Course substitution

The student identifies a completed or planned course that may be equivalent and submits a substitution request with a rationale. The department reviews the syllabi or outcomes and approves or denies the request. An approved substitution is entered into the degree-audit system so the requirement shows as satisfied. The original course remains on the transcript; only the degree-audit application changes.

Example: a required upper-division management course is unavailable online in the student’s final term. The department approves a substitution of a related leadership course. The degree audit updates to show the major requirement as met by the substituted course.

A prerequisite waiver allows enrollment without the normal prerequisite but does not change degree requirements. Transfer-credit evaluation applies external courses to requirements under standing equivalencies. A course substitution is an individual exception for a specific student and requirement.

Assuming an advisor’s verbal agreement is sufficient without documented departmental approval. Expecting a substitution approved for one student to apply automatically to others. Using a substitution to avoid a residency-requirement course without checking whether the substituted course itself meets residency rules.