what do college course numbers mean?

by Nelson McLaughlin 9 min read

Course Number: a combination of 3 numbers, the first of which indicates the credit level (or series) of the course, ranging from 100-level to 400-level. Generally, the course number coincides with the order in which courses are taken (100-level being first). Course Weight: indicates the number of credits attributed to the course.

There are standard formats that many colleges use to signify dates, levels and titles. Most college courses are identified by three to four numbers. For example, the first digit may indicate the class year, the middle two digits may identify the subject and the last digit may indicate the number of credit hours.

Full Answer

How to standardize college course numbers?

Such courses have one or more of the following three purposes:

  • The in-depth study or application of theories and methods and the understanding of their scope and limitations.
  • The refinement of essential skills associated with the baccalaureate.
  • The development of specific intellectual and professional skills designed to lead to post-baccalaureate employment, graduate study, or professional school.

What are CRNS and course numbers?

Course Numbers:

  • Credit courses have a course number that includes letters and numbers (e.g. WR 121, ART 115).
  • Pre-college credit courses have course numbers below 100, and do not transfer to a 4-year institution.
  • Non-credit course numbers have letters and numbers in the format XART 5785. ...

Which College is number one?

Here are the best colleges in the U.S.

  • Princeton University. ...
  • Columbia University. ...
  • Harvard University. ...
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology. ...
  • Yale University. ...
  • Stanford University. ...
  • University of Chicago. ...
  • University of Pennsylvania. ...
  • California Institute of Technology. ...
  • Duke University. ...

What is considered a college level course?

A college course taught on the high school campus by an approved high school faculty member is still considered a college course. What courses do colleges want you to take in high school? Take them early, so you’ll have time for advanced science and math, which will help show colleges you’re ready for higher-level work.

What does a 300 level course mean?

300-level course designation Courses of advanced college-level difficulty taken by majors and upper division students; these are often considered to be courses in the Major, offered for students clearly interested and qualified in a subject.

What is the difference between 101 and 102 classes?

101 is the most basic course in the first year, 102 would be in the first year but for someone who's already taken the subject in high school, etc.

What does class number mean?

Definition of class number : a number or letter (from a classification scheme) assigned to a book or other library material to show its location on the library shelf.

What is a 201 course?

The first number indicates year (101 = Freshman level class) 101/Freshman, 201/Sophomore, 301/Junior, 401/Senior. Anything above these numbers is usually a graduate level course.

What does the first digit of the course number represent?

the level ofCourse Numbers. The four-digit numbering system is interpreted as follows: the first digit indicates the level of the course; the second digit is the number of credits available; the third and fourth digits are chosen by the department offering the course.

What does 101 mean in college?

History. The slang sense of the number "101" originates from its frequent use in US college course numbering systems to indicate the first or introductory course in some topic of study, such as "Calculus 101" or "French 101".

Where do course numbers come from?

There are standard formats that many colleges use to signify dates, levels and titles. Most college courses are identified by three to four numbers. For example, the first digit may indicate the class year, the middle two digits may identify the subject and the last digit may indicate the number of credit hours.

What does course level mean?

Per faculty legislation, the number of a course implies its level. The course number indicates the level of the course, with the exception of the first-year seminars, all of which are open only to first-year students and considered to be at the 100 level.

What is the purpose of lower division coursework?

The primary intent of lower-division coursework is to equip students with the general education needed for advanced study, to expose students to the breadth of different fields of study, and to provide a foundation for specialized upper-division coursework in professional fields.

What is upper division?

Upper-division courses are specialized, in-depth, and advanced, and emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications. These courses often build on the foundation provided by the skills and knowledge of lower-division education.

What is APASC in college?

APASC provides these guidelines to ATFs and college/university curriculum committees for their review of course level. Lower-division courses generally focus on foundational theories, concepts, perspectives, principles, methods, and procedures of critical thinking in order to provide a broad basis for more advanced courses. ...

What is the 900-999 degree?

Not available for credit toward other degrees. 900-999: Independent graduate study involving research, thesis, or dissertation. Not open to undergraduates.

Is baccalaureate in upper division?

Thus, many intermediate and all advanced baccalaureate courses in a field of study are properly located in the upper-division. In addition, disciplines that depend heavily on prerequisites or the body of knowledge of lower-division education may properly be comprised primarily of upper-division courses.

Why do colleges have a course number?

Most college courses in America have, in addition to a title, a course number, which conveys some information about the course and helps in organizing course catalogs and the like.

How many digits are in a course number?

Course numbers usually have 3 digits. Introductory courses in any department are likely numbered 101. Courses with less than three significant digits (005, 099, etc.) are likely to be remedial, tutoring, or non-credit classes.

What are the higher levels of a course?

Higher level courses often have prerequsite courses from lower levels. The higher levels, such as 700, 800, and 900, are often used to designate graduate -level courses. Courses representing more advanced treatments of the same topic will often have the same last digits.

What is the first digit of a credit?

The first digit is the number of credit hours. The SECOND digit tells you the level: 0 or 1 is introductory, 2 - 7 are higher level, and 8 - 9 are graduate level. The third digit is arbitrary, and sometimes courses also have a letter appended to the course number to indicate sequence.

What is a 400 level class?

In almost every department 400-level classes are for mainly juniors and seniors and 500-level for seniors and grad.

When did colleges start using course numbers?

How to Standardize College Course Numbers. In the late 1920s, colleges began using a numbering system for their courses. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, using "101" as an introductory course number started at the University of Buffalo in 1929.

How to use the course numbering system?

Step 1. Use the course numbering system to standardize the classes offered by your school. The first element in the three-digit course code is the class level. For most schools, the numbers range from one to five. The first number in the code will be as follows for each class: Freshman level: 1 Sophomore level: 2 Junior level: 3 Senior level: 4 ...

What do the remaining two digits in a class number mean?

The remaining two digits indicate the relative level of the class: lower division (freshman/sophomore), upper division (junior/senior), or graduate. For example: The first class taken as part of a bachelor's degree in physics is PHY 301 (Mechanics), which is also open to other majors.

What does 101 mean in college?

However, "Something 101" has been used for a time in colloquial English to mean "the basics of", "an introduction to" or "a crash course in" something. Funnily enough, this has resulted in me taking some courses which claimed to be the "101" ...

What is a 100-199 course?

A common system works roughly as Najib Idrissi describes: courses numbered 100-199 are first-year courses, which either have no prerequisites or only high school-level prerequisites. Courses numbered 200-299 are second-year courses, which have 100-level prerequisites, and so on.

What is the 100 system?

The "100-system" is pretty common. Usually the first number is the year in which students are expected to take it, and the second number is the semester. But this system often creates problems: Sometimes, Math 101 is taken in year 1 by some majors but year 2 by others.

Can you take 101 classes at any time?

Sometimes a class can be taken at any time as an elective, so has no "default" time it is supposed to be taken. Sometimes there will be multiple versions of a class, but later on the 101 course will be discontinued, while the other remains.

Why is it important to take courses at BC prior to summer quarter 2008?

It is important to you if you have taken courses at BC prior to summer quarter 2008 because hundreds of course numbers and titles have changed and you do not want to accidentally repeat the same course. Remember: be careful when picking classes if you have previously taken courses at BC. 3.

Can you catch item number for CCN?

The online registration will not catch that the item number for a CCN course is for as the course you have already taken under the former prefix, title and/or number. You must cross-reference CCN courses against the course change list.

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Course Levels 101

  • Most colleges identify introductory classes at the 100-level. These basic or survey classes will have titles like general biology, world history or writing fundamentals. These 100-level courses are usually taken by freshman, although some will be sophomores meeting general education requirements. 200-level classes will be more strenuous and focused...
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100- and 200-Level Course Expectations

  • 100-level courses come with no prerequisites regarding knowledge of a disciplines concepts and terminology. Students who enter these classes must be able to compose formal essays and comprehend college-level textbooks. These classes will acquaint students with the basic terms, methods, ideas and language of the subject. 200-level courses are actually 100-level courses th…
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300- and 400-Level Course Expectations

  • 300-level courses will contain advanced content for upper division students. These classes will most likely be core requirements of the students’ majors. Students should have acquired a sufficient knowledge in the major to pursue independent study and research with methodological tools and models. These students must be able to obtain relevant information the proper use of …
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