D1, D2 & D3: Understanding Course Classifications

The following classifications are used only for administrative purposes, but it is likely you will hear these terms at college and department meetings. Typically, CLAS courses are classified in just one category. (See the one exception below.)

D1 Courses

The bulk of courses delivered on our campus fall into this broad category. The University receives state funding based on student credit hours for delivering these courses -- which can be undergraduate or graduate. All dollars received for these courses (tutition paid by students and state allocations) are directed into the base budget of the University.

D2 Courses

These college-specific courses are not supplemented with state funding, so tuition must be higher to cover the costs of delivery. They are, primarily, taught off campus. University credit is earned and may, or may not, apply toward a degree program. The college covers the cost of these courses and also receives the revenue directly. Travel-study and CU-Succeed courses fall into this category.

D3 Courses

Non- university credit courses fall into this category. While CLAS departments offer very few D3 courses, the classification is typically used for delivering seminars for working professionals for which a certificate of completion is generated. These courses can generate continuing education units (CEUs) with the formula of 10 contact hours = 1 CEU. Completion of D3 courses will not appear on a student's transcript. As with D2 courses, the college incurs the cost and receives the revenue directly.

An exception to the one-course, one-classification rule

Online CLAS courses are classified as D1; however, up to three seats in the course are assigned as D2 (i.e. without state funding) to accommodate out-of-state students who cannot be subsidized with state funding. D1 and D2 seats in any online course can be reassigned to make space available as needed.