Course Scheduling
How to use Coursedog
Please see the Coursedog Reference Guide for detailed instructions on how to use Coursedog to create your department's class schedule. This document is constantly being updated with new screenshots and information, so be sure to check back if you have questions.
Rules and Policies
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- All course section information will be entered into Coursedog during the schedule building and editing time period.
- Variable credit courses must be set up at the section level with a specific credit value depending on enrollment needs.
- Face-to-face sections must have meeting days and times when registration opens.
- Synchronous online sections require meeting days and times, but asynchronous online sections do not.
- Graduate/Doctoral students are not permitted to register for undergraduate courses. Instead create up two sections on each level and cross-list.
- Undergraduate students may register for Graduate courses if in an approved 4+1 and the courses will double count.
- Adding or canceling a section is accepted through the end of the add/drop period for the applicable part of the term.
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The meeting dates of all scheduled courses must fall within the part of term start and end dates for the course.
Example: Part of term 1 is the full 14-week Fall term. When selecting part of term 1 in Coursedog, the course must have all of its meeting dates within the part of term 1 date range.
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- Each section must have a campus designated. Options include: Hawk Hill, University City, Lancaster, Off-Site, and Online
- Each section must have a schedule type designated. Options include: Lecture, lab, studio, etc. If the correct type is not listed, this must be changed at the catalog level.
- Each section must have an instruction type designated. Options include: face-to-face, synchronous online, asynchronous online, etc.
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Grading options include:
- Doctoral (letter grade)
- Graduate (letter grade)
- Undergraduate (letter grade)
- Pass/No Penalty
- Pass/Fail (new Fall 2024) for approved courses only
The grade mode must be selected for the section prior to registration.
If the section will not be graded (EDU 999, clinicals, etc), you will still need to select a grade mode, but set Gradable to “No” in Coursedog.
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- Requests for section changes may be submitted via Requests in Coursedog
- Adding or canceling a section is accepted through the end of the add/drop period for the applicable part of the term.
- Faculty changes may be made in the Course Cap Manager or in Coursedog through the add/drop period of the full term.
- Class enrollment capacity and waitlist capacity changes may be made in the Course Cap Manager through the add/drop period of the full term.
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The following changes cannot be made once registration opens. You will need to cancel the existing section and request a new one in Coursedog.
- Parts of term
- A course offered in the first 7-week session of the term may not be moved to the second 7-week session after registration opens.
- Instructional methods on a specific section may not be changed after registration opens.
- A face-to-face class may not be changed to an online class after registration opens.
- Attributes (Remove)
- A course with any attribute, for example, writing intensive, may not have this attribute removed after registration opens.
- Attributes (Add)
- A course without an attribute may not have an attribute added after registration opens.
- Changes to meeting days and/or times may not be made after registration opens.
- The Registrar’s office will not move students to achieve section balancing.
- Campus Location
- A course cannot be moved from the University City campus to the Hawk Hill campus after registration opens
- Credit amount
- Grade mode
- Parts of term
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- Class cancellations are accepted through the end of the add/drop period for the applicable part of the term.
- The Department will notify students of the cancellation prior to requesting the cancellation in Coursedog.
- The Registrar’s office will drop the students from the class and cancel the class once the request is received.
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- All courses should have an instructor assignment when registration opens.
- Instructors may not have a course conflict in their schedule, and this includes a single session conflict with another course they are teaching.
- Instructors must have 15 minutes between each course they are teaching, including online courses with synchronous meeting times.
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- Each department is given predetermined allotments of course time blocks to utilize for scheduling within a given semester. See Allotments for each department's allotment.
- Requests for time blocks outside of the published options can be submitted through the Service Catalog for review prior to the term's scheduled publish date.
- Specially approved time blocks must have a start time that matches the approved published options, and may have a different end time.
- Courses that are not 3 credits must have a start time that matches the approved published options, and may have a different end time.
- Requests for time blocks overlapping with the common hour will not be approved.
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- Special topics courses may be utilized to test new courses offered for the first time.
- A special topics course that has been offered two times must be added to the next academic catalog for all future offerings.
- A special topics course may not be offered in conjunction with an existing course included in the academic catalog covering the same learning outcomes.
- Special topics courses do not have prerequisites or attributes at the catalog level.
- Exception: Placement exam prerequisites may reside at the catalog level as long as the same prerequisite placement exam is always applied to the section level offering of the course.
- Special topics courses can be offered with rotating titles and multiple in the same term.
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- Each department will liaise with the Honors department to establish honors course offerings when using the HON subject code.
- The Honors department will be responsible for building HON courses in Coursedog, and submitting requests for additions/changes to HON courses.
- Honors courses offered under specific departments will remain under the purview of each department for course building in Coursedog.
- If a student is attending a non-honors course, and should receive honors credit for the course, the request must be submitted by the Honors department.
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Course attribute information must match at both the catalog and section level.
Exceptions:
- Special topics courses do not have catalog level attribute information.
- The following attributes may reside only at the section level: Co-op, Faith Justice, Honors, Service Learning, Writing Intensive.
- To view all your department’s courses and their attributes for the semester, please use the Active Course/Section Detail report in Cognos. Be sure to set it to Section Attributes to see the attributes for your sections for that semester.
- Examples of current attributes can be found here: Active Course Attributes as of Fall 2024
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Restrictions reside and match at the catalog and section levels for all courses.
- A restriction can be one or a combination of the following:
- Major, minor, concentration and/or certificate
- Class level (freshman, sophomore, etc). For registration, this is the level that the students are currently in.
- Degree level (undergraduate, adult learner, graduate, doctoral)
- Program (eg. only for Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies)
- Campus (eg. only for students based in Lancaster)
- Student attribute (eg. only for Honors Program students)
- Cohort (eg. only for the incoming Fall 2024 class)
- Adding restrictions at the section level:
- Additional section level restrictions may be added in order to further narrow the student population for registration eligibility.
- Section level restrictions may not be removed if they also reside at the catalog level.
- Cohort restrictions are only to be used for the incoming Freshmen class first year seminars, and only in their first Fall and Spring terms.
- Restrictions cannot be added to a course that has students on the waitlist.
- Graduate level courses cannot have a 4+1 attribute restriction and a Graduate level restriction simultaneously.
- If you would like a report of the restrictions of your department’s courses, please submit a service request to the Registrar’s Office.
- A restriction can be one or a combination of the following:
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Prerequisite information must match at both the catalog and section level. Exception: Special topics courses do not have catalog level prerequisite information.
Graduate level courses may not have undergraduate level prerequisites.
To view all your department’s courses and their prerequisites for the semester, please use the Active Course/Section Detail report in Cognos. Be sure to set it to Section Attributes to see the attributes for your sections for that semester.
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Corequisite information always resides at the catalog level for corequisite courses.
- Corequisite information that also resides at the section level is entered as CRNs, and follows two different paths:
- One section of each corequisite course offered in the term: Corequisite information resides at the section level in the form of specific CRNs that tie the two courses together. Students are required to register for both courses and do not have multiple sections to choose from.
- Multiple sections of each corequisite course offered in the term: Corequisite information does not reside at the section level. Students are required to register for one of each course and have the choice of multiple sections during registration.
- Corequisite information that also resides at the section level is entered as CRNs, and follows two different paths:
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- Active courses at the catalog level may only be offered as an independent study if the course is not scheduled during the specific term of course request.
- Independent studies do not have meeting days and times associated with the course.
- A title must be submitted with the independent study form in order for the course to be created.
- Newly created independent study courses will use the following numbering system:
- UD (Undergraduate Day) and UC (PLS/HDC): 490-495
- GR (Graduate): 790-795
- Course numbers ending in 96-99 are used for unidentifiable transfer credit and therefore are not available for independent study course numbers.
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Internships do not have meeting days and times associated with the course. The campus will be Off-Site.
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- A cross-listed course is a single course that is offered under more than one department.
- Cross-listed courses have the following course information in common:
- Course title
- Course description
- Credit value
- Learning outcomes
- Faculty member
- Day and time meeting pattern
- Classroom assignment
- Cross-listed courses under the same academic level may not have different course attributes. Example: One course has the Writing Intensive attribute, and the other course does not
- Undergraduate cross-listed courses should use the same course number under different subjects when available. Example: IHS 323 and SOC 323
- Undergraduate courses cross-listed with Graduate courses should use course numbers that differ in department numeric level range, but have the last two numbers matching when available. Example: EDU 232 and EDU 632
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- Waitlists should not be active during registration for classes with rolling caps.
- Do not grant closed course overrides when using waitlists.
- Waitlists can be added to a class after the initial registration period has concluded.
- When using Course Cap Manager to maintain rolling caps during registration, you may not also maintain a waitlist.
- Waitlists will not be available for Freshmen classes until after Freshman registration is complete during orientation in July. Freshmen will not be able to register themselves on a course waitlist.
- All waitlists will be cleared 24 hours prior to the end of the add/drop period.
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- Classes that have reserved seating in place may not have waitlists and/or rolling caps.
- A Service Catalog ticket must be submitted to add and remove reserved seating to a class.
- Reserved seating cannot be added or edited after registration opens.
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When the same course is taught during back-to-back time periods by the same faculty member and has the same course capacity, the Registrar's office will schedule both courses in the closest proximity possible.
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- All sections will be assigned classrooms based on the Room Preferences submitted in Coursedog.
- If a room change is needed, faculty will speak with their respective department Chair, except for School of Business faculty who will speak with their respective assigned Associate Dean.
- The Registrar's office will work with Chairs and the HSB-assigned Associate Dean directly to reconcile such requests.
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- The final exam schedule is based on the first meeting day and time of each course.
- The date range of the final exam period can be referenced on the academic calendar.
- The reading day for each term is a single day after the last day of courses and before the first day of final exams.
- The final exam schedule will be published on the Registrar’s website one week prior to the beginning of the term.
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- The Registrar's office refers all disability accommodations from faculty to Human Resources.
- Faculty accommodation: Human Resources will contact the Registrar's office, and the classroom will be relocated as necessary.
- Student accommodation: Student Disability Services will contact the Registrar's office, and the classroom will be relocated as necessary.
- When a classroom is relocated for an accommodation, regardless of the date received, the classroom will remain in the relocated location for the duration of the term.
- Accommodation requests may result in the relocation of other classes.
Time Blocks
Classes may only be offered during approved time blocks. If the course is not a three credit course, then the class must start at the beginning of the approved time block. For a reference PDF of approved time blocks, click here.
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Start Time
End Time
8:00am
8:50am
9:05am
9:55am
10:10am
11:00am
11:15am
12:05pm
Friday Common Hour 12:20pm -1:35pm
1:50pm
2:40pm
3:20pm
4:10pm
5:00pm
5:50pm
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Start Time
End Time
8:00am
9:15am
9:30am
10:45am
11:00am
12:15pm
12:30pm
1:45pm
2:00pm
3:15pm
3:30pm
4:45pm
5:00pm
6:15pm
6:30pm
7:45pm
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Start Time
End Time
12:20pm
1:35pm
1:50pm
3:05pm
3:20pm
4:35pm
5:00pm
6:15pm
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Evening Face-to-Face Time Blocks
Monday - Thursday, once per week, 2 hours 45 minutes
Start Time
End Time
5:00pm
7:45pm
6:30pm
9:15pm
Evening Online Time Blocks
Monday - Thursday, once per week, 1 hour 30 minutes
Start Time
End Time
6:00pm
7:30pm
7:00pm
8:30pm
7:45pm
9:15pm
9:30pm
11:00pm
Allotments
Day and Time Allotments: For MW/MWF in the afternoon you can use your allotments toward MWF or MW but not both | |
Accounting | 3 |
Aerospace Studies | 1 |
Art and Art History | 1 |
Biology | 3 |
Chemistry | 2 |
Communications | 1 |
Computer Science | 1 |
Decision and System Sciences | 3 |
Economics | 2 |
English | 8 |
Environmental Science | 1 |
Finance | 3 |
Food Pharma Health | 2 |
Health Sciences | 2 |
History | 3 |
Management | 4 |
Marketing | 2 |
Mathematics | 4 |
Modern and Classical Language | 9 |
Music Theatre and Film | 1 |
Philosophy | 6 |
Physics | 1 |
Political Science | 2 |
Psychology | 3 |
Sociology/Criminal Justice | 2 |
Special Education | 1 |
Teacher Education | 2 |
Theology and Religious Studies | 6 |
Schedule Types
Starting with the 25/26 Academic Year, we will be transitioning to the following schedule types for classes:
Type | Definition |
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Assessment | For non-academic placeholder courses (eg. SLR, ARR). |
Asynchronous Online | Course meets fully online with no scheduled meeting dates or times. |
Clinical | A clinical allows for experimental work in which students meet at a medical or health-focused agency to test, observe, experiment, or practice a profession in a hands-on environment. A SJU faculty member or a university-approved skilled practitioner (preceptor) directly supervises the clinical instruction. |
Co-op | SJU's cooperative education program includes full-time, off-campus paid employment opportunities for students. This program enriches students' degree programs by bridging the gap between theory and practice which allows them to apply classroom knowledge to workplace scenarios. Through a co-op experience, students explore career and academic options, test career choices, increase professional skills and earn money to contribute to educational expenses. |
Dissertation | A dissertation is an individual investigative study that results in the development and writing of a scholarly, comprehensive paper. The dissertation must demonstrate that the student has acquired the ability to conduct research in a discerning and original manner. The dissertation should make a significant contribution to the field in which it is written so that at least one scholarly article suitable for publication in a professional journal may be derived from it or that the findings of the dissertation would be otherwise publishable. |
Face-to-face | In person instruction is the traditional classroom setting. The instructor and students all meet in the same room at the same time. |
Hybrid | A course that combines reduced classroom instruction with additional online instruction. All students attend class in person, but the amount of time spent in the classroom is reduced from the standard number of meeting hours per credit and replaced by online learning activities. At least 50% of the meeting time must be in-person. |
Independent Study | A course of organized instruction or research determined solely by a student and their instructor. |
Lab | A laboratory is an educational activity with students conducting experiments, perfecting skills, practicing procedures or completing simulation experiences under the direction of a faculty member. |
Lecture | A lecture is a structured form of instruction that takes place either on or off campus, including educational field trips. During a lecture, the instructor delivers an educational experience to students using a variety of instructional methods. The instructor bears the primary responsibility for the instructional activity and is directly involved with all the students in the class. Students are expected to work on out-of-class assignments on a regular basis over the length of the course, which will normally average two hours of out-of-class study for each hour of formal class activity. This out-of-class study shall not be counted as part of the lecture hour for credit. |
Practical Experience | A practical experience is a credit-bearing work experience that is integrated with academic instruction and relevant to occupational goals. Students apply learned concepts to practical situations within an occupational field while receiving guidance and supervision. The experience is coordinated by a SJU faculty member, who assists with planning the experience and determines the course grade after consulting with the employer or supervisor. The student is expected to complete pre-determined assignments. Examples may include a weekly journal, final paper, or experience report. Whether the practical experience is paid or unpaid is determined by state or federal regulations, an accreditor or the employer in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The term used by a program to label its practice experience may vary in the course title to accommodate the differences in accreditation nomenclature. (This combines the former schedule types: Internship, Practicum, Field Experience, Student Teaching ) |
Research | Research is used to award credit for work carried out by a student under the supervision of a faculty member. The work is designed to promote inquiry on a topic, and it normally results in a paper or some other appropriate product. |
Seminar | A seminar is a less formal educational experience than a lecture, in which a relatively small number of students engage in discussions directed by a faculty member. |
Studio | A course with primary emphasis on student activity leading to skill development and the enhancement of the practice of art. |
Study Tour | A faculty-led out-of-classroom experience that integrates traditional classroom learning with experiential activities and site visits. Study tour courses may have pre- and post-travel classroom study. Course activities include, but are not limited to, classroom study, research, fieldwork internships and service learning. |
Synchronous Online | Course meets fully online with students required to participate in online meetings/lectures at specific days and times. |
Tutorial | Tutorials are conducted in a one-on-one or small group format, with a focus on a specific topic. Instructors of tutorial classes are compensated based on the number of registered students. |