Statement on Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System

The course numbers appearing in the catalog are part of a statewide system of prefixes and numbers developed for use by all public postsecondary and participating private institutions in Florida. One of the major purposes of this system is to make transferring easier by identifying courses which are equivalent, no matter where they are taught in the state. All courses designated as equivalent will carry the same prefix and last three numeric digits.

The classifying and numbering of courses was done by postsecondary faculty members in each academic discipline. Their work was reviewed by faculty members in all of Florida’s postsecondary institutions, who made suggestions and changes to be incorporated into the system.

The course numbering system is, by law, descriptive, not prescriptive. It in no way limits or controls what courses may be offered or how they are taught. It does not affect course titles or descriptions at individual schools. It seeks only to describe what is being offered in postsecondary education in Florida in a manner that is intelligible and useful to students, faculty and other interested users of the system.

The course numbering system was developed so that equivalent courses could be accepted for transfer without misunderstanding. Each public institution is to accept for transfer credit any course which carries the same prefix and last three numeric digits as a course at the receiving institution.

For example, if a student has successfully completed SYG 000 at a community college, the student cannot be required to repeat SYG 000 at the school to which he or she transfers. Further, credit for any course or its equivalent, as judged by the appropriate faculty task force and published in the course numbering system, which can be used by a native student to satisfy degree requirements at a state university, can also be used for that purpose by a transfer student regardless of where the credit was earned.

It should be noted that a receiving institution is not precluded from using non-equivalent courses for satisfying certain requirements.

General Rule for Course Equivalencies

All undergraduate courses bearing the same alpha prefix and last three numbers (and alpha suffix, if present) have been agreed upon to be equivalent. For example, an introductory course in sociology is offered in nearly 40 postsecondary institutions in Florida. Since these courses are considered to be equivalent, each one will carry the designator SYG 000.

First Digit

The first digit of the course number is assigned by the institution, generally to indicate the year or (level at which) it is offered. This digit does not affect the equivalency.

0 — college preparatory credit (not for degree)

1 — freshman year

2 — sophomore year

In the sociology example mentioned above, one institution which offers the course in the freshman year will number it SYG 1000; a school offering the same course in the sophomore year will number it SYG 2000. If the prefix and last three numeric digits are the same, the courses are substantively equivalent.

Titles

Each institution will retain its own title for each of its courses. The sociology courses mentioned above are titled at different colleges Introductory Sociology, General Sociology and Principles of Sociology. The title does not affect the equivalency. The courses all carry the same prefix and last three numeric digits: that is what identifies them as equivalent.

Equivalency of Sequences

In certain cases, sequences of courses in a given discipline are equivalent rather than the individual courses, which make up these sequences. In these cases the subject matter topics may not be taught in the same sequence, course by course, in several institutions; however, upon completion of the full sequence at any of the several institutions, students have completed substantively equivalent content. These sequences are clearly identified in the course equivalency profiles.

Explanation of Prefixes and Numbers

Prefixes and numbers in the course numbering system are not chosen at random; they are designed to describe course content in an organized fashion within a classification system developed for each subject matter area.

Generally each of the major classifications in a discipline is represented by a three-alpha prefix. In some cases, one three-alpha prefix has been sufficient for the entire discipline. A discipline may use as many prefixes as necessary to accommodate its major classifications. The logic of the system allows it to be infinitely expandable with minimal disruption to existing numbers.

History, for example, has several prefixes: AFH, African History; AMH, American History; ASH, Asian History; EUH, European History; HIS, History — General; LAH, Latin American History; and WOH, World History. All history courses in the state will carry one of these prefixes. (Local titles are used for each particular course. The last three numbers are used to indicate equivalency.)

Exceptions to the Rule for Equivalencies

The following are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies.

1. All numbers which have a second digit of nine are for courses as directed independent study, thesis hours, etc., and courses with 900 numbers must be evaluated individually and are not automatically transferable.
2. All internships, practicums, clinical experiences and study abroad courses, whatever numbers they carry, are not automatically transferable.
3. Performance or studio courses in art, dance, theater and music are not automatically transferable but must be evaluated individually.

Statewide Course Numbering System

Course Prefix Titles Index