Cross-Listing, Dual Listing and Other Combined Class Formats

Review the definitions and policies related to cross-listing classes and other unique situations.

Definitions

Combined Courses

Combined courses are unique classes that are scheduled in the same room at the same time. Combined courses are not necessarily equivalent or cross-listed. For example, the Art Department schedules labs for different courses in the same space because the students are working independently and using similar tools, but are working towards progress in separate courses.

Cross-Listed Courses

Cross-listed courses are the same course that is listed in the catalog and class schedule under more than one course number (typically across more than one department). Cross-listed courses are equivalent and combined because they are the same course.

  • The primary course is the course originally proposed by and approved for a given department, which is considered the owner of the course, and ultimately determines course characteristics (title, type, credits, etc.).
  • Cross-listing creates a secondary course(s), which is the offering of that course under other departmental prefixes.

Dual-Listed Courses

Dual-listed courses are combined courses where the courses are in different careers (undergraduate, graduate, medical, dental, or law). This may be in the same or in different subject areas.

Equivalent Courses

Equivalent courses are courses in which there is significant or complete overlap in content so that credit cannot be earned for both courses. There are two different types of equivalencies:

  • Identical courses that are taught under more than one course subject or number (which is referred to as cross-listing).
  • Unique courses where the content and syllabus differ but overlap by at least 70% (such as CSE 191 and MTH 191 or CHE 105 and CHE 101).

Policies

  • Equivalencies are intended to be long-term and cannot be set on a semester-by-semester basis. Equivalencies can be ended if the content changes. Both courses can then remain active in the catalog.
    • Two courses that have the same content and/or instructor for only one semester may be combined for that semester, but will not be marked as equivalent.
  • Courses can be used interchangeably as prerequisites for other courses.
  • The grade repeat policy applies to both courses (i.e., the grade in one course will replace the grade in the other course as defined in the grade repeat policy).
  • Both courses fulfill degree requirements that the other course satisfies.
  • Equivalencies must be listed in the course description in the catalog.
  • Special Topics courses, by definition, change continuously and thus may not be paired with a course as an equivalent.

The following also apply (in addition to the policies associated with all courses that are equivalent).

  • Both courses must be approved separately via the course approval process.
  • Both courses can be scheduled and taught independently from one another.
  • Equivalencies may be combined on a semester-by-semester basis to be taught in the same room at the same time, should the departments deem this appropriate.
  • UB Curriculum Policies for unique courses that are equivalent:
    • Equivalent courses will be included in the same topic and listed in the Pathways. The following criteria must be met:
      • Both courses must appropriately fit within the Pathway topic.
        • If this criteria cannot be met, the courses should be reevaluated for their equivalency status.
      • Both courses must be approved by SUNY to meet the same UB Areas for inclusion in the Pathways.
        • If this criteria cannot be met, the courses should be reevaluated for their equivalency status.
      • Both courses must meet the Pathway frequency policy.
        • If this criteria cannot be met, the courses will remain equivalent, but only those that meet the Pathway frequency policy will be included in the Pathways. Students who take an equivalent course that is not listed in the Pathway will have their Pathway manually adjusted to include the course they completed.

The following also apply (in addition to the policies associated with all courses that are equivalent):

  • Cross-lists are intended to be long-term and cannot be set on a semester-by-semester basis. Crosslists can be ended, and any secondary courses will be inactivated. It cannot be reactivated unless the cross-list is reactivated or a new course is submitted via the course approval process.
    • Courses with the same content and/or instructor for a given semester can be combined, but not marked as equivalent, because a semesterly equivalent would apply only to a student who takes the course twice in the same semester (which they cannot do).
  • Courses must have the same title, description, type and units.
  • Enrollment requirements for cross-listed courses should be the same. Certain sections, however, may use reserve capacities to designate seats for majors or certain groups.
  • Courses must have the same course components.
  • It is recommended that courses have the same number, if possible. If not the same number, courses should be at the same level (e.g., 100-level, 200-level, etc.).
  • If a course has General Education or Applied Learning attributes, then it should be applied across all primary and secondary courses.
  • A primary department (owner) is defined, and the other department(s) may not offer the course independently. The primary department may offer the course independently.
    • The secondary courses should be indicated by the primary department when the course is approved. Cross-listings created after the primary course is approved may be submitted directly to the Office of the Registrar.
  • An alteration to the primary department’s course will result in alterations to all cross-listed courses. All departments must approve of such changes. The other department(s) may not independently alter their courses.
  • Cross-listing should be indicated in the course description in the catalog
  • Allocations of funding and FTE associated with courses are determined by the account information entered on the SUNY tab of Maintain Schedule of Classes. Departments should collaborate to ensure that this account information reflects agreements between departments regarding these courses.
  • UB Curriculum policies for cross-listed courses:
    • Cross-listed courses by definition are equivalent and therefore must meet the criteria for course equivalency for inclusion in the UB Curriculum.
    • Only the primary department’s course will be listed in the Pathways; students who take a secondary department’s offering will have their Pathway manually adjusted to include the course they completed.
  • Both courses must be approved separately via the course approval process.
  • Both courses can be scheduled and taught independently from one another.
  • Classes are taught in the same room at the same time (i.e., combined) by the same instructor using the same syllabus, but additional coursework or differential expectations may be expected of those in different careers.
    • For undergraduate classes dual-listed with graduate and professional classes, there must be additional coursework and higher, more rigorous expectations for the graduate course.
  • Courses must have the same title, description and type.
    • Courses should have the same main course component(s).
    • For undergraduate and graduate courses dual-listed with one another, undergraduate courses must be at the 400 level.
    • It is recommended that courses have the same last two digits of the number if possible.
  • Students may not complete both the undergraduate and graduate course of a dual-list. Departments may register students for an exception to this, should they deem it appropriate on a case-by-case basis. In such a situation, students will earn credit, and the grade will factor into the GPA for both enrollments. Should the department consider it appropriate for the grade for the current taking to replace a previous taking, the department will need to contact the Office of the Registrar if the grade for review and, if approved, adjustment of the record.
  • Dual-listed courses only satisfy degree requirements for the applicable career (e.g., undergraduate courses satisfy undergraduate requirements and graduate courses satisfy graduate requirements).
  • Dual-listing should be indicated in the catalog.
  • Dual-listing can be ended should content change, and the status of both courses going forward would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • UB Curriculum policy related to dual-listed courses:
    • Graduate-level courses numbered 500 and higher cannot be part of the UB Curriculum. Undergraduate courses that are part of a dual-listing can be utilized for the UB Curriculum (if approved).
  • A Special Topics course that has been offered three times for undergraduate students, or two terms for graduate students, must be reviewed and approved as a permanent course to be offered again. At that time, the course may be reviewed for equivalencies.
  • Special Topics cannot be classified as equivalents or cross-listed courses.
  • On a semester-by-semester basis, Special Topics courses may be combined with the approval of both departments. Special Topics courses may only be combined with other topic courses and may not be combined with a permanent course.
  • On a semester-by-semester basis, Special Topics courses may be dual-listed with the approval of both departments.
  • UB Curriculum policy related to Special Topics courses:
    • Courses whose content varies from semester to semester, including those courses titled “Topics in …” or “Special Topics,” cannot be part of the UB Curriculum or considered for SUNY GERs.

Procedures

  • The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education or Graduate Education shall review and, where appropriate, submit to the Associate Deans Council for its review new course proposals and course changes that fail any of the preceding criteria. A proposal to cross-list that meets these criteria but which poses a potential negative impact upon students or other programs should also be referred to VPUE or VPGE.
  • Fulfillment of degree requirements:
    • In cases where the degree requirement is defined as several courses from a specific department and/or a specific level (e.g., must complete five ENG courses or three courses at the 300 level), equivalent courses not from that department or of that level will not fulfill the requirement on the AAR. Departments should review student situations and process exceptions for such major requirements as appropriate.
    • If a student enrolled in one section of the equivalent course offerings but later needs the other subject area to meet degree requirements, exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Such situations should not impact a student’s time to degree, and the student should not be required to repeat a course that they have already completed.
  • UB Areas:
    • For equivalent courses, both courses must be submitted to VPUE and SUNY for UB Areas approval.
    • For cross-listed courses, cross-listing needs to be indicated during the new or revised course approval process and will be submitted to SUNY in order for UB Areas to be approved. Should a cross-listing be added after a new course is approved, the cross-listing department should request UB Areas through the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.