Course Descriptions

The following is a guide to using WKU’s course descriptions. Note: Questions concerning registration in a specific course should be directed to the instructor of the course. To register in restricted courses or in courses for which you do not meet the prerequisite, students must get permission from the instructor.

Course Fees

Enrollment in some courses requires payment of an additional fee. Refer to www.wku.edu/billing for specific course fees.

Course Numbering System

• 100-299    Primarily for freshmen and sophomores; such courses generally contain introductory, elementary or basic level content.
• 300-499    Primarily for juniors and seniors; courses contain advanced undergraduate level content.
• 400G-499G    Graduate courses, open only to graduate students unless exception approved.

Credit Hours

The number of credit hours is displayed in parentheses after the course title.

Equivalent Courses

Equivalent courses have different subject area prefixes but the same course number, title, abbreviated title, credit hours, prerequisites and / or corequisites, grade type (e.g., A – F, Pass / Fail) and catalog course listings.

Prerequisite

A prerequisite represents prior specific or general academic knowledge, background, or student classification required in order to enroll in a specific course. 

Corequisite

A corequisite is a requirement which must be fulfilled concurrently with another course, unless successfully completed as a prerequisite.

Statewide General Education Codes

(Refer to the “Transfer of Credits” section of the catalog for more details.)

AH – Arts and Humanities    
GE – General Elective    
NS – Natural Sciences    
OC – Oral Communication    
QR – Quantitative Reasoning
SB – Social and Behavioral Sciences
SL – Science Lab
WC – Written Communication

WKU Colonnade Codes (General Education)

(Refer to the Colonnade section for more details.)
 
F-W1      Foundations: College Composition
F-W2     Foundations: Writing in the Disciplines
F-OC    Foundations: Human Communication
F-QR    Foundations: Quantitative Reasoning
F-AH    Foundations: Literary Studies
F-SB    Foundations: World History
E-AH    Explorations: Arts & Humanities
E-SB    Explorations: Social & Behavioral Sciences
E-NS     Explorations: Natural & Physical Sciences
E-SL    Explorations: Science Lab
K-SC    Connections: Social & Cultural
K-LG    Connections: Local to Global
K-SY    Connections: Systems
K-IE     Connections: International Experience