number. This must be completed before the end of the restrictive drop/add period (the first two weeks of a 16-week semester or proportionate times for courses that are offered on a different schedule). You will not be required to do the extra work that is required of students who earn graduate credit, but you will not be able to use this course on a graduate plan of study.
5. I'm a graduate student and I took a "mixed" course for undergraduate credit some time ago. I want to use this course toward my master's degree. How do I "upgrade" to graduate credit?
You can’t. The only way to earn graduate credit for a “mixed” course is to enroll in a graduate section for the entire semester in question.
6. I'm a student taking a "mixed" course for graduate credit. It's mid-semester and, based on the other demands on my time; it looks like I won't be able to do the extra work required for graduate credit. Can I revert to the undergraduate credit option?
No. The only way to earn undergraduate credit for a “mixed” course is to enroll in an undergraduate section for the semester in question.
7. I'm a student taking a "mixed" course for undergraduate credit. Its mid-semester and I've decided that I want to try and do the extra work required for graduate credit. Can I "upgrade" to the graduate credit option?
No. The only way to earn graduate credit for a “mixed” course is to enroll in a graduate section for the entire semester in question.
Faculty FAQs
1. Why is it important to have only graduate faculty teaching courses for graduate credit?
OSU’s accreditation relies, in part, on having courses for graduate credit taught only by individuals that are approved to teach courses for graduate credit (i.e., Members and appropriately-credentialed Affiliates of the OSU Graduate Faculty). This requirement is also specified in the Bylaws of the Graduate Faculty. Having separate sections will make adherence to this requirement more transparent to students, faculty, and outside agencies.
2. I'm a graduate advisor. My student enrolled in the undergraduate-credit section of a "mixed" course. Can s/he use this course on a Plan of Study for a graduate degree?
No. Only courses offered for graduate credit may be used toward a graduate degree.
3. I'm a graduate faculty member and the instructor of a "mixed" course. Why is it important for me to know which students are enrolled in which section?
The enrollment in the two sections clarifies which students are assigned the extra work required to obtain graduate credit.
4. I'm a graduate faculty member and the instructor of a "mixed" course. Should I indicate in my syllabus the different responsibilities and expectations of student seeking undergraduate and graduate credit?
Absolutely. It is important for students to understand the responsibilities and expectations associated with each level of credit in “mixed” courses.
5. I'm the instructor of a "mixed" course. How many class rolls will I get?
Two. One for the students in the “undergraduate” section and one for students in the “graduate” section. It is important that you make it clear, as soon as possible in the term in which section, with its associated requirements, each student is enrolled. Any discrepancies should be addressed by students dropping the inappropriate section and adding the appropriate one before the end of the restrictive drop/add period (the first two weeks of a 16-week semester or proportionate times for courses that are offered on a different schedule).
6. What precautions are in place to prevent students from enrolling in the "wrong" section of a "mixed" course?
To reduce enrollment errors, enrollment by students in the “wrong” section of a “mixed” course will be restricted unless proper permission is given. A student with an open undergraduate matriculation will be allowed to enroll only in the undergraduate section; a student with an open graduate matriculation will be allowed to enroll only in the graduate section. However, if an undergraduate student wishes to receive graduate credit (by Academic Regulation 4.7), he or she will be allowed to enroll in the graduate section provided he or she submits the proper paperwork (see the Application for Graduate Credit for Graduating Seniors form. In (presumably) much rarer cases, a graduate student will be able to request undergraduate credit and enroll in the undergraduate section, using the Undergraduate Credit for 3000/4000 Asterisk Courses form, with the understanding that graduate credit cannot be given for that course later.
Department Head FAQs
1. Will our department have to submit a great deal of paperwork, such as course action forms, to establish these new sections?
No, the creation of sections does not require the same approval process as a new course. The presence of an asterisk in the course listing (denoting that the course has been approved for graduate credit) justifies the creation of section numbers designated for both undergraduate and graduate credit. The creation of these separate sections can be handled at the departmental level through the class scheduling procedure.
2. OK, so what will need to be done to establish the new graduate sections?
The person responsible for establishing the department’s course schedule (usually the department head) will need to request a new ‘G’ section for each “asterisked” 3000-level and 4000-level course for which the department intends to offer graduate credit. This should be requested via submission of a new section add form during the drafting process. These two sections will meet at the same time and at the same location.
The department must verify that graduate credit is approved for the undergraduate course prior to requesting a ‘G’ section. Departments may determine which courses have been approved for graduate credit by reviewing submitted course action forms or by reviewing the 125 course inventory screen in SIS. Additionally, an ePrint report named UGCRSGC lists the currently scheduled undergraduate courses that are approved for graduate credit and are therefore candidates for creation of a “G” section.
As with other multi-section lectures, the department is responsible for ensuring that the total enrollment for both sections remains at or below the fire code capacity for the classroom. When making the decision whether to cancel a section because of low enrollment, the department will need to take into consideration the combined enrollment of the ‘G’ section and the corresponding undergraduate section.
3. How do I know whether I need to assign a graduate faculty member for a "mixed" course?
In making instructor assignments, the enrollment in the various sections determines whether or not a graduate faculty member is required to teach the section. If the graduate section has any students enrolled in it, that section (and its cotemporaneous undergraduate equivalent) must be taught by a graduate faculty Member or appropriately-credentialed Affiliate; if no graduate faculty Member or Affiliate is available, then the graduate section may not be offered. If a course has been assigned to a graduate faculty Member or Affiliate and the graduate section proves to be empty, the department head may, if desired, close the graduate section and assign the remaining undergraduate section to an individual who is not a member of the graduate faculty.
4. Neither of the two sections has enough students in it to justify offering the section, but combined they do. Can I offer the course?
The two sections are strongly “coupled.” They meet at the same time and the same place, with the same instructor. You should consider the combined enrollment in deciding whether or not the class “makes.” For the same reason, the combined enrollment in the two sections must be no greater than the capacity of the classroom in which the course is offered, and this must be considered in assigning the number of slots for each section.
5. My department has companion courses available for undergraduate and graduate credit listed as 4000-level/5000-level. Will we be required to change these course listings?
No, if the existing scheme for these courses is working well, no change is required.
6. What about Tulsa courses available for both undergraduate and graduate credit?
Tulsa sections are numbered in the 800s (for example, section 801). The last digit of the section number would move to the middle digit, and a ‘G’ would become the last digit of the graduate section (for example, section 81G).
7. What about Outreach courses available for both undergraduate and graduate credit?
This presents some difficulty, since the last digit in the 600-series section number for outreach courses reflects the mode of delivery, so only the middle character in the section number is “free.” If using a ‘G’ in the last digit of the section number does not work for an outreach course, the ‘G’ could be placed in the middle digit. If this is not feasible, departments may request new companion 4000/5000-level courses at the next curricular review. This can be accomplished with a zero-ending 5000-level course if desired.
8. What about Summer courses available for both undergraduate and graduate credit?
This presents some difficulty, since the middle digit in the 200-series section number for many summer courses (those not offered in the 8-week session) reflects which summer session the course is offered. In this case only the last character in the section number is “free.” If the ‘G’ section scheme does not work for a summer course, departments may request new companion 4000/5000-level courses at the next curricular review. This can be accomplished with a zero-ending 5000-level course if desired.
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