The Common Course Numbering System

Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System

Courses in this General Bulletin are identified by prefixes and numbers that were assigned by Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System. This common numbering system is used by all public postsecondary institutions in Florida and by two participating private institutions. The major purpose of this system is to facilitate the transfer of courses between participating institutions.
Each participating institution controls the title, credit, and content of its own courses and assigns the first digit of the course number to indicate the level at which students normally take the course. Course prefixes and the last three digits of the course numbers are assigned by members of faculty discipline committees appointed for that purpose by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee. Individuals nominated to serve on these committees are selected to maintain a representative balance as to type of institution and discipline field or specialization. The course prefix and each digit in the course number have meaning in the Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The list of course prefixes and numbers, along with their generic titles, is referred to as the "SCNS taxonomy." Descriptions of the content of courses are referred to as "course equivalency profiles."

Example of Course Identifier

Prefix	Level Code(first digit)	Century Digit(second digit)	Decade Digit(third digit)	Unit Digit(fourth digit)	Lab Code
SYG	1	0	1	0
Sociology, General	Freshman level at this institution	Entry-level general sociology	Survey course	Social problems	No laboratory component in this course

General Rule for Course Equivalencies

Equivalent courses at different institutions are identified by the same prefixes and same last three digits of the course number and are guaranteed to be transferable between the participating regionally accredited postsecondary institutions that offer the course, with a few exceptions. (Exceptions are listed below.) For example, a survey course in social problems is offered by 31 different postsecondary institutions. Each institution uses "SYG _010" to identify its social problems course. The level code is the first digit and represents the year in which students normally take this course at a specific institution. In the SCNS taxonomy, "SYG" means "Sociology, General," the century digit "0" represents "Entry-Level General Sociology," the decade digit "1" represents "Survey Course," and the unit digit "0" represents "Social Problems."In science and other areas, a "C" or "L" after the course number is known as a lab indicator. The "C" represents a combined lecture and laboratory course that meets in the same place at the same time. The "L" represents a laboratory course or the laboratory part of a course, having the same prefix and course number without a lab indicator, which meets at a different time or place. Transfer of any successfully completed course from one participating regionally accredited postsecondary institution to another is guaranteed in cases where the course to be transferred is offered by the receiving institution and is identified by the same prefix and last three digits at both institutions. For example, SYG 1010 is offered at a community college. The same course is offered at a state university as SYG 2010. A student who has successfully completed SYG 1010 at the community college is guaranteed to receive transfer credit for SYG 2010 at the state university if the student transfers. The student cannot be required to take SYG 2010 again since SYG 1010 is equivalent to SYG 2010. Transfer credit must be awarded for successfully completed equivalent courses and used by the receiving institution to determine satisfaction of requirements by transfer students on the same basis as credit awarded to native students. It is the prerogative of the receiving institution, however, to offer transfer credit for courses successfully completed which have not been designated as equivalent.Sometimes, as in chemistry, a sequence of one or more courses must be completed at the same institution in order for the courses to be transferable to another institution, even if the course prefix and number are the same. This information is contained in the individual SCNS course equivalency profiles for each course in the sequence.

The Course Prefix

The course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline, subject matter area, or subcategory of knowledge. The prefix is not intended to identify the department in which a course is offered. Rather, the content of a course determines the assigned prefix used to identify the course.

Authority for Acceptance of Equivalent Courses

State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024(17), Florida Administrative Code, reads: "When a student transfers among regionally accredited postsecondary institutions that participate in the common course designation and numbering system, the receiving institution shall award credit for courses satisfactorily completed at the previous participating institutions when the courses are judged by the appropriate common course designation and numbering system faculty task forces to be equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution and are entered in the course numbering system. Credit so awarded can be used by transfer students to satisfy requirements in these institutions on the same basis as native students."

Exceptions to the General Rule for Equivalency

The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies and may not be transferable. Transferability is at the discretion of the receiving institution:
1) Courses in the _900-_999 series(e.g., ART 2905);
2) Internships, practica, clinical experiences, and study abroad courses ;
3) Performance or studio courses in art, dance, theatre, and music;
4) Skills courses in criminal justice; and
5) Graduate courses.
College preparatory and vocational preparatory courses may not be used to meet degree requirements and are not transferable. Questions about the Statewide Course Numbering System and appeals regarding course credit transfer decisions should be directed to: Florida Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education Coordination, 1101 Florida Education Center, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400. Special reports and technical information may be requested by calling telephone number (904) 488-6402, or Suncom 278-6402.