The definitions below pertain to Course Program of Study (CPoS) requirements, degree-pursuant courses, and enrollment.
Course Program of Study (CPoS)
CPoS is the required curriculum for awarding a degree, certificate, or other recognized
credential. Comprises all coursework, including electives, necessary to complete the
primary degree, certificate, or other recognized credential. For undergraduate degrees,
the CPoS normally includes general education + major + required electives.
Degree-Pursuant Courses
Degree-pursuant courses are courses prescribed by the Course Program of Study. Only
degree-pursuant courses determine enrollment status and are eligible for Title IV federal aid and TN state aid. These courses may be:
- Major Course Requirements: Major courses include courses within a field of study of an approved degree program.
The required number of courses and credits required for each major may vary.
- General Education Requirements: To earn a baccalaureate degree, students are required to take general education courses
in five areas. General education courses provide students with a foundation of skills
and knowledge necessary to reason clearly, communicate effectively, think critically
and contribute to society.
- 15-16 credits in Strengthening Foundations (consisting of 6 credits of written composition, 3 credits of oral communication, 3 credits of critical thinking, and 3-4 credits of quantitative reasoning)
- 10-11 credits in Understanding Natural and Social Worlds (consisting of at lease 3 credits of social and behavioral sciences and at least 4 credits natural sciences)
- 9 credits in Exploring Connections (consisting of at least 3 credits of history and at least 3 credits of humanities outside of history)
- 3 credits in Cultivate Artistic Awareness
- 3-4 credits in Growing as an Individual and Global Citizen
* Tennessee Law (TCA 49-7-110) requires students to submit proof of one unit (one year) of American History completed in high school or earn 6 credits of American History prior to the awarding of a bachelor’s degree from any Tennessee public institution of higher education.
- Electives Courses: Elective courses are courses chosen by the student from a number of optional subjects or courses offered at the institution. Electives may not fulfill specific course requirements for the degree program but typically count toward the degree program credit requirement. Not all programs require elective courses. Check with your academic advisor if you are unsure.
Non-Degree-Pursuant Courses
Non-degree-pursuant courses are optional courses that are not specified in the Course
Program of Study. They are not eligible for Title IV federal aid and TN state aid.
If a student has enough degree-pursuant courses to be considered full-time, adding additional non-degree-pursuant courses will not affect aid eligibility. Credit hours above those required for full-time enrollment status are not required to be degree pursuant and will not be checked. However, those courses are still computed in the calculation of the completion rate and maximum time frame for satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility.
Free Electives
Free electives are courses that are not required by the University, the college, or
the major and that are not necessary to complete the student’s Course Program of Study.
Free electives are not degree pursuant.
Minors
Minor courses are degree-pursuant if the minor is required in the student’s Course
Program of Study or if they are taken as required electives in programs that include
required electives.
Note: If a student is full-time in degree-pursuant coursework, they may also consider taking courses required for a minor above that full-time enrollment. For example, they may be in 12 degree-pursuant hours (full-time for undergraduates), then take two courses for a minor, putting them at 18 hours of overall enrollment.
Areas of Emphasis
Courses in an area of emphasis (concentration) will only be considered degree-pursuant
if the area of emphasis is specified in the student’s Course Program of Study or if
they are taken as required electives in programs that include required electives.
Second Degree
After graduating with a first undergraduate degree, students seeking a second undergraduate
degree may be eligible to receive Title IV federal student loans. Those students are
subject to degree-pursuant coursework requirements each semester as well.
Honors
Honors courses are degree-pursuant if the Honors courses can be applied to the student’s
Course Program of Study, or if they are taken as required electives in programs that
include required electives.
Enrollment
Federal and state aid require that students be enrolled for a minimum number of degree-pursuant
courses based on the length of the academic term and students’ status. Once full-time
enrollment status is reached, courses taken beyond full-time enrollment do not need
to be degree-pursuant.
Required Electives
Required electives are courses not necessarily related to the major that are, however,
necessary to reach the minimum credits required by the degree, certificate, or other
recognized credential as specified in the CPoS. Required electives are degree-pursuant.