2016-2017 College Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2016-2017 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Information about Academic Courses



Course Numbering System Defined

Unless exceptions are noted following the course description in the college catalog, the following numbering system governs the applicability of courses toward completion of programs.

Grade Point Averages (GPA) are computed on degree applicable courses numbered 1 through 299.

1-299: Courses intended for associate degrees, occupational skills awards, and transfer purposes.

  1-99 Courses which are parallel to baccalaureate-level courses that generally transfer to both CSU and UC. Exceptions to this rule are noted following the course description; in such cases, students should refer to the UC Course Agreement for details regarding credit limitations. UC transferable courses do not necessarily apply toward major credit. Students should consult a counselor and/or visit www.assist.org for information about course articulation for a particular major.
  100-199 Courses which are parallel to baccalaureate-level courses that generally transfer to CSU but not to the UC.
  200-299 Courses that are typically intended for certificate and associate degree programs or for skill development related to both basic skills and employment. Courses from several disciplines may be offered in this category of interest and provide value to all ages, but particularly to the mid-life and older-adult student. Course content is related to both skill development and acquisition of knowledge for second-career and personal development. These courses may occasionally carry transfer credit to four-year institutions, however, the receiving institution makes the determination whether to accept the course.
  300-399 Basic skills courses. Courses in this range completed Fall 1988 and later are not applicable to associate degrees or certificates, nor do they carry transfer credit to four-year institutions. These courses do not count toward the 60-unit requirement for graduation and are not used in calculating students’ grade point averages for associate degrees or certificates. A state-imposed restriction limits students to taking no more than 30 units of basic skills courses.
  400-499 Courses which generally provide vocational training but are not degree applicable. Many of these courses are open-entry/open-exit and/or are scheduled for less than a full semester.
  800-999 Courses which generally provide learning center hours that require concurrent enrollment in a designated course. These courses are traditionally offered in conjunction with English as a Second Language (ESL) and International Language courses to provide enhancement and practice skill in the associated course.

Emeritus Courses: Courses that are typically designed for older adults. These courses do not apply toward degrees or certificates and do not carry transfer credit to four-year institution

Coursework Standards and Expectations

In a lecture class, the preponderance of the student’s work is done outside of class — e.g., reading, working on assignments, writing papers, preparing for class, and/or performing other required homework or coursework. A typical three-unit lecture class requires at least six additional hours of student work per week.

In a laboratory class, the majority of the student’s work is done in class. A lab class may require additional hours of student work per week.

In a learning center, virtually all of the student’s work may be done in class.

In all cases, students carrying a full-time class load of 15 units should expect average workloads of 45 hours per week, inclusive of time spent in class.

Enrollment Limitations for Active Participatory Courses That Are Related in Content

In accordance with Title 5 § 55040(c) students are limited to a maximum of four enrollments in a given group of active participatory courses, as defined in section 55000, in the areas of 1) physical education, 2) visual arts or 3) performing arts when such courses are determined to be related in content.

All enrollments in courses identified as related in content in the tables below count toward the maximum limitation of four enrollments per category. The limitation of four enrollments in a category applies even if a student receives a substandard grade or “W” during one or more of the enrollments in a designated course or petitions for repetition due to extenuating circumstances as provided in Title 5 § 55045. The limitation applies even if one or all of the courses in a category is designated as repeatable. The limitation applies district-wide, so if a student takes a comparable course at Irvine Valley College it will count against his or her four enrollments in a given category. Finally, the four enrollment limitation in a category is enforced across all previous enrollments.

For example, the Ballet category in the Dance table is comprised of five courses related in content: Introduction to Ballet, Ballet Dancing Level I, Intermediate Ballet, Pointe Ballet, and Advanced Ballet. Under the current guidelines students are limited to four total aggregate enrollments in these five courses. Examples of ways a student might utilize these four total aggregate enrollments permissible in the Ballet category include: 1) a student may enroll in four courses out of the five courses in the Ballet category one time each; 2) the student could enroll in Intermediate Ballet once, Pointe Ballet once, and Advanced Ballet twice if they possess the necessary skill level to begin beyond the introductory stage; or 3) because Advanced Ballet is repeatable three times a student could potentially use all four enrollment allocations for just that course. Regardless of whether the student uses all four enrollments in one course, one enrollment in each of four courses, or four enrollments in some combination of courses, he or she may not exceed a maximum of four enrollments in courses within the Ballet category.

The organization of courses related in content into the categories identified in the tables below was approved by Saddleback College’s Curriculum Committee following consultation with the respective department chairs.

Prerequisite, Corequisites, Limitations, and Recommended Preparations

(Title 5 §55000 Article 1)

Prerequisites, Corequisites, and Limitations on Enrollment are enforced as conditions of enrollment. Failure to comply with these stated requirements may result in a student being involuntarily dropped from a course in accordance with Title 5.

Prerequisite means a condition of enrollment that a student is required to meet in order to demonstrate current readiness for enrollment in a course or educational program. In accordance with Title 5 prerequisite courses must be completed with a satisfactory grade (defined as A, B, C, P, or CR in section 55023) in order to enroll in the course requiring the prerequisite. State laws require the enforcement of prerequisites therefore a student will be blocked from enrolling or dropped from a course if the student has not met the stated prerequisite. As of Fall 1995, any student enrolling in a designated course with a prerequisite must show evidence of completion of the prerequisite course or the equivalent with a satisfactory grade or complete the appeals process. For further information, contact the Matriculation Office.

Corequisite means a condition of enrollment that requires a student to concurrently enroll in one course as a condition of enrollment in another course. Corequisites are enforced and a student will be blocked from enrolling in a course if they do not simultaneously enroll in its stated corequisite course.

Limitation on Enrollment means a condition of enrollment which limits how students qualify for a particular course or program. Limitations on enrollment include auditions, physical examination by a doctor, and/or admission to particular program. Limitations on enrollment are enforced and a student will be blocked from enrolling if the stated limitation has not been met.

Advisory or Recommended Preparation means a condition of enrollment that a student is advised, but not required, to meet prior to or in conjunction with enrollment in a course or education program. Students who have had training or experience which they feel is equivalent to the recommended preparation may enroll in the course level appropriate with their experience. Concerns about enrolling in courses with recommended preparation should be discussed with the instructor, dean, or a counselor.

Reading Course Descriptions

Repeatable Course Models

(Also see Course Repeatability and Repetition  in the Registration and Academic Regulations sections of this catalog)

State regulations (Title 5, sections 55040-55045) restrict the number of times a student may enroll in a course within a community college district. Most credit courses are designated as “non-repeatable” in accordance with Title 5 thereby limiting students to a single enrollment if the student receives a satisfactory grade (A, B, C, P, or CR) or an Incomplete; if a student received a substandard grade (D, F, or NP (NC)) in a non-repeatable course they may enroll in the course again to alleviate that substandard grade. Students are limited to a maximum of three enrollments in non-repeatable courses. Any enrollments beyond the student’s initial enrollment are only permitted to alleviate a substandard grade; once a satisfactory grade has been earned the student will be ineligible to enroll in the course again. A student may request to have the substandard grade disregarded in the computation of their GPA by submitting a Request for Transcript Repeat Notation to the Office of Admissions and Records; see the Academic Regulations  section of this catalog for more information.

For exceptions to these rules — including significant lapse of time, extenuating circumstances, legally mandated training, significant change in industry or licensure standards, and special classes for students with disabilities — see Repeatability and Repetition  in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Those courses that do allow for more than one enrollment are designated with an “R” code (R-A, R-E, R-I, or R-99) at the end of the course description as well as a number, which specifies the maximum number of times a student may enroll in a course. For example, “R-E-3” means that after the initial enrollment a student is permitted to enroll a maximum of three additional times. Students registering in a course not identified as repeatable or repeating a course more often than permissible will be withdrawn from the course.

Once a student has taken a more advanced course they cannot go back and repeat a lower-level course.

Repeatable models are as follows:

Model A (R-A): These are separate and distinct courses in a skill-building sequence. Any combination of courses within the sequence (beginning, intermediate, advanced) may be taken a maximum of four times combined.

Model E (R-E): A course with this designation has one course number and title but has a different syllabus each time it is offered. The course may be taken a specified number of times (not to exceed four) to afford development through supervised practice or group assignments.

Model I (R-I): These courses often have a number of versions with varying unit values. A student may repeat the course up to the maximum number of units as specified in the course description in the catalog.

R-99: Non-credit courses; these primarily include continuing education courses for older adults (Emeritus Institute).

NR: The course may not be repeated.