Course Prefixes and Number Levels

Course prefixes used at Ball State University, in alphabetical order, are as follows:

Courses at Ball State are identified by prefix and course number. Course numbers are categorized as follows:

Courses numbered below 100 are not offered for credit toward graduation.
Courses numbered from 100 to 199 are primarily freshman courses.
Courses numbered from 200 to 299 are primarily sophomore courses.
Courses numbered from 300 to 399 are primarily junior courses.
Courses numbered from 400 to 499 are primarily senior courses.
Courses numbered 500 and higher are graduate courses.

In course descriptions, the course number is immediately after the prefix. If a number in parentheses follows, it is the most recent former number of the course.

A student who earns credit in a course under any other number may not earn credit in it under its current number except under the terms of course repetition. It is the responsibility of the student to not duplicate courses.

The number in parentheses after the descriptive title of the course is the credit-hour value of the course. It shows the specific total number of credit hours that can be earned in the course unless another statement in the description permits earning a greater number of credits. The hours may also be listed as a range (for example, 1-5, which means a student can earn up to 5 hours of credit in the course); or as two possibilities (for example, 3 or 6, which means a student can earn either 3 or 6 hours of credit in the course).

Prerequisite refers to a course or courses or other requirements that must be satisfied before the described course.
Parallel indicates a course or courses that must be taken at the same time as the described course.
Prerequisite recommended indicates a course that is not required but would provide additional preparation for the course described.