Course Information

Course Information

COURSE CREDIT

With the introduction of the Course Credit program in 1971-1972, unless noted otherwise, each Framingham State University course is equivalent to four (4) credits (sixty (60) contact hours) for internal and external transfer use.  Practica and lab sections may carry a value up to 1 (one) credit or 0.25 courses. Courses that are the equivalent of two (2) credits or 0.5 courses (thirty (30) contact hours) are also offered at the University. Because each credit is the equivalent of 0.25 courses, transfer courses that bear 3 credits (forty-five (45) contact hours) are the equivalent of 0.75 courses.

Students in all majors must complete a minimum of 32 courses and a minimum of 128 credits. At least 10 courses (depending on the student’s major) must satisfy the general education requirements. If the major requirements and the general education requirements total fewer than 32 courses (128 credits), students must take enough free electives to make up the difference.

Professional Development Graduate coursework, 70000-level, may be the equivalent to four (4), three (3), two (2), or one (1) credit(s).

CREDIT HOUR: FEDERAL DEFINITION
The federal definition states that "a credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than:

• one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks;

or

• at least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1) of this definition for other activities as established by an institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work and other academic work leading toward the awarding of credit hours."

COURSE LEVEL
The numbers following the subject code indicate the course level:

000-099 Non-credit courses;

100-199 Undergraduate courses that are introductory in nature, assuming no prior college level exposure to the discipline;

200-299 Undergraduate courses appropriate for students with prior exposure to the university regimen or to the discipline, some with prerequisites;

300-399 Upper level undergraduate courses that build on previous exposure to the discipline, most with prerequisites;

400-499 Senior level undergraduate courses, most with prerequisites, including independent studies, internships, seminars, directed studies, and practicum.

600-699 Courses for public service undergraduate credit (not for degree programs – Exceptions may be made by Major Department Chair).

700(00)-799(99) Courses for public service and professional development graduate credit (not for eligible for degree programs at FSU).

800-899 Courses for graduate program credit but taught as dual level with the appropriate undergraduate course number assigned.

900-999 Courses assigned as graduate program credit only.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Under each course number and title is a brief description of its content, followed by a statement on prerequisites, if any, explaining the requirements for admission to the course. Courses appropriate for general education are identified by General Education (Gen. Ed.) Domain following the course title. Lab science courses will have Lab following the course title.

COURSE PREREQUISITES
It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of and have met prerequisites prior to attempting any course. Course prerequisites may be found in the University Catalog as part of the course description.

DEFINITIONS OF COURSE DELIVERY METHODS:

Course Expectations - All of the course delivery methods listed below are not self-paced. Faculty generally provide a list of topics and assignments with due dates for the semester in the course syllabus. You should expect to spend a minimum of 12 hours per week on each course; this will include any FACE-TO-FACE or REMOTE (Synchronous) class time.

Please note the following definitions:

Synchronous - The course meets at specific days and times, which are listed in the course schedule, and you will attend class at those specified times. For lectures, discussions, and presentations there is real-time interaction between the faculty and the students.
Synchronous refers to both FACE-TO-FACE (i.e. in-person on campus) and REMOTE delivery methods. (Examples of remote include Zoom, Canvas, or other similar platform).

Asynchronous – The course or a portion of the course has no meeting days and times. You will not attend class at a set time, but rather access pre-recorded lectures and/or digital curriculum materials at a time of your own choosing but within the timeframe specified in the course syllabus. Interactions between faculty and the class occur through FSU email, discussion boards, social networking, and/or collaborative documents.
Asynchronous refers to the ONLINE delivery method.

Hybrid- A combination of Synchronous and Asynchronous delivery methods.

FACE-TO-FACE (F2F) (Synchronous)
A Building and Room Number will be listed as the course Location on your course schedule. You will need report to this building & room on the specific course day and time as the class will be delivered in-person.

REMOTE (Synchronous)
Course Location will show as REMOTE. The course is considered synchronous (instructor and students all meet together at the same time) and will be delivered via video conferencing software. You will connect via video conferencing software for your course at the specific day and time noted on your schedule. You will be able to see and interact with your instructor and classmates in a virtual environment.

FACE-TO-FACE (F2F) and REMOTE (Synchronous)
A Building and Room Number will be listed as the course Location on your course schedule. You will need report to this Building and Room Number on the specific course day and time for the portion of your class delivered in-person. And for the course Location designated as REMOTE, the instructor and students all meet together at the specific day and time via video conferencing software.

ONLINE (Asynchronous)
Course Location will show as ONLINE. The course will be offered entirely online (asynchronous), most likely through Canvas, without the constraints of having to log on at a certain time or be at a certain place. You will need to meet the assignment deadlines outlined in the instructor’s course syllabus.

HYBRID OPTIONS (Combination of Synchronous & Asynchronous)
Some courses will be offered combining Synchronous and Asynchronous delivery methods:

FACE-TO-FACE (F2F) and ONLINE (Combination of Synchronous & Asynchronous)
You will have a Building and Room Number listed in Location for a certain day/time, and will also see ONLINE listed. A portion of the course is taking place F2F on campus in the Building and Room Number assigned and the rest asynchronously ONLINE, meaning you are not expected to join the class at times other than those listed. However, you may be expected to access pre-recorded lectures and digital curriculum materials and participate in online discussion forums at a time of your own choosing but within the timeframe specified in the instructor’s course syllabus.

REMOTE and ONLINE (Combination of Synchronous & Asynchronous)
You will have REMOTE listed in Location for a certain day/time, and also see ONLINE listed. A portion of the course is taking place as REMOTE (Synchronously) and the rest asynchronously ONLINE, meaning you are not expected to join the class at times other than those listed. However, you may be expected to access pre-recorded lectures and digital curriculum materials and participate in online discussion forums at a time of your own choosing but within the timeframe specified in the instructor’s course syllabus.

Course Subject Codes

Each course offered at the University has a four-character subject prefix code and a three-digit course number, e.g., ENWR 110.