Course Types

UConn courses may take a variety of forms. All course types must comply with UConn’s definition of the credit hour and meet NECHE and programmatic accreditation standards (if applicable). Syllabi must reflect the approved course type and modality and align with approved learning objectives. Experimental or pilot courses should be developed as special topics courses before proceeding to full governance review. 

The following types are consistent with the Glossary: 

• Structured/Lecture Courses – Courses that meet weekly for a set number of hours. Instruction may include lecture, discussion, or active learning strategies. These are the most common course type. 
• Seminar Courses – Discussion-based courses where students engage in presentations, debates, and critical dialogue. These are often smaller in size and promote advanced exploration of a topic. 
• Independent Study Courses – One-on-one or small group study with a faculty member. Requires a syllabus agreed upon by the student and supervising faculty member. 
• Thesis Courses – Courses in which students complete an independent research or creative project, often culminating in a thesis or major paper/presentation. Required for many honors and graduate programs. 
• Capstone Courses – Culminating experiences that allow students to apply program knowledge and skills. Often involve comprehensive projects, research, or performance assessments. 
• Topics Courses – Courses whose content varies by semester. Includes: 
  • Special Topics Courses – Used to pilot offerings of new subject matter, often a precursor to a permanent course proposal. 
  • Variable Topics Courses – Used to offer courses that would not be regularly taught because they are 1) tied to current events (e.g. midterm elections) or 2) offered by visiting faculty members whose expertise is not generally available in the department.
• Experiential Learning Courses – Courses that integrate theory with practice. Examples include: 
  • Clinical Courses – Practical training in healthcare, law, or similar settings. 
  • Internship Courses – Supervised workplace learning experiences. 
  • Practicum/Fieldwork Courses – Structured applied experiences tied to academic objectives. 
  • Research Courses – Focused on developing research skills through supervised inquiry. 
  • Service Learning/Community-Based Courses – Link academic study with service to community partners. 
  • Studio or Performance Courses – Hands-on practice in art, design, or performing arts settings. 
  • Laboratory Courses – Hands-on experimentation or technical skill development in scientific settings. 
• Courses Integrating Multiple Disciplines – Cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, or transdisciplinary courses that combine perspectives and methods across fields of study. 

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Course Statuses

All courses at UConn have a defined status in the University Catalog. Course statuses ensure clarity on whether courses are active and available for student enrollment:

• Active – Approved and currently offered or available for scheduling. Appears in the catalog. 
• Inactive – Approved but not currently offered. May be reactivated without full review if content remains current. 
• Suspended* – Temporarily not offered due to resource or programmatic issues. Courses may be suspended upon department request, and courses that have not been offered in at least four years will be automatically suspended by the Registrar’s Office. Suspended courses may be reinstated or closed depending on future circumstances. 
• Closed/Terminated* – Permanently discontinued. No longer offered or listed in the catalog (though past offerings remain on student transcripts). 

* The Registrar’s Office will remove all catalog references (such as references within program requirements) to suspended and closed courses upon publication of the catalog during which the suspension or closure takes effect. If a course is subsequently reactivated, it will be the responsibility of the department to submit program proposals to re-add the course to program requirements where appropriate.