Undergraduate Catalog

Course Credit

Numbering of Courses

  • 100 series: Freshmen
  • 200 series: Sophomores
  • 300 series: Juniors
  • 400 series: Seniors
  • 500–999 series: Graduate

400-level courses listed with a G suffix may be taken for graduate credit.

Students ordinarily should not enroll in a course more than one year out of their classification.

Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: A course that must be completed prior to enrollment in a particular course. Prerequisite may also refer to acceptable class standing, prior academic standing, permission of instructor, departmentally determined competencies, or other departmental requirements.

Corequisite: A course that must be taken simultaneously with another course.

Note: It is the responsibility of students to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites as stated in the University catalog and course syllabus for each course they plan to take. Instructors may withdraw a student who does not meet course prerequisites/corequisites at any time from course registration through the 100% refund/credit period by sending the student written notification (email or letter) with a copy to the Registrar. The written notification must include the reason why the student is being withdrawn from the course and must allow the student five working days to respond to the instructor to determine if the prerequisites/corequisites have been or will be satisfied. After the five working days, unless otherwise notified by the instructor, the Registrar will drop the course from the student’s schedule and send an updated schedule confirmation. Departments may also designate specific course sections as having enforced prerequisites. During registration, these courses will be identified on STARS, and students who do not meet the requirements will be deleted prior to the first day of class.

Proficiency Examination Regulations

Proficiency examinations may be taken by regularly enrolled students with the permission of both the department and the Council on Admission, Graduation, and Academic Standards (CAGAS) or its designated representatives. Proficiency examinations are open to all WIU students, including freshmen entering directly from high school. Forms may be secured at wiu.edu/registrar/forms.

Proficiency examinations may not be taken at a level more elementary than completed coursework or if the student has received course credit after completion of the course.

In general, proficiency examinations cover elementary coursework and should therefore be taken early in the student’s college career, preferably in the freshman or sophomore year.

Credit earned by proficiency examination is recorded on the student’s permanent record with the designation of S. Hours earned are not included in calculating the grade point average, but they are counted toward University degree requirements.

Credit earned by proficiency examination does not satisfy residency requirements and does not satisfy minimum hours earned for graduation with academic distinction.

The maximum number of credit hours which may be earned by proficiency examination is 16 semester hours, no more than nine of which may be earned in one subject matter field.

Proficiency examinations, where applicable, may be taken in place of General Education Curriculum courses. If successfully completed, credit is recorded on the permanent transcript. Course credit only is given. No other requirements are then imposed in lieu of the courses so completed.

Proficiency credit does not apply toward the determination of full-time status.

Repeatable Courses

Some courses are designated in the catalog description as repeatable for credit. These courses are not eligible for grade replacement.

Repeating a Course for Grade Replacement

If a course not designated in the catalog as repeatable for credit is retaken, the following policy regarding repeating a course for grade replacement will apply:

  • The repeated course must be taken from Western Illinois University.
  • A course may not be repeated more than two times (taking it a maximum of three times). Subsequent attempts to repeat a course will not result in credit or honor point replacement.
  • Credit and applicable honor points will be awarded only once, the final time, for a repeated course. Only the grade for the most recent class will be used for the grade point average calculation. Grade symbols of “I”, “N”, “P”, “S”, “U”, “UX”, “W”, or “X” will not replace the GPA impact of a previous grade.
  • A student retaking a course under the Grade Replacement Policy may not enroll in that course on a Pass/Fail basis.
  • All prior enrollments and grades earned will remain on the permanent academic record and will carry an indicator that the course has been repeated.
  • For purposes of calculating graduation with academic distinction (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude), honor points for all attempts of a course will be averaged.
  • This policy does not supersede the policies on Incompletes or Withdrawals.
  • Once the degree is conferred and a student has graduated, no coursework toward that degree may be subsequently repeated under the provisions of this policy.
  • The student may not replace a grade of “F” under this policy if the student was assigned the grade as a result of an Academic Integrity violation. If the course is retaken, both the failing grade and the grade earned by repeating the course will appear on the transcript and will be used to calculate the student’s grade point average.

Repeating a course for grade replacement will not retroactively alter any previously earned academic status (i.e., academic warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal).

Tuition and applicable fees must be paid for all courses retaken. Students should be aware that many graduate and professional schools recalculate grade point averages taking into account every grade that appears on the transcript. Students who are receiving financial aid must consider the impact of repeating classes on their eligibility for financial aid for future semesters.

Courses taken prior to Fall 1978 are not eligible to be repeated for grade replacement.

Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate-Level Courses

Under certain circumstances, an undergraduate student may enroll in graduate-level courses for either graduate or undergraduate credit.

Regulations governing graduate course offerings for undergraduate credit are as follows:

  • The student must be of senior classification and in good academic standing.
  • The student must apply to take the course for undergraduate credit through the Office of the Registrar, prior to enrolling in the course. The form requires approval of the academic advisor and the Registrar, and must be completed by the student. The form is available at wiu.edu/registrar/forms.
  • The student must satisfy the prerequisites of the course.
  • No more than nine semester hours of graduate-level courses (numbered 500 and above) may be taken for undergraduate credit.
  • These courses may not be used for a future graduate program unless approved as a bridge course for integrated degree programs.

Regulations governing graduate course offerings for graduate credit are as follows:

  • The student must be of senior classification.
  • The student must fulfill prerequisites of the course.
  • The student must apply to take the course for graduate credit through the Office of the Registrar. The form requires approval of the designated authorities in the Offices of the Registrar and Graduate Studies, and must be completed by the student. The application form must be filed in the Office of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling in the course. The form is available at wiu.edu/registrar/forms.
  • The student must file a graduation application in the Office of the Registrar and an application for admission to the School of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling in graduate-level courses for graduate credit.
  • The student must have a grade point average of 3.00 or higher if a first-semester senior and must meet admission requirements to graduate school if a second-semester senior.
  • The student may enroll in a maximum of five graduate-level courses for graduate credit unless an exception is made by the designated authority in the Graduate Studies office.

Regulations regarding bridge course offerings for integrated degree programs are as follows:

  • The student must be of senior classification and have filed an application for graduation in the Office of the Registrar.
  • The student must have fulfilled all prerequisites for the course.
  • The student must have applied to the School of Graduate Studies and have been accepted into an integrated degree program.
  • A form must be completed by the student. This form requires approval of the undergraduate academic advisor, the graduate department chairperson, and designated authorities in the Offices of the Registrar and Graduate Studies. The form is available at wiu.edu/registrar/forms.
  • The completed form must be filed in the Office of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling in the course for bridge credit.

Variable Credit Courses

Courses with a variable credit designation [e.g., “ENG 409, Independent Study (1–3)”] may be taken with a different number of credit hours. Students should consult the course instructor or the department offering the course to determine the number of semester hours for which they may register.