Scope: This article supplies descriptions of the various Course Components used across the University of Maine system.
Purpose: This article supplies detailed documentation on course components including the component’s codes and definitions of the components.
Detailed Information
Course Components
Course components are used to describe specific characteristics of a course that indicate, for example, whether the course is discussion or lecture based. The components:
- Allow students to choose classes that fit their learning goals and their program requirements.
- Allow faculty and staff to categorize classes into the best suited component.
To best describe these differences, the University of Maine System uses Course Component identifiers.
Course Component Details
University of Maine System Course Components for all Institutions beginning Spring 2023
| Component |
Component Code |
Definition |
| Applied Music |
MUS
|
Course that requires music lessons and/or musical performance as part of primary learning objectives. |
| Clinical |
CLN |
Course that requires a clinical experience; most often a nursing or medical course, but can include other unique clinical experiences. |
| Field Experience |
FEX |
Course that requires internships, practicum, student teaching, co-ops, or field experiences. |
| Independent Study |
IND |
--Independent study course in which no catalog equivalent is available OR
--Directed study course providing content identical to an existing course that is not available, but is required for timely graduation.
|
| Laboratory |
LAB |
Course that meets separately from a lecture component; most often used for science, math and nursing courses, but can include other unique lab experiences.
|
| Lecture |
LEC |
Course that delivers all course material through lecture and lecture activities; default course component. |
| PE Activity |
PHE |
Course that requires physical education as part of primary learning objectives. |
| Recitation |
REC |
Additional meeting time required for students to go over material w/instructor or assistant. |
| Research |
RSG |
Course that requires academic or field research as part of primary learning objectives. |
| Seminar |
SEM |
Course that uses class discussion (instead of lecture) as the primary course format, and often has smaller class sizes. |
| Simulation |
SIM |
Course that provides substantial experience in an instructional setting that simulates real-world circumstances and interactions; most often used for law courses, but can include other unique simulation experiences. |
| Studio |
STU |
Course that requires hands on art or media as part of primary learning objectives. |
| Thesis |
THS |
Independent upper level research course most often designed as a capstone or final project/paper in a student’s academic career. |
| Travel Course |
TRV |
Course that requires short term travel as part of primary learning objectives.
|
Applies To
- System-wide
- Anyone reviewing UMS Data and documentation that includes Course Components.