.01
Course Levels and Prerequisites
A.
Levels
1.
American University courses are identified by a subject code, three-digit
number, and a short descriptive course title. The numbers identify the
level of each course as follows:
a. 001–099: no degree credit
b. 100–499: undergraduate credit
c. 500–599: graduate and advanced
undergraduate credit
d. 600–799: graduate credit
B.
Prerequisites
1.
Many courses at all levels require prior completion of other courses
or other stated prerequisites. When such requirements are indicated,
advisors may authorize only those persons who have clearly met them
to enroll. A student whose eligibility for enrollment in a particular
course is in question should be referred to the college, school, or
department in charge of the course for a decision.
2.
At the discretion of the dean of the college or school concerned, course
prerequisites may be satisfied by standardized subject‑matter
examinations or by successful completion of the final examination in
the appropriate course or courses at American University.
3.
Credits earned in undergraduate courses taken as prerequisites for other
courses by graduate students may not be counted toward satisfying the
total credit hour requirement for a graduate degree, and grades earned
in them are not used in calculating the student's grade point average.
Manual
of Information, Regulations and Procedures, Section III, Academic Regulations,
third edition, p. 7. Vice President for Academic Affairs, June 1976.
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.02
Residence Credit for Degree Students
A.
Credit earned by an undergraduate student in degree or nondegree status
in any course offered by the colleges and schools of American University
(on or off its campus), is residence credit and may be applied toward
meeting the requirements for a degree if the course is appropriate and
the grade received in it is satisfactory. Credits earned by American
University students through the Consortium of Universities are residence
credits. Each candidate for an undergraduate degree at American University
must complete satisfactorily a minimum number of residence credit hours,
as described in the regulations governing undergraduate degrees, 40.10.10
Degree Requirements: Undergraduate.
Senate
action and Provost approval, October 1987. Effective fall 1988.
B.
For regulations governing undergraduate degrees, see 40.10.10 Degree
Requirements: Undergraduate. For regulations governing graduate degrees,
see 55.00.04 Graduate Minimum Standards.
Manual
of Information, Regulations and Procedures, Section III, Academic Regulations,
third edition, pp. 7a‑7b; Vice President for Academic Affairs;
February 1974, March 1974, July 1975. Senate action and Provost approval,
October 1987.
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.03
Transfer of Credit
C.
Transfer of Undergraduate Credit for Enrolled Students
The university expects that undergraduate students, once enrolled at
the university for degree study, will complete all course requirements
for their degrees through American University course work. When justification
exists for taking a course at another institution outside of the Washington,
D.C. Consortium, the following conditions must be met in order for transfer
of credit to American University to take place:
1. The student must be in good academic standing.
2. The visited institution, if in the United States, must be regionally
accredited.
3. Once a student matriculates at AU, he/she may have up to 6 credits
transferred only from institutions accredited for granting bachelor's
or higher degrees. (See paragraph 5 below for foreign institutions.)
Senate action and Provost approval, January 2007. Effective fall
2007.
4. For U.S. institutions, a request for transfer of credit must be made
on the Undergraduate Permit to Study at Another U.S. Institution Form
and approved in advance of registering at the visited institution by
the student's advisor, teaching unit chair, and college dean. In addition,
if the course to be taken is outside the area of the student's major,
the chair of the teaching unit which would offer credit for such a course
at American University must also approve the permit.
5. For foreign institutions, requests for transfer of credit must be
made on a Permit to Study Abroad Form and approved at American University
in advance of registering at the visited foreign institution as in 35.00.03.C.4
. In addition, the student must obtain the approval of the Director
of AU Abroad.
6. After the student has matriculated at American University, no credit
toward General Education Requirements may be earned through transfer
credit.
D. For additional information regarding transferability of credit for
study away from American University, see 75.00.08 Study Away from the
University.
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.04
Off-Campus Study
A.
A course offered in an off‑campus program must be one which is
a part of the officially approved offerings of one of the colleges,
schools, or departments of the university. Responsibility for the academic
control of each course, including approval of the instructor, course
syllabus, and the like rests with the dean or department chair of the
academic unit concerned. The expectations as to the academic level and
quality of teaching in off‑campus courses are the same as in on‑campus
courses and the standards of student achievement and the ultimate academic
objectives of both should be the same. The scheduling of independent
reading and research courses, or other “hours arranged” courses is not
authorized in off‑campus programs.
B.
Off‑campus programs may include both graduate and undergraduate
courses in all fields offered by the university except law. Credit earned
in off‑campus programs is applicable as residence credit toward
the degrees offered by various colleges and schools under the same conditions
and regulations as credit earned in courses meeting in campus facilities.
C.
Although the scheduling of off‑campus classes does not necessarily
conform to the general pattern of the university calendar and class
time schedule, the relationship between instructional contact time and
credit hours per course should be equivalent.
Senate
action, April 1999. Provost approval, May 1999.
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