FAQ: Special Course Designations
UWB CCACS: 07-02-14
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Special Course Designations: DL, DIV, W, QSR, VLPA, I&S, NW
What are the criteria for the DIV (Diversity) designation of a Bothell course?
The UW Faculty Senate Legislation states that before graduating from the UW, all students must
have "No fewer than 3 credits of courses, approved by the appropriate school or college, which focus on
the sociocultural, political, and economic diversity of human experience at local, regional, or global
scales. This requirement is meant to help the student develop an understanding of the complexities of
living in increasingly diverse and interconnected societies. Courses focus on cross-cultural analysis and
communication; and historical and contemporary inequities such as those associated with race,
ethnicity, class, sex and gender, sexual orientation, nationality, ability, religion, creed, age, or
socioeconomic status. Course activities should encourage thinking critically on topics such as power,
inequality, marginality, and social movements, and effective communication across cultural differences."
Full text of Faculty Senate Legislation:
http://www.washington.edu/faculty/facsen/legislation/class_b/classb_179.pdf
In June, 2014, the UW Bothell GFO approved “Guidelines and Course Application Supplement
for Diversity (DIV) Designation for a UW Bothell Course”. These guidelines provide the following
interpretation for the Senate Legislation on our campus: “Three credits of Diversity designated work at
UWB is interpreted to mean (a) a three-credit DIV course completely focused on diversity, (b) one- or
two-credit DIV courses completely focused on diversity taken in combination to reach at least 3 DIV
credits, or (c) a DIV designated, 5 credit course at UW Bothell which focuses at least 60% of its course
content toward the objectives outlined by the Faculty Senate language. This means that one-, two-, or
3 credit courses designated as DIV courses must be completely aligned with the Faculty Senate language
rather than meeting a percentage target.”
What is the procedure for designating a UW Bothell course as DIV?
Submit the UWB Diversity Designation Application the GFO Documents Page
(http://www.uwb.edu/gfo/documents) as a supplement to your new or course change application to
the UWB CCASC. The CCASC will review the application and determine if the DIV designation will be
applied based on the UWB criteria.
What is the definition of a Distance Learning course?
A distance learning course is defined as a course in which over 50% of instruction is not in a classroom.
What are the procedures for Distance Learning course review?
Submit a syllabus to CCASC along with the appropriate course application form:
 For a new course: Complete Section 7-Distance Learning as part of a New Course Application:
http://depts.washington.edu/registra/curriculum/
 As a new delivery format for a previously approved course: Complete Section 7-Distance
Learning as part of a Course Change Application:
http://depts.washington.edu/registra/curriculum/
 For a new Special Topics course delivered in Distance Learning format: Complete a Distance
Learning Supplement for Special Topics Courses application:
http://depts.washington.edu/registra/curriculum/
FAQ: Special Course Designations
UWB CCACS: 07-02-14
What are the definitions for the VLPA, I&S, and NW course designations (Areas of Knowledge)?
 Information taken from the Adviser Information File:
https://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/aif/aok.html#vlpa
 VLPA (Visual, Literary & Performing Arts) courses focus on the history, interpretation, criticism,
and practice of the arts. The requirement is meant to help the student develop a personal
appreciation of the creative process and how it promotes a willingness to investigate the
unknown as well as the commonplace, and thus a willingness to constantly debate and refine its
modes of expression. Examples of departments that offer such courses include art history,
classics, dance, drama, English, music, and foreign languages. Most rhetoric (speech, now part of
the communication department) courses also count in this Area. English composition at the
freshman and sophomore levels is considered a skill rather than a literary art, and all the
composition courses were deliberately excluded from the VLPA list. Creative writing, verse
writing, and advanced composition courses in which prose style is treated as an art form do
count toward VLPA, and do not count toward the English composition or additional writing
requirements.
 I&S (Individuals & Societies) courses include a wide variety of options for the study of human
beings and societies. Courses focus on the history, development, and dynamics of human
behavior, as well as social and cultural institutions and practices. Departments that offer such
courses include American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, geography, international
studies, political science, psychology, sociology, and women studies. I&S includes, from
departments such as history, philosophy, and religion, courses traditionally grouped with
"humanities" at other colleges.
 NW(Natural World) courses focus on the disciplined, scientific study of the natural world. The
intent of this requirement is to teach students the current status of our understanding of the
major concepts in the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences, and the methods by
which we have arrived at that understanding. The Area can be divided into three broad
categories: the mathematical sciences, the physical sciences, and the biological sciences.
Departments that offer such courses include astronomy, biology, chemistry, fisheries, forest
resources, mathematics, and oceanography.
What is the definition for the QSR (Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning) designation?
 Information taken from the Adviser Information File:
https://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/aif/qsr.html#list
 Q/SR courses require students to demonstrate competency in using mathematical or logical
methods to solve applied problems.
What are the criteria for the W (Writing ) designation?
 Information taken from the Adviser Information File:
https://www.washington.edu/students/ugrad/advising/aif/wcourse.html#w
 W courses emphasize writing and provide students the opportunity to develop their writing
skills within a particular discipline, such as history or biology. In W-prefix courses writing is an
integral part of the course, contributing to the understanding and appreciation of the subject
matter being taught. Writing takes place over an extended period of time, so that students
receive feedback on their writing and have the opportunity to implement suggestions in later
FAQ: Special Course Designations
UWB CCACS: 07-02-14

writing assignments--for example, by revising a major paper for subsequent evaluation or by
writing several similar papers.
A W course must require at least 10-15 pages of graded, out-of-class writing, in the form of a
long paper with a required revision or two or more shorter papers.
o Papers may be graded by professors, instructors, TAs, and/or readers.
o Students should receive some feedback on their writing; that is, comments on papers
should not be restricted to content only.
o Revisions do not count in the total number of pages of writing. Typical writing
assignments:
o one 10-15 page paper with a required revision
o three similar 5-page papers
o two short book reviews and one longer paper
o Take-home exams do not count toward the 10-15 page total, unless students are given
ample time for thoughtful writing and revision, and exams are graded for writing
(organization, clarity of expression) as well as content.
o In-class writing does not count toward the 10-15 page total.
o Creative writing and verse writing do not count toward the 10-15 page total.
o Journals and annotated bibliographies do not count toward the 10-15 page total.
o Papers may be written in foreign languages if the work is graded primarily for content
and organization.
o The amount of writing required for a W is not determined by the number of credits
assigned to the course. These criteria apply to all courses, even those assigned only one
or two credits.
Which designations associated with course applications are tracked in the registrar’s system?
DL, DIV, W, QSR, VLPA, I&S, and NW designations are associated with approved course
applications and tracked by the registrar’s system for the time schedule
Are there course designations that can be added at the school level and entered on the Time Schedule
by the school’s Time Schedule Coordinator?
Faculty within a school may modify assignments in a section of previously approved course that
would qualify the section for the W designation without submitting a course revision application. The
school’s Time Schedule Coordinator is allowed to track this at the school level and add the W
designation to selected sections of an approved course that meet the W requirement.
Service Learning is a designation that may vary over sections of an approved course. This
designation is not addressed in course applications and is tracked at the school level. At the direction of
faculty, the school’s Time Schedule Coordinator may add this designation for particular sections to the
time schedule.