Course Types

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Course by Special Arrangement

A Course by Special Arrangement (CBSA) is a course in an approved curriculum program offered to a student during a term when it is not scheduled or when other circumstances are approved by the Chair, Dean, and Provost. A CBSA should be used only in cases of extreme scheduling conflict when no substitution is appropriate or available. A CBSA may be appropriate when a student’s progression requires completion of the course, the student is pending graduation within two terms, the student’s personal circumstances necessitate the use of a CBSA for degree completion, or other circumstances are approved by the Chair, Dean, and Provost.

The CBSA must be a degree or credential requirement that cannot be fulfilled by another mechanism, such as course substitution or independent study. Prior to registration, students must submit the CBSA Petition with documented approval of the student, instructor, Chair, Dean, and Provost. The petition must be received by the Office of the Registrar within the first fourteen days of the relevant semester. A CBSA does not require special fees or tuition; however, the student credit hours are calculated in the student’s tuition and financial aid packaging. An independent study course cannot be a Course by Special Arrangement.

Independent Study Course

Independent Study Courses (ISC), which are distinct from Courses by Special Arrangement and special topics courses, are designed to provide an opportunity for a student to pursue study or research on a topic of special interest that is not available through any of the courses offered in a program at EKU. ISC must be completed under the supervision of a full-time faculty member and should provide mutual benefit to both the student and the faculty member.

ISC should not be used as a mechanism to teach a course not offered in a given semester or as a substitution for program requirements, though they may, with appropriate approval, fulfill such requirements. ISC are not intended to be a mechanism for enrolling in a course for which a student would otherwise be ineligible. Faculty members shall not supervise more than one ISC per semester without prior approval of the Chair and Dean.

ISC requires submission of an Independent Study Course Form with documented approval of the student, instructor, Chair, and Dean. The form must be received by the Office of the Registrar within the first fourteen days of the relevant semester. ISC does not require special fees or tuition; however, the student credit hours are calculated in the student’s tuition and financial aid packaging. To qualify for enrollment in an ISC, undergraduate students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Service Learning

Courses that have been officially recognized as including service-learning within their curriculum are designated with the letter “S” following the course prefix and number. Service-learning is defined as:

An academic experiential educational method in which students participate in an organized service activity that meets identified community needs and reflects on the service activity in such a way as to:

  • gain further understanding of course content,
  • develop critical thinking skills, and
  • develop an enhanced sense of civic responsibility

Students will be required to participate in at least 5 hours of community service per credit hour of course credit.

Special Topics Courses

Special topics courses are designed to offer the opportunity for students to study specialized areas within a discipline. These courses are created with normal class enrollment expectations. The topic of study is designated by the course section title, and may or may not vary with each offering. Students may repeat a special topics course (for the purpose of earning additional course credit) only if the specific course title is different with each subsequent enrollment.

Student Success Seminars

Every student seeking a baccalaureate degree or Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies must complete a 1-3 credit Student Success Seminar.

  • Full time students must complete the Student Success Seminar during their first semester.
  • Part time students are strongly encouraged to complete the Student Success Seminar during their first semester, and must complete it within their first 18 credits.
  • Students who earn a grade of “W,” “F,” or “FN” in a Student Success Seminar must repeat the course the following term.
  • Transfer students who have 30 or more transfer credits with normal grading upon admission to EKU may have this requirement waived. (Some majors require all students to take a Student Success Seminar, regardless of transfer status.)