Experimental courses are regular academic credit courses offered through an established academic program that are designed to be temporary and developmental. These courses are primarily offered to accommodate the expertise of a visiting instructor or encourage innovation by a faculty member to develop and test a new course. At times, experimental courses are used to address critical issues in current events. 

The most common course numbers used for experimental are 199, 399, 410/510, or 610. 

Experimental courses are not eligible to satisfy area of inquiry or cultural literacy core education requirements and may not be listed as a major or minor requirement. Experimental courses may not be listed as a prerequisite to another course, nor may they have term-specific prerequisites. Experimental courses are not subject to curricular review, but it is expected that the faculty will comply with the university’s standards regarding the ratio of credits to hours of student engagement and the differential between graduate and undergraduate coursework in 4xx/5xx courses. 

There are no limits to the number of experimental courses a department may offer within a given term. Departments are limited to a maximum of three times to offer a given experimental course, after which the course either must be dropped or the department must submit a new course proposal and add the course to the permanent curriculum. 

Approved By: University Senate        Date: 05/24/2023

Motion Number: US22/23-20

Revision History:

Original US22/23-20 Date 05/24/2023