What Is Meant by Standardized College Course Numbering System?

College students may wonder why their courses are assigned seemingly random numbers.

College course numbering was first standardized in the late 1920s (see reference 2). Today, most colleges use a three-digit code system to classify their course offerings by level, subject area and class sequence.

Level

The first number in the three-digit code refers to the course's level. Freshman classes are assigned a 1, sophomore classes a 2, etc. There may be advanced classes above the senior level that are assigned a 5; these are courses that involve specialized study or a semester project.

Subject Area

Schools can arbitrarily assign a number to each subject area, though many choose to do so alphabetically. This subject number is the second part of the code.

Sequence Order

A number is designated to show which class should be taken first. This is the last number in the three-digit code. Most classes have a zero, unless they have a prerequisite course in that subject.

Code Examples

Using this formula, a freshman level English I course would be given the code 130, given that all English classes are assigned the number 3. If there were an English II class that had English I as a prerequisite, that course would have the number 131.

Unique Codes

No two courses should have the same number. For classes in more than one discipline, one subject area should be assigned to the course. The code "101" should not be assigned to every introductory course.

References

• Rutgers: Explanation of Course Numbers
• Slate.com: 101 101