General Rules and Guidelines Related to Selecting Courses
This section reviews the general guidelines students should follow when selecting courses. Other sections of this catalog present more specific rules and regulations regarding specific degree requirements.
Classification of Students
The University classifies undergraduate students as freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors according to the number of credit hours the student has completed. The student's classification determines the level of course for which the student may enroll. The following table presents the relation between class standing and semesters hours completed.
| Freshman | 0-23 semester hours |
| Sophomore | 24-59 semester hours |
| Junior | 60-89 semester hours |
| Senior | 90 or more semester hours |
Course Numbers and Levels
The course number represents its appropriateness for a student's classification. The following table presents the course levels and corresponding classification of students who should enroll in the courses.
| Course Numbers | Level |
|---|---|
| 000-099 | Activity, service or noncredit courses. Students may count no more than eight hours of S grade in courses in this group toward a degree. |
| 100-199 | Primarily for freshmen but may be taken by sophomores and juniors. The faculty recommend that seniors do not enroll in these courses. |
| 200-299 | Primarily for sophomores but open to juniors and seniors. |
| 300-399 | For juniors and seniors. |
| 400-499 | For seniors and graduate students. When taken for graduate credit, the letter G will precede the credit hours. |
| 500-799 | Restricted to graduate students. Courses at this level cannot be used for an undergraduate degree. |
In special circumstances a student may register for a course at a level above his or her classification in accordance with departmental policy and with the recommendation of the advisor. Freshmen may not register for 300- and 400-level courses without the approval of the department that houses the course. The Records Office provides a form for this approval.
Prerequisites and Corequisites
Many courses require that students fulfill one or more prerequisites and/or corequisites to enroll in the course. Each course description in this catalog lists the course requirements. A prerequisite is a course that must be successfully completed before the student may enroll in the course. A corequisite is a course in which the student is required to enroll during the same semester. Students should review these course descriptions before registering for the class. Students who do not have the required pre- and/or corequisites will have their registration in that class cancelled.
Courses Requiring Special Permission for Registration
Some courses require special permission before students may register for the course. The course listing will list these requirements along with the course prerequisites. Students should review these course descriptions and obtain the necessary permission before registration.
Freshmen may not register for 300- and 400-level courses without the approval of the department that houses the course. The Records Office provides a form for this approval.
Institutional Credit and Developmental Studies Program
The University may require some students to participate in the Developmental Studies Program. The Developmental Studies Program is a collection of courses designed to help students succeed at UTC. These developmental courses cover a range of academic areas and include the following topics:
- Reading: EDUC 105
- Mathematics: MATH 105 and MATH 106
- Study skills: USTU 100
- Study skills lab: PSY 100 and SOC 199
- Writing: ENGL 105 and ENGL 106
Students required to enroll in developmental studies courses should successfully complete the courses within the first 42 attempted hours, counting both institutional and regular credit. Transfer students should complete required developmental courses within 30 attempted hours following initial enrollment at UTC. All students in the Developmental Studies Program must earn a grade of C or better for each required developmental course.
Students required to take any of developmental courses must complete these courses in addition to courses required for specific degrees. Although students may be required to complete developmental courses, the credit earned in these courses does not apply to the hours required for graduation, major requirements, general education requirements, or electives. These courses do count toward full-time enrollment, however. Moreover, the grades earned in these courses are not included in the calculation of the grade point averages for graduation or honors.
