Undergraduate study
General course information
Credit hour
Course numbering system
Course interpretation
Course abbreviations
Credit hour
A credit hour is defined as a reasonable approximation of not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. Credit is based on at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours and is established by individual programs. This definition represents the minimum standard. Student time commitment per credit hour may be higher in individual programs.
Course numbering system
All schools and programs within VCU use the following course numbering system. All course numbers consist of three digits (XXX). The first digit relates to the course level as follows:
0XX – Noncredit courses
Courses with these numbers are offered for students to make up deficiencies in previous training or to improve certain basic skills.
1XX and 2XX – Undergraduate, lower level
Courses offered primarily for undergraduate students and may not be used for graduate credit, although graduate students may be required to register for courses at this level to gain a necessary foundation for other course work.
3XX and 4XX – Undergraduate, upper level
Courses offered for advanced undergraduates and usually constitute the major portion of specific program work leading to the baccalaureate degree. On occasion, students will be advised by their graduate advisers to enroll in 4XX courses for prerequisite work. Graduate programs can require that 400-level courses be taken, but credit in these courses cannot count toward the graduate degree or in the graduate GPA.
5XX – Introductory graduate courses
Graduate students enroll for credit in these courses through the normal graduate advising system. Departments may limit the number of 500-level courses applicable to a graduate degree program. Advanced undergraduates may enroll in these courses for credit with consent of the offering department. Credit is applicable toward only one degree unless a student is admitted to a course of study that allows a defined number of shared courses.
5XX – First year, first-professional (dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy) courses
Normally open to students enrolled in the D.D.S., D.P.T., M.D. and Pharm.D. programs. Certain courses of this group may be designated by the department and approved by the University Graduate Council for graduate credit.
6XX, 7XX and 8XX – Graduate courses
Graduate students enroll for credit in these courses through the normal graduate advising system. Credit is applicable toward only one degree unless a student is admitted to a course of study that allows a defined number of shared courses.
6XX and 7XX – Professional graduate courses
6XX: second year, first-professional [dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy (second and third year)] courses normally open only to students enrolled in the D.D.S., M.D. and Pharm.D. programs. Certain courses of this group may be designated by the department and approved by the Graduate Council for graduate credit.
7XX: third and fourth year, first-professional (dentistry, medicine and pharmacy ) courses normally open only to students enrolled in the D.D.S., M.D. and Pharm.D. programs. Certain courses of this group may be designated by the department and approved by the Graduate Council for graduate credit.
Course interpretation
A single-number listing for a course, such as HIST 101, indicates it is a one-semester course and may be offered each semester or only one semester each year.
Courses listed with a double number, such as HIST 201, 202, are designated as semester courses. They consist of two one-semester courses either of which may be taken without the other.
Courses listed with a double number, such as CHEM 101-102, are designated as a continuous course. They consist of two one-semester courses, the first of which can be taken without the second, but the second of which cannot be taken without the successful completion of the first.
Course abbreviations ending in “Z” denote credit-bearing laboratories.
The university reserves the right to withdraw any course or program.
Course abbreviations
Abbrev. |
Description |
ACCT |
Accounting |
ADLT |
Adult education |
ADMS |
Administration and supervision |
AFAM |
African American studies |
ALHP |
Allied health professions |
AMST |
American studies |
ANAT |
Anatomy and neurobiology |
ANTH |
Anthropology |
APPM |
Applied music |
ARBC |
Arabic |
ARTE |
Art education |
ARTF |
Art foundation |
ARTH |
Art history |
ARTS |
Arts |
ATTR |
Athletic training |
BIOC |
Biochemistry |
BIOL |
Biology |
BIOS |
Biostatistics |
BIOZ |
Biology laboratory |
BNFO |
Bioinformatics |
CCTR |
Clinical and translational research |
CHEB |
Chemical biology |
CHEM |
Chemistry |
CHEZ |
Chemistry laboratory |
CHIN |
Chinese |
CINE |
Cinema |
CLED |
Counselor education |
CLLS |
Clinical laboratory sciences |
CLRS |
Clinical radiation sciences |
CLRZ |
Clinical radiation sciences laboratory |
CLSE |
Chemical and life science engineering |
CMLI |
Comparative literature |
CMSC |
Computer science |
COAR |
Communication arts |
COOP |
Cooperative education |
CRAF |
Craft and material studies |
CRJS |
Criminal justice |
CRJZ |
Criminal justice laboratory |
DANC |
Dance and choreography |
DANZ |
Dance and choreography laboratory |
DENH |
Dental hygiene |
DENS |
Dental special topics |
DESI |
Design |
DNAP |
Nurse anesthesia practice |
DOMX |
Domestic exchange program |
EBUS |
E-business |
ECON |
Economics |
ECSE |
Early childhood special education |
EDLP |
Educational leadership |
EDUS |
Educational studies |
EGRB |
Biomedical engineering |
EGRE |
Electrical and computer engineering |
EGRM |
Mechanical engineering |
EGRN |
Nuclear engineering |
EMOD |
Emotional disturbance |
EMSA |
Emergency medical sciences and administration |
ENDO |
Endodontics |
ENED |
English/English education |
ENGL |
English |
ENGR |
Engineering |
ENGZ |
Engineering laboratory |
ENLP |
English Language Program |
ENVS |
Environmental studies |
ENVZ |
Environmental studies laboratory |
EPID |
Epidemiology and community health |
EUCU |
European cultures |
FASH |
Fashion design and merchandising |
FELL |
Fellowship |
FIRE |
Finance, insurance and real estate |
FLET |
Foreign literature in English translation |
FMBA |
Fast Track M.B.A. |
FREN |
French |
FRLG |
Foreign languages |
FRSC |
Forensic science |
FRSZ |
Forensic science laboratory |
GDES |
Graphic design |
GENP |
General practice |
GEOG |
Geography |
GEOZ |
Geography laboratory |
GRAD |
Graduate studies |
GRMN |
German |
GRTY |
Gerontology |
GSWS |
Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies |
GVPA |
Government and public affairs |
HADE |
Health administration/executive |
HADM |
Health administration |
HCMG |
Health care management |
HEMS |
Health and movement sciences |
HGEN |
Human genetics |
HIST |
History |
HONR |
Honors College |
HPEX |
Health, physical education and exercise science |
HPEZ |
Health, physical education and exercise science laboratory |
HSEP |
Homeland security and emergency preparedness |
HUMS |
Humanities and sciences |
HUSI |
Humanities and sciences interdisciplinary |
IDDS |
Interdisciplinary developmental disability studies |
IDES |
Interior design |
INDH |
Industrial hygiene |
INFO |
Information systems |
INSC |
Interdisciplinary science |
INTL |
International studies |
ISTM |
Information technology management |
ITAL |
Italian |
KINE |
Kinetic imaging |
LASK |
Language skills |
LATN |
Latin |
LFSC |
Life sciences |
LGCC |
Language and cultural competence |
LING |
Linguistics |
MASC |
Mass communications |
MATH |
Mathematics and applied mathematics |
MATX |
Media, art, and text |
MEDC |
Medicinal chemistry |
MEDI |
Medicine |
MGMT |
Management |
MHIS |
Music history, literature and theory |
MICR |
Microbiology and immunology |
MILS |
Military science |
MKTG |
Marketing |
MNRT |
Mental retardation |
MUED |
Music education |
MUSC |
Music composition |
NANO |
Nanoscience and nanotechnology |
NEUS |
Neurosciences |
NRSA |
Nurse anesthesia |
NRSZ |
Nurse anesthesia laboratory |
NURS |
Nursing |
OCCT |
Occupational therapy |
OCMB |
Oral and craniofacial molecular biology |
OPER |
Operations research |
ORPT |
Oral pathology |
ORSG |
Oral surgery |
ORTH |
Orthodontics |
PADM |
Public administration |
PAPR |
Painting and printmaking |
PATC |
Patient counseling |
PATH |
Pathology |
PCEU |
Pharmaceutics |
PEDD |
Pediatric dentistry |
PERI |
Periodontics |
PHAR |
Pharmacy |
PHIL |
Philosophy |
PHIS |
Physiology |
PHIZ |
Physiology laboratory |
PHTO |
Photography and film |
PHTX |
Pharmacology and toxicology |
PHTY |
Physical therapy |
PHYS |
Physics |
PHYZ |
Physics laboratory |
POLI |
Political science |
PORT |
Portuguese |
PPAD |
Public policy and administration |
PROS |
Prosthodontics |
PSYC |
Psychology |
RDSS |
Reading and study skills |
READ |
Reading |
RELS |
Religious studies |
REMS |
Rehabilitation and movement science |
RHAB |
Rehabilitation counseling |
RPSL |
Recreation, parks and sport leadership |
RPSM |
Recreation, parks and sport management |
RPSZ |
Recreation, parks and sport management laboratory |
RUSS |
Russian |
SBHD |
Social and behavioral health |
SCPT |
Sculpture and extended media |
SEDP |
Special education and disability policy |
SELD |
Special education – learning disabilities |
SLWK |
Social work |
SOCS |
Social sciences |
SOCY |
Sociology |
SPAN |
Spanish |
SPCH |
Speech |
SPTL |
Sport leadership |
STAT |
Statistical sciences |
STUA |
Study abroad programs |
SWKD |
Social work – doctorate |
SYSM |
Systems modeling and analysis |
TEDU |
Teacher education |
THEA |
Theatre |
THEZ |
Theatre laboratory |
UNIV |
University College |
UNVS |
University studies |
URSP |
Urban studies and planning |
VCU1 |
Academic affairs |
URSP |
Urban studies and planning |
WRLD |
World studies |