Course Descriptions by Subject Area
Course Descriptions by Course Number

Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System

All public two and four-year colleges and universities in Florida and thirty-three participating private schools assign course numbers using the Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). This common course numbering system is used to assist in transferring course credit between participating colleges and universities. Each participating school controls the title, credit, content, and level of each course they offer. The level is the first number in the course number. It generally tells the year or level at which this course is offered. (Ex. SYG 1010 is a freshman level course.) This number does not affect the transferability of a course. The course level numbers at PBCC are as follows:

0*- college prep credit, vocational prep, and PSAV (do not transfer),

1 - freshman year, and

2 - sophomore year.

*Some EAP college preparatory courses are level "1" courses but do not transfer. These courses will be listed as “institutional credit” in the course descriptions.

THE COURSE PREFIX
The course prefix is a three-letter grouping that stands for a major division of an academic discipline, subject area, or sub-category of knowledge. (Ex. SYG stands for General Sociology). The prefix does not identify the department which offers a course. Instead, the course content determines the prefix given to a course.

The course identifier, the prefix and the last three numbers of the course numbers (Ex. SYG _010), are assigned by members of faculty discipline committees appointed by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee. These committees are made up of a balance of faculty from two- and four-year, public and private, participating schools that offer this subject area or specialization.

SYG _10 is a survey course in social problems offered by 35 different two- and four-year colleges and universities in Florida. Each school uses “SYG_010” to identify its social problems survey course. The title may vary at each school and the level code (see paragraph two under Florida Statewide Course Numbering System) may differ. Some community colleges offer SYG 1010, American Social Problems. The freshman level code number does not affect transferability. “SYG” means “Sociology, General,” the century number “0” represents “Entry-level General Sociology,” the decade number “1” represents “Survey Course,” and the unit number “0” represents “Social Problems.”

In science and other areas, some courses will have a “C” or “L” after the course number. The “C” stands for a combined lecture and lab course that meets in the same place at the same time. The “L” stands for a lab course or the lab part of a course with the same number, which meets at a different time or place.

GENERAL RULE FOR EQUAL COURSES
Transfer of any successfully completed course from one school to another school is guaranteed in cases where the transfer course has the same course identifier as the one offered by the receiving school. Transferable courses have the same identifier and equal faculty credentials at the host school and the receiving school. For example, SYG 1010 is offered at some community colleges. The same course is offered at a participating four-year school as SYG 2010. A student who has successfully completed SYG 1010 at the community college is guaranteed transfer credit for SYG 2010 at any participating four-year school in Florida to which the student transfers. The student cannot be required to take SYG 2010 again since SYG 1010 is equal to SYG 2010. With a few exceptions, transfer credit must be awarded for successfully completed equal courses. It must be used by the participating two- or four- year school to satisfy degree requirements in the same way it would be used for the same credits earned by students who attend the receiving school. Receiving schools have the prerogative of offering transfer credit for other successfully completed courses in addition to equal transfer courses.

EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL RULE FOR EQUAL COURSES
The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equality and may not transfer. The ability of
these courses to transfer is up to the receiving school:

A. Courses in the 900-999 series (e.g., ART 2905)
B. Internships, practica, clinical experiences, and study abroad courses
C. Performance or studio courses in Art, Dance, Theater, and Music
D. Skills courses in Criminal Justice
E. Graduate courses
F. Courses not offered by the receiving institution
G. For courses at non-regionally accredited institutions, courses offered prior to the transfer date of the course

College preparatory, vocational preparatory, and PSAV courses (level “0” or “1” courses - see second paragraph under Florida Statewide Course Numbering System) may not be used to meet A.A. degree requirements and cannot be transferred.

AUTHORITY FOR ACCEPTANCE OF EQUAL COURSES
Section 1007.24(7), Florida Statutes, states:

Any student who transfers among postsecondary institutions that are fully accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and that participate in the statewide course numbering system shall be awarded credit by the receiving institution for courses satisfactorily completed by the student at the previous institutions. Credit shall be awarded if the courses are judged by the appropriate statewide course numbering system faculty committees representing school districts, public postsecondary educational institutions, and participating nonpublic postsecondary educational institutions to be academically equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution, including equivalency of faculty credentials, regardless of the public or nonpublic control of the previous institution. The Department of Education shall ensure that credits to be accepted by a receiving institution are generated in courses for which the faculty possess credentials that are comparable to those required by the accrediting association of the receiving institution. The award of credit may be limited to courses that are entered in the statewide course numbering system. Credits awarded pursuant to this subsection shall satisfy institutional requirements on the same basis as credits awarded to native students.

Questions about the Statewide Course Numbering System and appeals regarding course credit transfer decisions should be directed to Academic Services at PBCC (561) 868-3893 or the Florida Department of Education, Office of Articulation, 1401 Turlington Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Special reports and technical information may be requested by calling the Statewide Course Numbering System office at (850) 245-0427 or SunCom 205-0427.