Terminology Guide

• Academic Nomenclature
• Course Information
• Course Prefixes
• Degrees, Majors, Minors, Concentrations, Approved Programs of Study and Codes

Academic Nomenclature

• A semester is a period of attendance in which the academic year is customarily divided into two equal sessions. 

• A quarter is a period of attendance in which the academic year is customarily divided into four equal sessions. 

• A full-time student at a college operating on a semester basis is any undergraduate student registered for 12 or more credit hours of work in a regular program whether on campus or at another location, or any graduate student registered for nine or more credit hours. 

Course Information

The number assigned to each course is the key to the level at which it is taught. SUNY Cortland uses the following numbering system to define the course numbers and section numbers.

Course Numbers

100-199 courses generally designed for freshmen but may be appropriate for sophomores, usually an introductory or first course taught in a sequence within a discipline.

200-299 courses generally designed for sophomores but may be appropriate for freshmen, usually advancing in a progression as a second course which may require previous knowledge or training.

300-399 courses generally designed for juniors and seniors, but may also be appropriate for sophomores. Prerequisites are often required for this course level.

400-499 courses generally designed for juniors and seniors advancing well into upper-division work with prerequisite knowledge base required.

500-599 courses are considered graduate courses but are designed for both graduate and highly motivated undergraduate students. This level of course work is open to juniors and seniors in good academic standing (cumulative grade point average of 2.0). Please note: There are certain 500-level courses that are for graduate students only.

600-699 courses are offered exclusively at the graduate level, and are for graduate students only. 

Section Numbers

The number following the course prefix and course number used to identify a specific day, time, location and instructor for a course. The section number also may be used to identify specific majors or student cohorts eligible to enroll in a specific section of a course.

000-009 section numbers indicate that the course has no restrictions and is open to all students.

400-499 section numbers identify courses that are reserved for the Honors Program.

500-599 section numbers require special permission from the chair of the department offering the course.

600-699 section numbers identify courses that may be reserved for a specific major, group of majors or special student cohort.

700-799 section numbers are reserved for students not in a particular major or discipline.

800-899 section numbers indicate courses that are a part of a "learning community" or special student cohort program.

Prerequisites

Most courses beyond the introductory level require a degree of knowledge or preparation described by the prerequisites for the course. At SUNY Cortland the prerequisites indicate the level of preparation normally required for the course. In appropriate circumstances, prerequisites may be waived. An equivalent course or courses taken elsewhere suffice, but questions regarding equivalency should be referred to the department offering the course.

Students who believe that courses they have taken meet the equivalency requirements may seek the consent of the chair of the department to waive the course prerequisites. When the phrase "consent of department" is used, permission from the department chair is required before students may enroll in the course.

Frequency of Course Offerings

Courses described in this catalog are offered according to the frequency code schedule listed below. The identifying code appears in the course description.

State University of New York at Cortland reserves the right to cancel the offering of a scheduled course when any of these conditions prevail:

1. Enrollment in the course is fewer than 10 persons. In cases where the canceled course is a graduation requirement for any of those enrolled in it, SUNY Cortland will afford affected students an alternative method of meeting the requirement.
2. Because of a temporary vacancy no qualified instructor is available to teach the course.
3. The cancellation is early enough to permit students to register in another course.

Courses to be offered in a particular semester are listed on the Registrar's Office website. The schedule of course offerings for the fall semester is available in mid-March, and the schedule of course offerings for the spring semester is available in mid-October.

Frequency Codes

A = Every semester
B = At least once per year
C = At least once every two years
F = Fall
M = Summer
O = Occasionally
S = Spring
W = Winter

Course Prefixes

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Degrees, Majors, Minors, Concentrations, Programs of Study and Codes

Degrees

Degrees offered are Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.).

Students pursuing curricula leading to the conferral of multiple degrees must complete all the degree requirements for each program as delineated in the Undergraduate Catalog. The conferral of multiple baccalaureate degrees is reserved as a means of recognizing that a candidate has competencies in essentially different areas. To establish that competency the student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours that are unique to each program.

Questions or interpretations regarding this policy will be resolved by the deans of the respective schools and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Majors

A major is an approved program of study leading to a bachelor of arts (B.A.), bachelor of fine arts (B.F.A.), bachelor of science (B.S.), or bachelor of science in education (B.S.Ed.). Majors require a minimum of 30 credit hours of discipline-specific courses. Majors must have a minimum of 15 credit hours of discipline-specific courses at the 300 level or above.

Minors

A minor is an approved program of study, not leading to a degree, in an area outside the major. A minor comprises a minimum of 15 credit hours; at least half of these credit hours must be taken at SUNY Cortland. Students cannot minor in the same area as the major. There may be department limitations on addition of a minor based on major or concentration course work. Please check the catalog for specific restrictions. 

Concentrations

A concentration is a required or optional area of focus within a major. Residency for majors with concentrations will be calculated on the total credit hours required for the major inclusive of the concentration. 

Approved programs of study are those approved by the provost and vice president for academic affairs, the president, and the New York State Education Department and adopted by SUNY Cortland according to the procedures for curriculum change in effect at the time of approval.

Majors, minors and concentrations are not listed on diplomas but are recorded on official college transcripts.

Students may graduate under any catalog in effect during the period of their enrollment, providing they have not interrupted such enrollment and all requirements listed in the catalog have been met. A change of major, adding a minor or concentration may result in a change of catalog term and additional required course work for the new major and/or the need to meet certain grade point criteria as determined by the new department's published requirements at the time of the change of major.

Program Codes for Majors and Minors

All majors offered by SUNY Cortland are listed on the Inventory of Registered Degree and Certification Programs maintained by the New York State Education Department. The number assigned to each major is referred to as the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS) Code. This table may not represent all concentrations offered at SUNY Cortland. For more information, contact New York State Education Department, Office of Higher Education and the Professions, Cultural Education Center, Room 5B28, Albany, N.Y. 12230.

Access the 2023-24 active major and program code listing on the Registrar's Office website.