University of Vermont Course List Style Guide
Item
Course Description
Subject Prefix
Subject/Discipline /Major
Subject/Discipline /Major
Subject/Discipline /Major
Course Number - Positions
Naked Course Numbers
Student Class
5.17.17
Guideline
Minimze use of unnecessary
introductory words.
Any time a subject is used as a
course prefix, it is all CAPS, and
the abbreviation is used.
When a subject is used without a
course number, and not as a
course prefix, it is spelled out and
capitalized.
Use & instead of "and" in a multiword subject title.
When a prerequisite includes
majors and minors, they must be
spelled out. If the majors and
minors are distinct, they must be
listed separately. Lists of majors
and minors are only separated by
a semi-colon if both the major
AND the minor is required. Semicolons separate requirements.
Any time a course number is
referenced, it must be all 3
positions
Any time a course number is
referenced, the subject
abbreviation must be included in
all CAPS.
Any time a student class is
referenced, the first letter is
capitalized. First-Year is
hypenated.
Correct
Incorrect
Begin with a single action word: explores,
introduces, teaches, covers, overview, utilizes, "This course will…" or "In this course
etc.
students will learn…"
BIOL 001.
Biology 001, Bio 001, Biol 001
ASCI 001 or a Biology course. ENGL 012 and a
French course.
Required courses in Communication Sciences
& Disorders.
ASCI 001 or a BIOL course. ENGL 012 and a
biology course.
Required courses in Communication Sciences
and Disorders
English, History major, Geography, English
minor. English major or minor.
ENG major/minor; HST major; GEOG minor.
BIOL 001. PHIL 010. SOC 100.
BIOL 1, PHIL 10
PHIL 001, PHIL 003, PHIL 004.
PHIL 001, 003, 004
First-Year. Sophomore.
first year, sophomore
University of Vermont Course List Style Guide
Item
5.17.17
Guideline
Correct
Incorrect
Class Listings multiple
To indicate multiple classes, list Minimum Junior standing. (Minimum only
the smallest acceptable class and capitalized if it's the first word in the
precede with "mimimum".
sentence)
Class listing exclusive
Use "only" when only a particular
class year(s) is permitted.
Sophomore only. First-Year/Sophomore only. Sophomore standing.
Class Listing capitalization
Cross-listed
Prerequisite
Co-requisite
Pre/co-requisite
Course lists for pre/co-requisites
Parentheses - Course Offering
Parentheses - Course Content
Commas
When starting a sentence, both
members are capitalized.
Hypenate and use "cross-listed
with…"
No hyphen
Hyphenate
Course groups are separated by
semicolons, logical operators
within the semicolons are the
same, no operator is an explicit
'and'
No sentences or phrases related
to the course scheduling,
requisites, cross lists or credit
should be enclosed in
parenthesis.
Junior/senior standing.
Junior/Senior
Junior/senior
Cross-listed with:
Prerequisite
Co-requisite
Pre/Co-requisite
crosslisted, crosslisting, crosslists cross listed
pre-requisite
corequisite
MATH 019 or MATH 020; EC 011, EC 012, STAT MATH 019 or MATH 020 and STAT 141, EC
141; BIOL 001 or BIOL 002.
011 and EC 012, BIOL 001 or BIOL 002
Cross-listed with PSYCH 269. Not offered for
graduate credit. Fall only. Alternate years.
From BIOL 263: (cancer); from BSAD 132: (1)
business; from ANNB 201: (e.g.
Sentences or phrases related to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, nervous).
the course content or special
From ALAN 192: (a contract must be obtained
requirements or instructions may from and returned to the ALANA Studies
remain enclosed in parenthesis. program during preregistration).
Two items in a list are separated
by a comma. Use the serial
comma in a list with more than
two items.
careers, job listings, and internships.
(Not offered for graduate credit.) (Fall only.)
(Cross listed with PSYC 269.) (Alternate
years)
cancer; 1 business; e.g. musculoskeletal,
cardiovascular, nervous; a contract must be
obtained from and returned to the ALANA
Studies program during preregistration
careers, job listings and internships.
University of Vermont Course List Style Guide
Item
Sentence and Phrase Endings
Credit Phrase Ending
Numbers
Guideline
All sentences or phrases should
end with a period.
Graduate
Subject capitalization
Only capitlaize UVM subjects.
Department Chair Title
Instructor Permission
Abbreviations
Context helps determine
capitlaization
Sentence and Phrase separation
within a concept
Correct
Prerequisites: ASCI 001.
Credit information at the end of
each entry comes from BANNER
so does not need to be entered.
Spell out all numbers that are not
course numbers.
one; thirty-three; nineteenth century
List as 'Season only'. Include
when class is not offered in both
Fall and Spring. (Capitalize
seasons if they appear in the
description for some other
reason and when they are not
the first word in a sentence.)
Capitalize Department Chair or
Chair. Permission is not
possessive.
Capitalize Instructor only
(whether or not it is the first
word in the sentence).
Permission is not possessive.
Avoid abbreviations.
Capitalize when used in the
context of a student class.
Fall and Spring
5.17.17
Incorrect
Prerequisites: ASCI 001
1; 33;19th century
Fall only. Spring only.
Offered in the fall semester. Offered spring
only.
Department Chair permission.
Department chair's permission.
Instructor permission.
semester
Instructor's permission.
sem
Graduate student, graduate major.
One course in algebra or geometry.
The context may result in
capitalization that does not
exactly follow earlier rules.
One course in Religion or Celtic Studies.
Use semicolons to separate
categories of information in a list, Prerequisites: ASCI 001, BIOL 004; minimum
not periods or commas
Junior standing.
one course in Algebra or Geometry
one course in Religion or celtic studies
(note, Religion is a UVM subject, celtic
studies is not, but it does not look right to
only capitalize Religion. Context suggests
both should be capitalized.)
Prerequisites: ASCI 001, BIOL 004, Junior
standing. Prerequisties: ASCI 001, BIOL 004.
Junior standing.
University of Vermont Course List Style Guide
5.17.17
Guideline
Item
Correct
Incorrect
Course titles should not be used
in course descriptions, only
subject and course number
Prerequisite: BIOL 004.
Prerequisite: Human Biology, Co-requisite:
BIOL 004 (Human Biology)
Use of Dash
If a number begins a phrase that
begins a sentence (or a series of
phrases that end with a period),
capitalize it. If a number is in the
middle of a sentence, or a phrase
(or a series of phrases that end
with a period), don't capitalize it.
Use a dash to join
words/numbers that
independently would not have
the indended meaning
100 level course
Use of Quotes
Do not use quotes in course
descriptions; do not cut and
paste quotes into descriptions, as
they are translated into ? In the
BANNER database
No quotes in course description.
Order for Prerequisites
Prerequisite information is listed
in the following order, with
semicolons separating each
component. Do not capitalize
between components.
Prerequisites: course;
Prerequisites: ANTH 021; Anthropology majors
major/minor/concentration;
only; minimum Sophomore standing; or
Prerequisites: Minimum Sophomore
class; permission.
Instructor permission.
standing, Instructor permission, ANTH 021.
Course Titles
Number Capitalization
Order of course listing components:
1. Description
2. Concurrent enrollment in….
Prerequisite: Three hours of Religion.
Prerequisite: three hours of Religion.
Prerequisite: REL 021, three hours at the 100- Prerequisite: REL 021, Three hours at the
level.
100-level.
100-level course.
No "quotes" in course description.
University of Vermont Course List Style Guide
Guideline
Item
3. Prerequisite:
Prerequisites: (if more than one)
4. Co-requisite:
Co-requisites: (if more than one)
5. Pre/co-requisite:
Pre/co-requisites: (if more than one)
6. Cross -listed with:
7. Total credits toward graduation cannot exceed
8. Not offered for graduate credit.
9. Fall only.
10. Alternate years.
11. Credits.
Example (edited to illustrate concepts, not the actual catalog entry)
MATH 183 – Fundamentals of Financial Math
Students will be introduced to the basic ideas and algebraic structures of interest theory.
Concurrent enrollment in MATH 023.
Prerequisites: MATH 020; Mathematics major or minor; minimum Sophomore standing.
Cross-listed with: STAT 183.
PHYS 232 – Contemporary Physics
Topics of current interest in Physics.
Prerequisite: Instructor permission.
Cross-listed with: MATH 232.
Not offered for graduate credit.
5.17.17
Correct
Incorrect