Explanation Of Course Listings

Courses at Cottey College are listed by discipline. Courses are identified according to the following example:

Definition of Course Levels

000-099 

Courses to develop students’ skill levels in order to achieve success at the college level. Courses at this level apply toward full-time status and GPA but do not fulfill degree requirements.

100-199

Lower-level courses of introductory college-level difficulty that explore either a broad aspect or fundamental skill set in the discipline. Students will work to recall elements and details of content, including identification and illustration of important concepts. 

Expectations upon enrollment:

• Students possess reading skills sufficient to comprehend college-level material in textbook and monograph form.
• Students can complete assignments involving reading and comprehending a specified amount of material, or preparing organized papers.

200-299

Lower-level courses of intermediate college-level difficulty intended primarily for second-year or sophomore students. Courses that explore specific facets of a discipline. Developing communication and critical thinking skills are used to distinguish central concepts and identify patterns within the subject matter.

Expectations upon enrollment:

• Students are acquainted with the basic language, terminology, or methodology of the subject itself.
• Students are, in that subject, at a stage of understanding where they can progress towards some significant conclusions, experiments, or explorations.
• Students are able to accomplish a substantial amount of work, for example: study a number of books or work through a comprehensive textbook, write a number of papers, demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the material covered, or other work in the discipline.

300-399

Upper-level courses of advanced college-level difficulty intended primarily for upper division students. Courses that involve the synthesis and application of knowledge in the discipline through making critical distinctions, investigations, and critiques.

Expectations upon enrollment:

• Students have the ability to do research, or to obtain relevant information in the field.
• Students are proficient in the language of the field so as to read and assimilate relevant information.
• Students are able to combine the results of the research, or the reading, into cohesive (and possibly original) statements.
• Students are able to produce some substantial work, such as a paper, or a creative or experimental project.

400-499

Advanced upper-level courses intended primarily for fourth-year students (seniors) usually within a major; example types of courses are seminars, specialized work in a major, and capstones. Courses that culminate the undergraduate immersion, prompting discovery within the discipline. Students will master the ability to analyze and synthesize information independently in original and creative ways.

Expectations upon enrollment:

• Students have the ability to complete a major research project or paper.
• Students’ learning may be designed and applied through seminars, field experiences, internships, or other capstone experiences.
• Students have the capacity to work independently under the guidance or supervision of an instructor.

Course Frequency

Indicates the projected schedule on which the course will be offered: f = fall semester s = spring semester fs = both semesters xf = alternate years in fall semester xs = alternate years in spring semester y = occasionally u = summer The course frequency projections are subject to change.

Course Description

Following each course listing is a course description. The first item in the course description is the prerequisite for those courses which have prerequisites. Prerequisites are listed to inform the student what they must complete in advance to ensure success in the course. Consent of Instructor [listed in the appropriate class schedule] may be substituted for the prerequisite. The second item in the course description is the corequisite for those courses which have corequisites. Corequisites are listed to inform the student in which courses they must also enroll during the same semester. Course descriptions may also contain instructions or limitations and should be reviewed carefully.

Credit Hours

After the course description is the number of credit hours. Cottey College operates on a semester system with an abbreviated summer term. A credit hour is determined by the following definitions. 

• A class hour or instructional hour is defined as 50 clock minutes.
• A class must meet for at least 750 clock minutes for each semester hour of academic credit, or students must complete an equivalent amount of work appropriate to the discipline.
• Contact means direct interaction for teaching/learning between the instructor and one or more students as part of a regularly scheduled course.
• One semester hour of credit may be given for a course for each contact hour per week of lecture or discussion classes (1:1 credit hour/contact hour ratio plus two hours of outside work). This equates to 50 minutes per week for 15 weeks or 750 minutes per semester.
• One semester hour of credit may be given for a laboratory or studio class for at least two contact hours per week. Courses which include lecture and laboratory or studio carry credit combining the above guidelines.
• One semester hour of credit may be given for each three hours of independent study per week.
• One semester hour of credit may be given for an internship class for each 45 hours of internship work time.
• One semester hour of credit may be given for Applied or Elective lesson courses for each 30 minute lesson per week.
• Credit hour determinations for courses are made by the Curriculum Committee upon the recommendation of the respective academic division.

The course listings are based upon reasonable projections of faculty and faculty availability and appropriate curriculum considerations. The College reserves the right at any time to modify or terminate program requirements, content, and the sequence of program offerings for educational, financial, or other reasons.

Course Delivery Method

Courses may be delivered through traditional, hybrid, or online methods. For the purposes of these definitions, synchronous is defined as class instruction and student learning occurring at the same time (for example: instructor(s) and students meet in the classroom at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday); asynchronous is defined as class instruction and student learning occurring at different times (for example: students view a recorded lecture for the first time three days after the video is created). Cottey uses the following definitions of educational delivery methods:

• Traditional: 0-24% of course content is delivered through web-based technology to enhance the face-to-face course. Instructor and student interactions occur face-to-face.
• Hybrid: 25-74% of course content is delivered online using either synchronous or asynchronous instruction. Instructor and student interactions occur both in the classroom and online. Face-to-face meetings are reduced proportionally by the amount of course content delivered online (i.e., a traditional course that meets twice per week could be offered as a 50% hybrid that meets once per week with equivalent online activities).
• Online: 75-100% of course content is delivered online using either synchronous or asynchronous instruction. Synchronous class meetings may be conducted using suitable technologies or face-to-face; however, there is no requirement for synchronous meetings. Students interact with one another and the instructor through the Learning Management System and other appropriate technologies. Instructor and student interactions occur online through discussion, chat, web conferencing, and other activities. 

Course delivery method will be indicated on the course schedule and syllabus. Online and hybrid courses are as rigorous as traditional courses but may use different instruction techniques to reach course outcomes. Cottey is committed to providing an equivalent academic experience regardless of course delivery method. Course delivery method will be indicated on the course schedule and syllabus.