The subject code is a two- to four-letter abbreviation that identifies the department or discipline responsible for a course (e.g., MATH for Mathematics or HIST for History). The subject code connects the course to its home department and ensures it is searchable in the catalog and registration systems.

Each course is assigned a two- to four-digit number that indicates its level and type (e.g., 1000-level for introductory undergraduate courses, 5000-level and above for graduate courses). For details about how numbers are assigned, see Course Numbers guidance.

A catalog description is a concise statement of the course’s content, written for students, their families, and others exploring UConn’s curriculum. It should summarize the main topics and approaches without promotional language or background narrative. For detailed guidance, see the Guide to Drafting Course Catalog Copy.

Most UConn courses use one of three grading bases: 

• Graded (A–F) – Standard letter grades. 
• Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) – Performance assessed as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. 
• Honors – A limited number of courses may carry an honors grading basis. More commonly, departments schedule honors-designated sections of graded courses. 

Note: S/U courses may not also be offered as Honors.

Pass/fail is a student option, not a course attribute. Students may elect to take certain courses pass/fail following policies outlined in the Undergraduate or Graduate Catalogs. Faculty do not set this grading basis at the course or section level.

Credits (or credit hours) reflect the amount of work required to meet the intended learning outcomes. Most courses have a fixed credit value. Some, such as internships, independent studies, or variable-topic courses, may allow a range of credits. When proposing a variable-credit course, specify the range of credits (e.g., 1–3). This range cannot be overridden later. 

For UConn’s official definition of a credit hour, see the UConn Transcript Key.

By default, courses may only be taken once for credit. Some courses—especially individualized, variable-topic, or program-required courses—are approved as repeatable for credit. When proposing a repeatable course, faculty must specify: 

• Total credits allowed: Maximum credits a student can earn from the course (e.g., 6, 12, or unlimited [coded as 999]). 
• Number of completions: How many times a student may take the course (e.g., 2, 4, or unlimited [coded as 99]). 
• Multiple enrollments in the same term: Whether a student may take different sections of the same course in a single semester (e.g., a variable-topic course with different subject matter). 

• Prerequisites: Courses that must be completed before a student may enroll. 
• Corequisites: Courses that must be taken **at the same time. ** 

Requisites ensure students are adequately prepared. If students are required to take two courses together, that must be clearly stated in the proposal.

Enrollment may be restricted by criteria such as: 

• Enrollment status: Undergraduate vs. Graduate. 
• Academic level: Sophomore, Junior, Senior. 
• Program/Major/Minor: Limited to specific fields of study. 

School/College: Restricted to students in particular schools or colleges.

Restrictions prevent students from receiving duplicate credit: 

• Standard credit restrictions: Prevent credit if another course with overlapping content has been completed. There are identified in the course description with the following language: “Not open for credit to students who have passed ABCD 1234.” These restrictions cannot be waived. 
• Out-of-sequence restrictions: Prevent credit for a prerequisite taken after its advanced counterpart. Example wording: “May not be taken out of sequence after passing ABCD 1234.” These restrictions may be waived by departments.