Course Numbering System

Course numbers are prefixed with the letter code representing the discipline, as shown below:

General Information

Prerequisite Course Requirements:

Prerequisites are stated in the Academic Calendar course description. A student who would like to enrol in a course without the stated prerequisite must obtain a written approval from the Instructor (with the exception of students in the BPHE or NURS programs, where permission must be obtained by the program Director). If approval is granted, the Instructor/Director must inform the Registrar’s Office in writing so the student may register. Should the student appear on the class list without the stated prerequisite, the student may be allowed to stay in the course at the discretion of the Director/Instructor. On occasion, when the Instructor of the course is not readily available to approve a prerequisite exemption, approval may be granted in consultation with the department Chair/Director and/or the Dean. 

For all other definitions please refer to the Glossary

Course Numbering Identification

Nipissing University courses are numbered as follows:

  • Four letters to indicate the discipline;
  • Four numbers to designate the course;
  • Five characters to indicate the particular section of a given course.

Example: PSYC 1106 FA001

PSYC1106FA001 
Discipline (Psychology) Course Number Section  

The first and last digits in the course number are particularly significant.

The first digit indicates the year level at which the course is offered (with the exception of Education courses):

1000-1999 courses are normally taken at first year level.  
2000-3999 courses are normally taken at second or third year level.  
4000-4999 courses are normally taken at fourth year level and restricted to honours students.  
5000-5999 courses are normally taken at graduate level and restricted to masters students.  
9000 courses are those for which non-equivalent advanced standing or transfer credit has been granted.  

Unless otherwise indicated in the course description, normally the last digit indicates whether the course is a six-credit or a three-credit course, and whether the course may count towards a program.

Last digit 5 = a six-credit course which can count towards a program;  
Last digit 0 = a six-credit course which may not count towards a program requirement;  
Last digit 6 or 7 = a three-credit course which can count towards a program;  
Last digit 1 or 2 = a course which may not count towards a program requirement;  
Last digit 8 or 9 = a one and one-half credit course.  

Unless otherwise stated in the course description, courses will count in their respective discipline for liberal degrees.

In the section segment of course identification, the first two characters identify the period of time in which a course will be offered (see below). The last three characters indicate the section number (when multiple sections of a course are offered).

FA – September to December SP – Spring  
WI – January to April SS – Spring/Summer  
FW – September to April SU – Summer  

Courses offered on the main campus in North Bay will be in the section range of 000 to 099. Courses offered by distance education will be in the section range of 800 to 899.

Language courses are normally taught in the respective language (e.g. French, Latin, Russian, Spanish).

Not every course listed in this Calendar is offered every year. Where possible, course cycling is indicated.

Aboriginal Leadership (LEAD)
Academic Writing (ACAD)
Accounting (ACCT)
Administrative Studies (ADMN)
Anthropology (ANTH)
Astronomy (ASTR)
Biology (BIOL)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Child and Family Studies (CHFS)
Classical Studies (CLAS)
Computer Science (COSC)
Criminal Justice (CRJS)
Data Science (DATA)
Digital Humanities (DIGI)
Economics (ECON)
Education (EDUC)
English Studies (ENGL)
Environmental Science (ENSC)
Environmental Studies (ENST)
Film (FILM)
Fine Arts (FAVA)
Finance (FINC)
First Year Foundations Experience (FYFE)
French (FREN)
Gender Equality and Social Justice (GEND)
General Science (GSCI)
Geography (GEOG)
Geology (GEOL)
History (HIST)
Indigenous Studies (INDG)
Interdisciplinary Studies (INTD)
Kinesiology (KINE)
Marketing (MKTG)
Mathematics (MATH)
Nursing (NURS)
Nursing Distance (NSGD)
Organizational Studies (ORGS)
Philosophy (PHIL)
Physical and Health Education (PHED)
Physics (PHYS)
Political Science (POLI)
Psychology (PSYC)
Religions and Cultures (RLCT)
Russian (RUSS)
Science and Technology (STEC)
Social Welfare and Social Development (SWLF)
Social Work (SWRK)
Sociology (SOCI)
Spanish (ESPA)
Technology Management (TMGT)
University Success (UNIV)
Nipissing University
100 College Drive, Box 5002, North Bay, ON, Canada  P1B 8L7  Tel: 705.474.3450 | Fax: 705.474.1947 | TTY: 877.688.5507
nuinfo@nipissingu.ca

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