what does the number in front of a college course mean

Full Answer

What do the numbers mean on a college course number?

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 does it mean when a course number starts with 0?

A course number beginning with a "0" indicates that it does not carry credit hours applicable to a degree. Credit Hours - Courses taken in college are measured in terms of credit hours.

What do the numbers on a college transcript mean?

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 do the numbers on a college enrollment card mean?

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. Most colleges identify introductory classes at the 100-level.

What does the number in front of a course mean?

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 do the numbers mean on course numbers?

A four-digit number designates each course. The first digit denotes the level of the course. Course numbers beginning with the number one (1) are freshman-level courses, while those beginning with the number two (2) are normally considered sophomore-level courses.

What does 201 mean in college?

The first number indicates year (101 = Freshman level class) 101/Freshman, 201/Sophomore, 301/Junior, 401/Senior.

What does a 600 level course mean?

500-600 level course designation Master-level graduate courses numbered 500-600 require a bachelor's degree and admission to a graduate program. 500 level course are more rigorous than undergraduate courses.

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.

Are 400 level courses hard?

300-Level and 400-Level Courses Such courses are at an advanced-undergraduate level of difficulty, and are generally taken by majors, minors, and other students with a well-defined interest and demonstrated ability in a particular subject area.

What does 102 mean in college?

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. 107 wouldn't be that advanced as it's still a first-level course.

What does 1000 level courses mean?

Course Numbering System 1000 level. non–degree applicable. 1100 level. introductory course, open to all qualified students. 2000 level.

What is the CRN number for a course?

The next number is the CRN number: 10933. This number is unique to every course, time, and professor. No two courses will ever have the same CRN number, ever. If you needed one number to identify a course, it’s this one.

What is the abbreviation for ENGL?

The next set of letters is the overall major or department, ENGL, or English. If English is your major, you’re probably familiar with this abbreviation.

How many semesters should I take for composition?

In this case it’s “Composition I,” the first in a series of courses followed by “Composition II.” You’ll probably want to take these courses over two semesters.

What is section number 1301?

01 – the sequence in which the courses are usually taken. 1301 should be taken before 1302. Lastly, the three-digit section number separates different class times. Many courses at TJC are offered multiple times a semester, so this helps to keep them straight. And that’s it!

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.

What is a course description?

Courses follow numbering and other conventions that designate class level and type. Course descriptions establish the general or specific topic of study.

What is a lower division class?

Undergraduate courses are classified as lower division and upper division. Lower-division courses (numbered 1–99) are often surveys of and preliminary introductions to the subject field. They are designed primarily for freshmen and sophomores, though upper-division students may enroll for unit and grade credit.

What is 89/189?

Honors seminars and tutorials (numbered 89/189 and 89HC/189HC) are primarily designed for students in the College Honors Program. They are adjunct to lecture courses and explore lecture topics in more depth through supplemental readings, papers, or other activities.

What is XLC in college?

Certain Extension courses (numbered 1–199), prefixed by XL or XLC in Extension class listings, yield credit toward the bachelor’s degree. Graduate students may petition to apply up to two XLC courses toward the master’s degree.

What is a 300-399 degree?

Graduate courses numbered 300–399 are highly specialized teacher-training courses that are not applicable toward University minimum requirements for graduate degrees. They are acceptable toward the bachelor’s degree only at the discretion of the individual College or school.

How many courses are required for a masters degree?

With approval of the major department, graduate students may take 100–series courses toward satisfaction of master’s degree requirements.

What is upper division seminar?

Upper-division seminars (numbered 190–194) are small seminars, with between 15 and 20 students, that focus on research practice or issues. Many are designed to be taken along with a tutorial course in the 195–199 series.

What does "campus" mean in a course?

Campus: indicates whether the course is held on the St. George or satellite campuses (UTM and UTSC). All FAS courses are held on the St. George campus, indicated by the number 1. e.g., HIS107Y1: Approaches to East Asian History is sponsored by the Department of History, it is 100-level, its weight is 1.0 credit, and it is taught on the St. George Campus.

What is the baseline weight of a course?

Course Weight: indicates the number of credits attributed to the course. The baseline weight is 1.0 (referred to as a full course equivalent or FCE). This is indicated with the letter Y. Generally, Y courses span two terms. The alternative weighting is 0.5, indicated by the letter H and H-courses generally span one term (either September-December or January-April).

What is a course designator?

Course Designator: a combination of 3 letters that makes reference to the sponsoring college or department

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.

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 number of introductory classes?

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 is the only rule that a course has a certain number?

The only real rule is that if a course has a certain number, no other course will have that number.

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 is 101 in college?

This is just a linguistic shorthand; introductory courses are labeled 101 at relatively few colleges and universities. The actual numbers depend on the university, and the systems vary wildly, and can even vary somewhat between different departments at the same colleges.

What does 101 mean in a sentence?

I'm not an American, but I know that the number 101, often used postpositively, is used to mean fundamentals/rudiments of a particular scholarly subject. I know (partially as a hunch but I also looked it up) this is because introductory courses in American, or maybe North American college are given the number 101.

What is the difference between 141 and 440?

Sometimes the second digit has significance - it might be that courses whose second number is a 4, regardless of level, are all inorganic chemisty, so 141 is the first inorganic chemistry course while 440 is the number of a graduate seminar in inorganic chemistry.

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.

What is a bachelor's degree?

Bachelor's Degree - This is the undergraduate degree offered by four-year colleges and universities. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires that a significant portion of the student's studies be dedicated to the arts - literature, language, music, etc.

What is admission in school?

Admission is the status granted to an applicant who meets the prescribed entrance requirements of the institution.

How many credit hours do you need to take to get a credit?

Credit Hours - Courses taken in college are measured in terms of credit hours. To earn one credit hour, a student must attend a class for one classroom hour (usually 50 minutes) per week for the whole semester (usually 16 weeks). Classes are offered in 1 - 5 credit hour increments, and sometimes larger amounts.

What does it mean to audit a course?

Audit - A student who does not want to receive credit in a course may, with approval of the instructor, audit the course as a "visitor.". A student who audits a course usually cannot ask or petition the institution at a later date to obtain college credit for the audited course.

What is the job of a college bookstore?

It will generally stock all the books and other materials required in all the courses offered at the institution as well as providing basic sundries and clothing items. Business Office - The Business Office is responsible for all financial transactions of the institution.

What does "alumni" mean in college?

Alumni - people who have graduated from the institution. ACT and SAT - These letters are acronyms for the American College Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Both tests are designed to measure a student’s level of knowledge in basic areas such as math, science, English, reading and social sciences.

Is financial aid included in tuition?

The almost universal application for financial aid, including loans, grants, college work-study and other federal and state programs. It is often required before a student can be considered for scholarships also. Fees - Fees are additional charges not included in the tuition.

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...

See more on topdegreesonline.org

100- and 200-Level Course Expectations

300- and 400-Level Course Expectations

Undergraduate Course Numbers

Undergraduate Seminars and Tutorials

Graduate Course Numbers

• Graduate courses numbered 200–299 are generally open only to graduate students who have completed basic undergraduate courses in the subject. Courses and seminars in the 200 series can fulfill the minimum graduate course requirement for any advanced degree. With department and instructor consent, and subject to requirements in the appropriate Colle...

See more on registrar.ucla.edu

Other Course Numbering Conventions

UCLA Extension Xl/Xlc