PLU Course Numbers by Level
100-299 Lower-Division Courses: Open to first-year students and sophomores unless otherwise restricted.
300-499 Upper-Division Courses: Generally open to juniors and seniors unless otherwise specified. Also open to graduate students, and may be considered part of a graduate program provided the courses are not specific requirements in preparation for graduate study.
500-599 Graduate Courses: Normally open to graduate students only. If, during the last semester of the senior year, a candidate for a baccalaureate degree finds it possible to complete all degree requirements with a registration of fewer than 16 semester hours of undergraduate credit, registration for graduate credit is permissible. However, the total registration for undergraduate requirements and elective graduate credit shall not exceed 16 semester hours during the semester. A memorandum stating that all baccalaureate requirements are being met during the current semester must be signed by the appropriate department chair or school dean and presented to the dean of graduate studies at the time of such registration. This registration does not apply toward a higher degree unless it is later approved by the student’s advisor and/or advisory committee.
800-899 Continuing Education Undergraduate Courses: Courses reserved for undergraduate-level continuing education classes.
900-999 Continuing Education Graduate Courses: Courses reserved for graduate-level continuing education classes.
Note: Lower-division students may enroll in upper-division courses if prerequisites have been met.
PLU-Wide Course Numbers
When academic units choose to use the following types of courses, they do so under these specific headings and numbers. Departments that offer any of the listed courses below must do so in compliance with the Educational Policies Committee approved course titles and numbers.
- Independent Study
291 – Directed Studies (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide individual undergraduate students with introductory study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as DS: followed by the specific title designated by the student.
491 – Independent Studies (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide individual undergraduate students with advanced study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student.
591 – Independent Studies (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide individual graduate students graduate-level study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student.
598 – Non-thesis Research Project (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide graduate students with graduate-level non-thesis research opportunities. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Project: followed by the specific title designated by the student.
599 – Thesis (1 to 4 semester hours): To permit graduate students to demonstrate their ability to do independent research. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Thesis: followed by the specific title designated by the student.
- Internships
495 – Internship (1 to 12 semester hours): to permit undergraduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student.
595 – Internship (1 to 12 semester hours): to permit graduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student.
- Senior Seminar – Undergraduate General Education Element
499 – Capstone (1 to 4 semester hours): to enable senior students in an academic unit to share their work and receive group criticism. The title will be listed on student term-based records as Capstone and may be followed by a specific title designated by the academic unit. Please note: Some departments do not require the 499 capstone. Please check the department listings for the senior seminar undergraduate general education element.
- Special Topics
287, 288, 289 (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit.
387, 388, 389 (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide undergraduate students with new, one-time and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit.
487, 488, 489 (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide undergraduate students with new, one-time and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit.
587, 588, 589 (1 to 4 semester hours): to provide graduate students with new, one-time and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit.
- Study Away Designators
150SA, 250SA: for courses taken off campus through Wang Center for Global Education Programs, not taught by PLU faculty, and transferred back to PLU as a lower-division credit.
350SA, 450SA: for courses taken off campus through Wang Center for Global Education Programs, not taught by PLU faculty, and transferred back to PLU as an upper-division credit.
Course Offerings
Most listed courses are offered every year. A system of alternating upper-division courses is practiced in some departments, thereby assuring a broader curriculum. The University reserves the right to modify specific course requirements, to discontinue classes in which the registration is regarded as insufficient, and to withdraw courses as well as clinical placements, preceptorships, and rotations. Most courses have a value of four semester hours. Parenthetical numbers immediately after the course description or title indicates the number of semester hour credit given.