<p>I'm just curious if there is any steadfast rule for determining, based on course number alone, whether a course is intended to be at the graduate-level. </p>
<p>I'm mainly confused because of the numbering of the mathematics courses. Consider that Modern Analysis II is numbered math 322. This seems appropriate to me; I would imagine most math majors would reach the course at some point in their junior year. But general topology is Math 443; point-set topology is not usually considered more difficult than a second course in real analysis. Moreover, there are two versions of complex analysis, a 300 version and a 400 version, and the 400 version says it's intended for first-year graduate students.</p>
<p>At the same time, a course in Riemannian geometry is numbered 402, and I don't think this would normally be considered an undergraduate topic (even though I'm sure many undergraduates will study it).</p>
<p>Could someone clarify the meaning of the course numbering, please? :D</p>
<p>Generally, some 400 classes and almost all 500 classes are graduate-level. That’s my understanding of it. Someone with more expertise should clarify.</p>
<p>Also, just of curiosity, have you decided upon Rice? I know you had a tough time deciding.</p>
<p>Yeah, I finally decided to go to Rice for sure. I’ll have 2.5 years left as an undergraduate (although I may need to take an extra semester to fill some distribution requirements, but I’m okay with this), and I decided I could get a lot more out of those years at Rice than I could where I’m currently at. I got into contact with a professor there who will be teaching Math 322 next semester (Frank Jones), and he was both nice and enthusiastic about the possibility of my coming there, so this was another point that tipped me over the edge (on Rice’s side).</p>
<p>Also, the announcement of housing for at least next semester for spring transfers helped a lot, too. </p>
<p>Thanks for your response! Your understanding pretty much matches mine right now.</p>
<p>I’m only asking because at my present school (perhaps I can say “former school” now that the semester is over) there was a pretty strict division. Graduate courses were 8000 and up. Advanced undergraduate courses were 4000 level. And a few 4000 courses were cross-listed as 7000 classes to signal that they are commonly taken by graduate students who either come from other disciplines or who are not prepared for the real graduate curriculum in whatever subject we’re talking about.</p>
<p>Generally up through 400 is undergrad, while 500 and up is graduate. Some graduate students take undergrad classes, and some undergrads take graduate-level classes, so it’s kind of blurred. It’s more defined in science and engineering than it is in social sciences and humanities.</p>
<p>To answer the original question, no there is not a definite rule for undergrad/graduate courses. You’ll have your 100/200 level intro courses, and then 300+ levels for major requirements. For the most part, I’d say 500+ are graduate-level, but the 400s are a bit muddled.</p>
<p>And as far as math goes, Frank Jones is an amazing professor. One of my suitemates is in his 221/222 honors multi class and says he’s awesome (and hopefully I’ll be taking that class next year).</p>
<p>its kinda random. but yeah, anything 500+ is graduate level. Under that its kinda major specific… like the higher number is harder than the lower (on average?) but this is per department</p>