About the Catalog
A Guide to Using the 2022-23 APU Catalog
The university’s Catalog is a comprehensive source of information to help students throughout their college experience. This guide helps students navigate the catalog by offering a glossary defining, in common language, the various academic terms and acronyms used throughout the catalog.
University Structure
Classroom faculty at APU hold positions in academic departments, which are organized within either a college, a school, or both. View the University Structure list to see each academic department, college, and school to learn about the programs of study offered in each.
Degrees
A degree is an academic rank that the university confers on a student who satisfactorily completes a designated program of study. APU grants the following undergraduate (also called baccalaureate degrees), master's and doctoral degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
- Bachelor of Music (BM)
- Bachelor of Science (BS)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Master of Business Administration (MBA)
- Master of Business Management (MBM)
- Master of Divinity (MDiv)
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
- Master of Music (MM)
- Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Master of Science (MS)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Educational Specialist (EdS)
- Doctor of Divinity (DMin)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Major
A major is an undergraduate program of study that provides students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to pursue a specific career or advanced study and leads to an undergraduate degree in that subject. Each major is offered in an academic department or program. Undergraduate applicants to APU can select a major at the time they apply for admission.
For more information and advice regarding academic programs, see the Academic Resources catalog entry.
Minor
A minor is a supplemental undergraduate program of study, in a field different from a student’s major, that provides educational breadth.
Concentrations, Emphases, and Tracks
These are groups of courses within a degree program designed to provide specialized knowledge.
Courses
Course descriptions explain the content and scope of each course. The course prefix (an abbreviation that represents the subject or offering department), course number, prerequisites, unit value, and other pertinent information can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinked course number (e.g., MATH 110), which produces a pop-up window with the full description. Alternatively, view a full list of course options under the school, college, or department level by selecting the “Courses” tab.
Electives
These are courses that students can choose from within the parameters set by their departments.
The General Education (GE) Program
The GE program comprises a common set of requirements and provides a common foundation of knowledge for all undergraduate programs. The specific requirements for a particular major degree program are listed under the academic department or program that offers the major.
Prerequisites
Prerequisites are one or more courses that must be completed—or other knowledge, skills, or standards that must be demonstrated—before a student is permitted to take certain courses. Prerequisites (if any) for a course are listed in the course’s description in the catalog.
Some prerequisites have their own prerequisites, forming a string of courses that must be taken in sequence. The catalog course description shows only the last course in the prerequisite string of courses. For example, MATH 460 Topology has a prerequisite of MATH 450 Real Analysis. MATH 450 requires MATH 280 Discrete Mathematics and Proof, which requires MATH 165 Calculus I, which requires MATH 150 Precalculus or an appropriate score on the APU math placement assessment or MATH 149 Fundamentals of Precalculus (which may be taken concurrently; see next paragraph). It is important that students are aware of these prerequisite strings to ensure timely completion of all requirements.
Statements in the catalog course descriptions may also contain the word “concurrently,” which means that two or more courses may be taken in the same term, or “corequisite,” which means that the course or courses must be taken in the same term (or some prior term) as that of the course being described.
If a student does not meet a prerequisite as outlined in a course’s description, but through alternative means can demonstrate to the department offering the course that he or she possesses the necessary knowledge or skills, the department may grant the student permission to enroll in the course with consent of the department chair.
Cross-Listed Courses
These are courses that are shared by two or more academic departments and have identical titles, descriptions, units, and modes of instruction. They are interchangeable for degree requirements. They cannot be repeated for degree credit under separate prefixes.
Topic Courses
Topic courses are shown in the catalog with generic titles and are repeatable with different topics. Specific topic titles appear in the Schedule of Classes and on students’ transcripts. Example: HIST 368 A Year in Time is repeatable with different topics; in this case, the topic varies each term with a focus on different years (e.g., 1492, 1776, 1865, 1968).
Credit Hour
A credit hour—the amount of work established by stated student learning outcomes and achievement—is approximately one hour (or 50-55 minutes) of classroom or direct faculty instruction, plus a minimum of two hours (for undergraduate) or three hours (for graduate) of out-of-class work, each week for a 16-week term (or the equivalent amount of work for a term of a different length). Classroom or direct faculty instruction and out-of-class student work leading to the award of credit hours may vary for courses that require laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, online work, research, guided study, study away, and other academic work to achieve the identified student learning outcomes. In addition, student workload may vary based upon program expectations established by national or regional accrediting bodies.
Semesters and Semester Units
Azusa Pacific is on the semester (term) system, offering three semesters (terms) per calendar year:
- Fall: September through December
- Spring: January through May
- Summer: May through August
Many graduate and undergraduate programs also employ 2, eight-week sessions in each of these terms.
For undergraduates, 24 units per year is considered full time, though a student must average 15 units per semester (30 per year) to complete the 120 total units required for graduation in a traditional four-year period.
For full-time graduate status, refer to the Study Load page in this catalog.
Many institutions are organized in quarters with quarter units. To convert APU semester units to quarter units, multiply by 1.5. For example, 6 APU semester units x 1.5 = 9 quarter units.
To convert quarter units to APU semester units, multiply by .667. For example, 9 quarter units x .667 = 6 semester units.
View the most current Academic Calendar for more information. For answers to questions not answered here, contact the Academic Success Center.
Course Numbering System
Courses are generally numbered according to the following structure:
- 010-099: Nondegree credit or precollege courses
- 100-299: Courses primarily for freshman and sophomore students
- 300-399: Courses primarily for advanced undergraduate students, usually with prerequisite coursework
- 400-499: Courses for advanced undergraduates.
- 500-599: Master’s and credential-level courses
- 600-699: Master’s and doctoral-level courses
- 700-799: Doctoral-level courses
Course Subject Code System
Courses are identified by a subject abbreviation followed by a course number.
ABA | Applied Behavioral Analysis |
ACCT | Accounting |
AES | Applied Exercise Science |
ALCI | American Language and Culture Institute |
ALNG | Ancient Languages |
ANIM | Animation |
ART | Art |
ASL | American Sign Language |
AT | Athletic Training |
ATHL | Athletics |
BIOC | Biochemistry |
BIOL | Biology |
BIOT | Biotechnology |
BUSI | Business Administration |
CCSD | College Counseling and Student Development |
CHEM | Chemistry |
CHIN | Chinese |
CINE | Cinematic Arts |
CJ | Criminal Justice |
CMUS | Commercial Music |
COMM | Communication Studies |
CS | Computer Science |
DSGN | Design |
ECON | Economics |
EDCO | Educational Counseling |
EDL | Educational Leadership |
EDLS | Education – Liberal Studies |
EDPY | Educational Psychology |
EDTC | Educational Technology |
EDUC | Education |
ENGL | English |
ENGR | Engineering |
ENTR | Entrepreneurship |
ETHN | Ethnic Studies |
FFL | Fitness for Life |
FIN | Finance |
FREN | French |
GAME | Gaming |
GBBL | Biblical Studies: Graduate |
GDMN | Doctoral Ministry |
GE | General Education |
GERM | German |
GINS | Graduate Integrative Studies |
GLBL | Global Studies |
GMIN | Graduate Ministry |
GMUS | Graduate Music |
GNRS | Graduate Nursing |
GRAD | Faculty Development |
GRKB | Greek (Biblical) |
GRKC | Greek (Classical) |
GSPH | Public Health |
GTHE | Graduate Theology |
GURS | Urban and Multicultural Programs |
HEBB | Hebrew (Biblical) |
HED | Higher Education |
HEDL | Higher Education Leadership |
HIST | History |
HON | Honors |
HROD | Human Resource and Organizational Development |
HUM | Humanities |
IBUS | International Business |
JAPA | Japanese |
JOUR | Journalism |
KIN | Kinesiology |
LDRS | Leadership Studies |
LTN | Latin |
MATH | Mathematics |
MGMT | Management |
MHA | Healthcare Administration |
MIN | Ministry |
MINC | Christian Ministries |
MINY | Youth Ministry |
MKTG | Marketing |
MNCE | Ministry: Cultural Engagement |
MODL | Modern Languages |
MUS | Music |
OPSY | Organizational Psychology |
PADM | Public Administration |
PCLS | Psychology: Child Life Specialist |
PE | Physical Education |
PHIL | Philosophy |
PHYC | Physics |
POLI | Political Science |
PPSY | Clinical Psychology |
PRAR | Art: Professional |
PRBA | Business: Professional |
PRBI | Biology: Professional |
PRBL | Biblical Studies: Professional |
PRCH | Chemistry: Professional |
PRCJ | Criminal Justice: Professional |
PRCO | Communication Studies: Professional |
PREN | English: Professional |
PRGL | Global Studies: Professional |
PRHI | History: Professional |
PRLD | Leadership: Professional |
PRMA | Math: Professional |
PRMI | Ministry: Professional |
PRMU | Music: Professional |
PRPH | Philosophy: Professional |
PRPO | Politcial Science: Professional |
PRPS | Psychology: Professional |
PRPY | Physics: Professional |
PRRS | Religious Studies: Professional |
PRSO | Sociology: Professional |
PRSW | Social Work: Professional |
PRTH | Theology: Professional |
PRWR | Writing: Professional |
PSYC | Psychology |
PT | Physical Therapy |
PUBR | Public Relations |
RELG | Religion |
RMS | Rehabilitation and Movement Science |
RNRS | Nursing: Professional |
SCW | Screenwriting |
SOC | Sociology |
SOCW | Social Work |
SPAN | Spanish |
SPED | Special Education |
STAT | Statistics |
TEP | Teacher Education Program |
TESL | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
TESP | Teacher Education: Special Education |
THEO | Theology: Undergraduate |
THTR | Theater Arts |
TUL | Transformational Urban Leadership |
UBBL | Undergraduate Biblical Studies |
UNRS | Undergraduate Nursing |
VOC | Vocation |
WEB | Website and Information Technology |
WRIT | Writing |