This section of the Catalog includes course descriptions, listed alphabetically by discipline. The descriptions provide information on course numbers, titles, the level of instruction, credit, course sequence, content, and prerequisites.

This section of the Catalog includes course descriptions, listed alphabetically by discipline. The descriptions provide information on course numbers, titles, the level of instruction, credit, course sequence, content, and prerequisites as shown in the following example:

CHE 1100-5 Principles of Chemistry (4 + 2)

Prerequisites: minimum performance standard scores on reading, writing, and mathematics preassessment placement tests

This course is a study of the fundamentals of chemistry including both theoretical and laboratory principles. A survey of atomic structure, periodicity, bonding, nomenclature, stoichiometry, gas laws, and solution chemistry is provided for those students with no background in these areas. (General Studies Course-Level II, Natural Science)

The first three letters, called the course subject code (Banner), represent the area of study or discipline, e.g., CHE represents chemistry. The course number follows the course subject code, e.g., 1100. The first digit in a four-digit course number designates the level of instruction. Only courses numbered 1000 or above will be included in credits toward a degree. Courses with numbers up to and including 1999 are primarily for freshmen, 2000 through 2999 primarily for sophomores, 3000 through 3999 primarily for juniors, and 4000 through 4999 primarily for seniors. In general, students should not take courses above the level of their class (based upon semester hours earned), but they may do so at one level above if they have the specified prerequisites. In special cases, students may be permitted to take courses more than one level above that designated for their class if they obtain the permission of their advisor and of the faculty member teaching the course and if they meet the prerequisite requirements.

Following each course number is the semester hours of credit. As an example, CHE 1100-5 is a freshman-level, five-credit course. After the course number and credit hours is the course title, which is followed by a second set of numbers in parentheses indicating the division of time between lecture, laboratory, field experience, or-in music-performance. The first number represents the number of lecture hours each week; the second number indicates the number of laboratory, shop, or field hours; and the third (in music) represents performance hours. For example, CHE 1100-5 Principles of Chemistry I (4 + 2) has four hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory each week. Lecture hours equate one hour per week of contact to one credit hour; laboratory experience equates two hours of contact per week to one credit hour. Therefore, CHE 1100-5 would earn five hours of credit-four for lecture and one for laboratory work.

Course descriptions provide a summary of the content of the course. If there is a prerequisite that must be met before a student can register for the course, this information is listed above the course description. A list of courses being offered in a given semester, instructors, class meeting times, and locations is published in the Class Schedule, which is printed before of the beginning of each semester and is available to all students.

Adaptive Self-Paced Learning

Adaptive self-paced learning is a phrase used to describe classes in which students are allowed to proceed at a pace that is suited to their personal learning needs and learning style. Self-paced course are identified in the Class Schedule by the notation "SP". Information on the method of instruction is available in the department.

Students who do not complete the work of a self-paced course during a semester are give the notation of "NC" and must re-enroll in and pay for the course in a subsequent semester in order to continue in that course. A letter grade is awarded during the semester in which the work is completed satisfactorily.

Omnibus Courses

Omnibus courses are courses offered on a temporary basis for several reasons: to meet student demand, to present recent developments in a field, to provide unique experiential learning opportunities or to present the opportunity to study a special topic that is not a regular part of the curriculum. Omnibus courses may be topics courses, special workshops, field experiences, practica or independent studies. Topics courses and workshops deal with novel subjects and current problems. Supervised field study and internships, conducted cooperatively with business, industry, government, and other agencies, provide practical on-the-job learning opportunities. Independent study courses allow students to investigate problems of special interest.

All academic departments of the college may offer omnibus courses; the following course numbers are the same for omnibus courses in all disciplines. When listed in class schedules, registration forms, and college records, the course number will carry the prefix of the discipline in which the course is offered. In addition to prerequisites listed under a course, other prerequisites appropriate to the study and departmental objectives may be added.

No more than 30 semester hours earned in all courses numbered 1900, 2888, 2990, 3900, 3970, 4888, 4900, 4980, 4990 will be counted toward meeting degree requirements. This restriction does not apply to courses listed in this Catalog that use the words practicum, cooperative education, etc., and that have a number different from the numbers listed.

A specific course plan for the omnibus courses which covers content and semester hours must be submitted by an instructor and approved by the chair of the department or discipline, the dean of the school, and the Office of Academic Affairs before such a course can be listed in the schedule of classes. These same approvals are required for plans of study that individual students submit for registration in a workshop course (when individualized) or an independent study course. A special form is required for an independent study course.

An introductory-level class to study selected topics especially appropriate for lower-division students.

An introductory-level class of a concentrated nature. Involves independent and/or group appraisal and study of a special topic

3900 Junior-Level Advanced Topics (credit variable)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor

An in-depth junior-level inquiry into selected problems.

An advanced class of a concentrated nature, designed primarily for students majoring in a particular department or discipline. Involves independent and/or group appraisal and analysis of major problems within a particular area.

An in-depth senior-level study of a selected topic. Presentations, discussions, reports, and critiques of various problems within the discipline in which the course is offered may be involved.

An independent investigation of a problem, a project, or other required activity supervised by a faculty member of the discipline. There is minimal associated faculty direction. A special form is required.

Field Experience/Internship/Practicum Courses

Field experience or experiential education courses offer major instructional activities conducted outside the regular classroom. These courses incorporate actual experience with information assimilation and adhere to policies set forth by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Certain degree, certification, and licensure programs, such as teacher education or nursing, require experiential education courses as a part of the required coursework. Other departments offer experiential education courses for credit applicable to graduation requirements, generally as a part of the student's major or minor.

Guidelines for Field Experience/Internship/Practicum Courses:

• Credit may vary from 1-15 hours, depending upon the instructional activity.
• Students are expected to meet the minimum base clock-hours established by CCHE policy, which requires two to three times the clock-hours established for regular classroom instruction.
• Approved cooperating agencies provide learning opportunities, prepare written statements of assignments, monitor students' performance, confer with the supervising faculty member, and provide a written evaluation.
• A minimum of one hour a week is spent in seminar and discussion or in conference with the adjunct faculty at the field experience locale and/or in conference with the supervising faculty member.
• The supervising faculty member evaluates the student's performance and, in consultation with the adjunct faculty member, assigns the grade for the course according to grading policies stated in this Catalog.
• Omnibus courses (2990, 3970, 4980, 4990) emphasizing field experiences are subject to guidelines established for regular field-based courses, as well as omnibus course guidelines, and must be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs.

  2990 Field Experience/lnternship (credit variable)
  Prerequisite: sophomore status, permission of instructor
  A work-oriented training period of actual service in an agency, institution, or technical/business establishment that provides an in-depth learning experience for the student under the direct supervision of an on-site supervisor and under the scrutiny and guidance of a faculty member (i.e., cooperative education).

3970 Practicum (credit variable)
Prerequisites: sophomore status, permission of instructor
A class that involves apprenticeship in the practical application of previously studied theory under the observance and supervision of a skilled practitioner and faculty member (i.e., practicum in reading). CCHE definition: Work-oriented instruction involving the implementation of classroom or laboratory experience under the direct supervision of a faculty member.

4990 Advanced Field Experience/ Internship (credit variable)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor
An advanced-level, supervised, in-service field or laboratory experience in an area related to the student's major, conducted by an affiliated organization in cooperation with the department/discipline in which the student is majoring.

Cooperative Education (credit variable)

Courses are subject to guidelines established for regular field experience courses, as well as cooperative education guidelines. No more than 15 semester hours of cooperative education credit will be applied toward degree requirements.

2980-1-3 Cooperative Education (credit variable)
Prerequisites: sophomore status and permission of instructor
An entry-level work experience in a private company or agency of the federal or state government related to the student's major and supervised by a competent professional on the worksite. Credit is awarded by a MSCD faculty member in the appropriate academic department for learning related to academic goals enumerated in the learning contract of each student.

3980-1-3 Cooperative Education (credit variable)
Prerequisites: junior status and permission of instructor
An advanced work experience in a private company or governmental agency related to student's major and supervised by a competent professional on the worksite. Credit is awarded by a MSCD faculty member in the appropriate academic department for learning related academic goals enumerated in the learning contract of each student. For more information on the program and placement opportunities in an academic major contact the Cooperative Education and Internship Center office at 303-556-3290.