Course Numbering System
The following information is available in the LSU General Catalog.
Clear guidelines for determining course level is critical for the proper allocation of university resources. The following classifications are to be used in determining the correct level of courses.
An explanation of the first digit of the four-digit course numbering system follows. The meaning of the second, third, and fourth digits varies by department. See “Year Classification of Students” in the “Regulations” section of the catalog for an explanation of the criteria for classification as a freshman, sophomore, etc.
Lower Division Courses
1000-1999 • For undergraduate students, primarily freshmen; for undergraduate credit only. Ordinarily open to all students; in some instances upper-division students may not take these courses for degree credit.
2000-2999 • For undergraduate students, sophomore level or above; for undergraduate credit only.
Upper Division Courses
3000-3999 • For advanced undergraduate students, junior- and senior-level; for undergraduate credit only. These courses constitute the advanced portion of an undergraduate program leading to the bachelor’s degree. A student with fewer than 60 hours of credit may enroll in 3000 level courses if they meet the enrollment requirements of the college whose departments offer the courses.
4000-4999 • For advanced undergraduate students (who have completed a minimum of 60 semester hours) and students in graduate and professional schools and colleges; for undergraduate or graduate credit.
Undergraduates with 30 or more semester hours who are making timely progress toward a degree may be admitted to 4000 level courses. Such students must have a 3.50 GPA or higher, the appropriate prerequisites, consent of the instructor, and permission of the dean of the student’s undergraduate college.
Graduate credit for LSU Seniors. A senior at LSU who needs fewer than 15 semester hours to complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree, who has maintained a GPA of at least a 3.00 during the preceding year at LSU, and who has a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 may be permitted to register for graduate credit in courses numbered 4000-4999, provided the student registers for all the remaining courses required for graduation and for no more than 15 semester hours total. This privilege applies only during the final semester of the student’s undergraduate work and is extended only upon recommendation of the chair of the department in which the student plans to enroll as a graduate student, the dean of the student’s college, and approval of the dean of The Graduate School. The requested signatures of approval should be submitted on a form designed specifically for this program. This form must be submitted to The Graduate School by the last day to add classes in the semester in which graduate credit is desired. A student must complete all undergraduate degree credit courses in order to retain the privilege of obtaining graduate credit for the remaining courses.
Professional and Graduate Level Courses
5000-5999 • For students in post-baccalaureate professional programs (architecture, landscape architecture, law, and veterinary medicine). A student in The Graduate School may take these courses for credit with approval of the student’s major department.
6000-6999 • Exclusively for teachers at the elementary, secondary, and junior college levels.
7000-7999 • For students in The Graduate School; for graduate credit only except as follows. Undergraduates with 75 or more semester hours who are making timely progress toward a degree may be admitted to 7000 level courses. Such students must have a 3.50 or higher GPA, the appropriate prerequisites, consent of the instructor, and permission of the dean of the student’s undergraduate college. Credit so earned will apply only toward undergraduate degree requirements, except for students enrolled in an accelerated master’s degree program.
8000-8999 • Research courses exclusively for graduate students, primarily for students working toward the master’s degree; for graduate credit only. The number 8000 designates thesis research.
9000-9999 • Research courses exclusively for graduate students, primarily for advanced graduate students working toward the doctoral degree; for graduate credit only. The number 9000 designates dissertation research.
Louisiana Common Course Numbering System
To help students transfer from one institution to another, Louisiana public post-secondary institutions have adopted a single numbering system for many of their courses. The Louisiana Common Course Numbering System (LCCN) is a standard set of four-character abbreviations for academic disciplines and four-digit course numbers. The first digit of the number represents the academic level of the course (1 for freshman, 2 for sophomore, 3 for junior, and 4 for senior). For courses with Louisiana Common Course Numbers, the numbers appear in brackets in the course descriptions. Additional information about the LCCN can be obtained from the Louisiana Board of Regents Master Course Articulation.