{"id":751,"date":"2026-02-05T18:16:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T18:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-uwsp-multi.pantheonsite.io\/office-of-the-registrar\/?page_id=751"},"modified":"2026-05-26T20:02:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T20:02:53","slug":"academic-abbreviations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/academic-abbreviations\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Abbreviations and Definitions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwsp-accordion blockspacetop blockspacebottom\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"\"><div class=\"panelcontainer nofirst\">\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Academic Catalog Term Codes<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<p>Catalog terms are identified by the year first (remove the second number from the year), followed by a&nbsp;one digit academic term:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Winterim = 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spring = 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Summer = 6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fall = 8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, during the academic year 2017-2018, the following codes are used to represent each term:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fall 2017 = 2178<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Winterim 2018 = 2182<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spring 2018 = 2184<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Summer 2018 = 2186<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong><em>Credits<\/em><\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong><em>In-Class + Out-of-Class = Total Hours<\/em><\/strong><\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong><em>Minimum length of calendar days for timetable<\/em><\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">1.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">16 + 32 = 48 hours<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">4.71 days (approx. 1 week)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">2.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">32 + 64 = 96 hours<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">9.41 days (approx. 2 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">3.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">48 + 96 = 144 hours<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">14.12 days (approx. 3 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">4.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">64 + 128 = 192 hours<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">18.82 days (approx. 4 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">5.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">80 + 160 = 240 hours<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">23.53 days (approx. 5 weeks)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Course Credit Hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-solid-gold\" href=\"https:\/\/catalog.uwsp.edu\/currentcatalog\/academicpolicies\/credits\" target=\"_blank\">Summary of Credit Hour Policies <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Building Abbreviations<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p>The buildings in which courses are offered appear in the timetable as abbreviations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can print the PDF versions of the of the below maps to help you around campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-solid-gold\" href=\"https:\/\/www3.uwsp.edu\/about\/Pages\/campusMap.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Campus Maps <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Building Abbreviation<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Building Name<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>ALB<\/td><td>Albertson Hall\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CAC<\/td><td>Communication Arts Center\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CBB<\/td><td>\u200bChemistry Biology Building<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CCC<\/td><td>Collins Classroom Center\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>CPS<\/td><td>College of Professional Studies\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MCCH<\/td><td>\u200bMarshfield Clinic Health Systems Champions Hall<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MRSH<\/td><td>Marshfield Campus\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>NFAC<\/td><td>Noel Fine Arts Center\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SCHMK<\/td><td>Schmeekle Reserve\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SCI<\/td><td>Science Building<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>TNR<\/td><td>Trainer Natural Resources Building\u200b<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>WAUS<\/td><td>Wausau Campus\u200b<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Building Abbreviation Table<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Course Component Definitions<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Discussion (DIS):<\/strong> A method of instruction where there is substantial interaction between the instructor and the student. This involves significant student input and gives students the opportunity to engage in a small group.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Field Studies (FLD): <\/strong>An academic or investigative study outside of the classroom, which relates to a student&#8217;s academic or occupational objectives.&nbsp; May involve conducting observations and collecting data in a natural or real-world setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independent Study (IND):<\/strong> Students complete individualized and often self-paced plans of study or research that is more in-depth than the classroom setting. The instructor and student negotiate the plan of study.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Laboratory (LAB):<\/strong> Laboratory courses emphasize hands-on exploratory activities where knowledge is gained primarily through structured practical experience.&nbsp; Oftentimes this learning is through hands-on exploration in real-world or simulated settings.&nbsp; Labs may be stand-alone or a supplement to traditional lecture sections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lecture (LEC):<\/strong> A method of instruction in which students learn a subject predominantly through faculty\/student interaction. These courses may include a variety of pedagogies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Research (RSC): <\/strong>Research courses relate to a specific interest or academic discipline. The instructor and student negotiate the nature of the study\/research. Students receive course credit for engaging in focused research on a topic related to their academic study under the guidance of the instructor, typically culminating in an intellectual product.\u200b<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seminar (SEM):<\/strong> An interactive and typically smaller course forum than a lecture; enrollment is typically limited to allow for a greater focus on critical reflection and idea exchange.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Curriculum and Department Abbreviations<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-solid-purple\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/subject-area-codes\/\" target=\"_self\">View Subject Area Codes <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Instruction Mode Definitions<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>In Person<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Meets face-to-face at specific days and times on campus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Online<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Class conducted online using various academic technologies without any required meeting times. Class participation required throughout the entire class duration, several times each week.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Scheduled Time Online<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Class conducted online with at least a portion of the class meeting online at a specific day and time using interactive video and various technologies. Required time will appear in your schedule as meeting in a &#8220;virtual classroom.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hybrid<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 A combination of In Person and either Online or Scheduled Time Online, or a mixture of all three. There will be required face-to-face meetings. Check class notes for details on individual sections.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Individualized<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Used to designate specialty classes that require individualized instruction (i.e. field study, independent study, internships, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional modes for distance learning:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Point-to-Point<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Students and instructor are scheduled to meet face-to-face at a particular day and time at two or more campuses, using streamed audio and video to connect the separate classrooms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hybrid Point-to-Point<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 A combination of Point-to-Point and either Online or Scheduled Time Online, or a mixture of all three. There will be required face-to-face meetings. Check class notes for detail on individual sections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Program Definitions<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Major<\/strong>: A major is a specific area of study in which a student chooses to specialize while pursuing their degree<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minor<\/strong>: A minor is a secondary area of specialization beyond a college major. It must be combined with a major or degree program and often complements a major and\/or allows students to explore another discipline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u200b<strong>Certificate<\/strong>: A certificate is a concentrated set of classes grouped around a particular subject matter. It may be combined with a major or degree program, and some are available as stand-alone options for individuals, working professionals, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-create-block-uwsp-accordion-section\"><summary class=\"accordion-heading\">Schedule of Classes (SoC) Abbreviations and Definitions<\/summary><div class=\"accordion-content\">\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-solid-gold\" href=\"https:\/\/accesspoint.uwsp.edu\/psc\/CSPRD\/EMPLOYEE\/SA\/c\/NUI_FRAMEWORK.PT_LANDINGPAGE.GBL\" target=\"_self\">Search for Classes in accesSPoint <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p>Click on the&nbsp;&#8220;Search the Classes&#8221; tile from your accesSPoint Homepage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwspbtn uwsp-btn-link-purple\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/enrollment-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\">Review Class Search Visual Guide for more information about how to use the search function. <i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-chevron-right\"><\/i><\/a>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Catalog Number \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Number assigned to a course that appears in the Catalog.&nbsp; For COMM 101, 101 is the catalog number.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Class Capacity \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;The total number of students that will be allowed to enroll in a particular class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Class Detail \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Clicking on the section number for a class will bring up the Class Detail.&nbsp; There is more in depth information about the class in this area including number of credits, class components, enrollment requirements, class attributes, availability and course description.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Class Number \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>The system auto-generates a unique 5 digit number that identifies a particular class (a particular section in a particular term).&nbsp; The first digit of the class number will match the last digit of the term that it is held in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Closed \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;The section of the class has reached class capacity.&nbsp; Closed courses will have a blue square under Status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Combined Sections &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;The feature that allows two or more classes to be scheduled in the same room at the same time with the same instructor. Any &#8220;slash courses&#8221; that we have (e.g. EDUC 301\/501) will be scheduled this way, as well as cross-listed (equivalent) courses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CGER <\/strong>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.uwsp.edu\/currentcatalog\/academics\/coregeneraleducationrequirements\">Core General Education Requirements<\/a> (Fall 2026 to present)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Course\/Class Attribute &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;A designation attached to a course or class to indicate it meets some criteria. For instance, General Education Program areas are attached as attributes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Course Attribute Value \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;A more specific breakdown of the Course Attribute &#8211; the categories for the GEP\/GDR requirements, for example (Humanities, Arts, Global Awareness, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Course Career \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Denotes at what level a course is taught (Undergraduate, Graduate, etc).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Course Component &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;The different parts of a course that are scheduled in the Schedule of Classes. This could include the lecture, lab, and discussion (LEC, LAB, and DIS).&nbsp; When adding a class to your shopping cart that has multiple components, it will allow you to select only the enrollment component.&nbsp; The other components associated with the class will be auto-enrolled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Course ID &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;Permanent, unique number assigned by the system to a specific course. The ID is created when the course is added to the Catalog and stays with that course throughout its lifecycle. If a course changes catalog number or subject (curriculum), the Course ID would stay the same.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Days and Times \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Abbreviations for the days of the week a course is offered.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mo \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Monday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tu \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Tuesday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>We \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Wednesday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Th \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Thursday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fr \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Friday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sa \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Saturday<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enrollment Requirements \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Enrollment Requirements for each class can be found in the Class Detail section.&nbsp; Here you will find any prerequisites, consent required, or other special requirements for the course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Enrollment Total \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;This will tell you how many students are registered for the course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GDR \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;General Degree Requirements&nbsp;(Before Fall 2013)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GEP \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.uwsp.edu\/cger\/Pages\/GEP-Homepage.aspx\">General Education Program<\/a>&nbsp;(Fall 2013 through Summer 2026)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>&#8220;H&#8221; in Section Number \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Denotes this is an Honors section.&nbsp; You must be a member of the University Honors Program to enroll in this section.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Instructor Consent \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Online authorization is required from the instructor before you will be able to register for this course.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;Where the course is being taught. We have the following locations identified: UWSP, Off-Campus, Treehaven, and CWES (Central Wisconsin Environmental Station).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mode of Instruction &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;Refers to how a class is being taught. The&nbsp;available values are defined here.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Open \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>This section of the class has not reached class capacity.&nbsp; Open courses will have a green circle under Status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Prerequisite \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Courses that must be successfully completed before you will be able to take this class.&nbsp; You will be able to register for the class in accesSPoint if the prerequisites have been completed or are in progress.&nbsp; AccesSPoint assumes in progress courses will be successfully completed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Room \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;Building&nbsp;and room number where the course will meet. Campus will be designated here if the class is being held at one of the branch campuses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Section \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Here you will find the section number, course component (lecture, lab, discussion, etc.) and which session the course is being offered.&nbsp; Clicking on this link will take you to the Class Detail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Session &#8211;<\/strong>&nbsp;A period of time within a term in which classes are offered. Each&nbsp;session&nbsp;has defined drop\/refund dates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Status &#8211;&nbsp;<\/strong>This will display whether a class is open, closed, or has a wait list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Term<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; A period of time when students are admitted\/enrolled.&nbsp; We have four terms: Fall, Winterim, Spring, and Summer.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Terms are identified by the year first (remove the second number from the year), followed by a&nbsp;one digit academic term:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Winterim = 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spring = 4<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Summer = 6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fall = 8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For example, during the academic year 2017-2018, the following codes are used to represent each term:&nbsp;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fall 2017 = 2178<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Winterim 2018 = 2182<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spring 2018 = 2184<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Summer 2018 = 2186<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Units \u2013&nbsp;<\/strong>Also referred to as credits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wait List \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;This class has reached capacity and a wait list has been created.&nbsp; Wait listed classes will have a yellow triangle under Status.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wait List Capacity \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;The total number of students that will be allowed to get on the wait list.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wait List Total \u2013<\/strong>&nbsp;The number of students that are on the wait list for the class.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-751","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=751"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1595,"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/751\/revisions\/1595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uwsp.edu\/office-of-the-registrar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}