Selected Topics Courses (e.g., 270, 470, 471, 570, 571)

Selected topics courses are academic credit-bearing courses in the Cal Poly catalog that provide a generic course vehicle to offer special topics on an as-needed basis.  The most common occasional courses - 270, 470, 471, 570, and 571 - are available to all academic programs, and follow these same generic course descriptions:

270 Selected Topics Course

Directed group study of selected topics for lower-division students. Specific titles taught for 1 or 2 quarters only. Open to undergraduate students. Class Schedule will list specific title selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

470, 570 Selected Topics Course

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Specific titles taught for 1 or 2 quarters only. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list specific title selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

471, 571 Selected Advanced Laboratory

Directed group laboratory study of selected topics for advanced students. Specific titles taught for 1 or 2 quarters only. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list specific title selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 laboratories. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Guidelines:

Selected topics courses must be taught following the generic catalog description.  That is, all 470 courses must be taught in the lecture mode with regular grading.  If a lecture/lab mode is desired, both 470 and 471 courses must be proposed.

Courses offered under 270, 470, 471, 570, and 571 numbers are for teaching topics which:

• are to be offered for one or two terms,
• are worthy of academic credit, and
• are designed for group study and so would not be appropriate for individual study.

Selected topics to be offered during more than two terms should be proposed as regular courses for the Catalog.

Generally, courses offered under 470 and 471 numbers are not used as substitutions for courses specifically identified in the major curriculum.  In order to substitute a course numbered 470 and 471 for a course specifically identified in the major curriculum, a Blanket Curriculum Substitution form must be completed.

Courses offered under 270, 470, 471, 570, and 571 numbers are not intended to be offered in the General Education program.

A department proposing a selected topics course must ensure that:

• the course is clearly within the subject area of its own department, or
• the written opinion of departments which may have a significant interest in the subject area has been obtained, or
• substantive reason(s) for proposing the course over such objections can be offered.

The numbering system for these courses under the semester system can be found here.

Sources:

Academic Senate Resolution: AS-92-80/CC “Resolution on 470 Courses” (PDF). Approved 6 May 1980.

Campus Administrative Manual: CAM 490.5 "Courses Offered Under 470 and 471 Numbers" (PDF). Revised February 1982.

Cal Poly Academic Catalog: "Selected Topic Courses"

Office of the Registrar: "Curriculum Handbook: Selected Topic Proposals"

Quarter-to-Semester Conversion: "Semester Course Numbering"

Updated: 9/20/2023