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Course Numbering Guidelines & Policies


The below numbering guidelines, with components and grading basis are based off USHE Policy R475. In some instances, components listed by USHE are not in use by the University of Utah. In those cases, the USHE component can, and perhaps should, appear in the course title, but then the course should be assigned the corresponding Utah Component. These have been listed in the table as “USHE Component ‘xxx’ = Utah Component ‘xxx’”.

It is best practice to not reuse course numbers as this can have negative impacts on student records, causing errors in repeat processing, transfer articulation, and in how courses are applied to degree requirements.

If you would like a list of already used course numbers (including past & present), please contact the Curriculum Management and Academic Planning Office by sending an email to curriculum@utah.edu.

Course Level/Category
Course Numbers
Allowable Components
Grading Basis
Undergraduate, Lower Division 1000 - 2799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Undergraduate, Lower Division 2800 - 2899 Seminars In-Progress
Undergraduate, Lower Division 2900 - 2999 Field Work, Independent Study, Practicum, Special Projects, Special Topics, Workshops In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 3000 - 3799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Undergraduate, Upper Division 3800 - 3899 Seminars In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 3900 - 3999 Field Work, Independent Study, Practicum, Special Projects, Special Topics, Workshops In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4000 - 4799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4800 - 4899 Seminars In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4800 - 4829 USHE Component 'Individual Research' =
Utah Component 'Independent Study'.
In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4830 - 4859 USHE Component 'Directed Reading' =
Utah Component 'Independent Study'. 
In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4860 - 4889 Practicum In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4890 - 4919 USHE Component 'Internship' =
Utah Component 'Practicum'.
In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4900 - 4999 Independent Study, Special Projects, Special Topics In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4920 - 4949 Workshops In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4950 - 4989 USHE Component 'Field Trips' =
Utah Component 'Field Work'
In-Progress
Undergraduate, Upper Division 4998 - 4999 Honors Thesis In-Progress
Undergraduate, Advanced Upper Division 5000 - 5799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Undergraduate, Advanced Upper Division 5800 - 5899 Seminars In-Progress
Undergraduate, Advanced Upper Division 5900 - 5999 Field Work, Independent Study, Practicum, Special Projects, Special Topics, Workshops In-Progress
Graduate 6000 - 6799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Graduate 6800 - 6899 Graduate Seminars In-Progress
Graduate 6900 - 6960 Independent Study, Special Topics In-Progress
Graduate 6970 - 6979 Thesis Research In-Progress
Graduate 6980 - 6989 USHE Component 'Faculty Research Consultation' = Utah Component 'Thesis Research'. In-Progress
Graduate 6990 Master's Thesis Continuing Registration In-Progress
Graduate 6900 - 6999 Field Work, Practicum, Special Projects, Workshops In-Progress
Graduate 7000 - 7799 Regular Courses *  Graded
Graduate 7800 - 7899 Advanced Graduate Seminars In-Progress
Graduate 7900 - 7960 Independent Study, Special Topics, Workshops In-Progress
Graduate 7970 - 7979 USHE Component 'Dissertation and Project Research' =
Utah Component 'Thesis Research'.
In-Progress
Graduate 7980 - 7989 USHE Component 'Faculty Consultation' =
Utah Component 'Thesis Research'. 
In-Progress
Graduate 7990 Continuing Registration In-Progress
Graduate 7900 - 7999 Field Work, Practicum, Special Projects In-Progress

*Regular Courses are those that are assigned any of the following components:

  • Activity
  • Clinical
    • ‘Graded’ should be used as the Grading Basis for courses outside the School of Medicine.
    • ‘Pass/Fail’ should be used as the Grading Basis for courses within the School of Medicine.
  • Discussion
  • Ensemble
  • Laboratory
  • Lecture
  • Private Instruction
  • Studio
Last Updated: 12/19/24