Course Information and Descriptions

Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System

Courses in this catalog are identified by prefixes and numbers that were assigned by Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). This numbering system is used by all public postsecondary institutions in Florida and by participating nonpublic institutions. The major purpose of this system is to facilitate the transfer of courses between participating institutions. Students and administrators can use the online SCNS to obtain course descriptions and specific information about course transfer between participating Florida institutions. This information is available on the SCNS website.

Each participating institution controls the title, credit, and content of its own courses and recommends the first digit of the course number to indicate the level at which students normally take the course. Course prefixes and the last three digits of the course numbers are assigned by members of faculty discipline committees appointed for that purpose by the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee. Individuals nominated to serve on these committees are selected to maintain a representative balance as to type of institution and discipline field or specialization.

The course prefix and each digit in the course number have a meaning in the SCNS. The listing of prefixes and associated courses is referred to as the “SCNS taxonomy.” Descriptions of the content of courses are referred to as “statewide course profiles.”

Example of Course Identifier

General Rule for Course Equivalencies

Equivalent courses at different institutions are identified by the same prefixes and same last three digits of the course number and are guaranteed to be transferable between participating institutions that offer the course with a few exceptions, as listed below in Exceptions to the General Rule for Equivalency.

For example, a freshman composition skills course is offered by 84 different public and nonpublic postsecondary institutions. Each institution uses “ENC_101” to identify its freshman composition skills course. The level code is the first digit and represents the year in which students normally take the course at a specific institution. In the SCNS taxonomy, “ENC” means “English Composition,” the century digit “1” represents “Freshman Composition,” the decade digit “0” represents “Freshman Composition Skills,” and the unit digit “1” represents “Freshman Composition Skills I.”

In the sciences and certain other areas, a “C” or “L” after the course number is known as a lab indicator. The SCNS uses a course designation that consists of a three-letter prefix and a four-digit number, and when needed, a one-letter lab designation (“C” for a lecture/laboratory combination course, “L” for a laboratory specific course).

Courses that have the same academic content and are taught by faculty with comparable credentials are given the same prefix and number and are considered equivalent courses. Equivalent courses are guaranteed to transfer to any other institution participating in the SCNS. The credit awarded for these equivalent courses will satisfy the receiving institution’s requirements on the same basis as credits awarded to native students (1007.24(7), F.S). Courses that are not substantially like any other course in the SCNS are given unique course numbers and are not considered equivalent. Receiving institutions are never precluded from accepting non-equivalent courses to satisfy specific requirements. Credit generated at institutions on the quarter-term system may not transfer the equivalent number of credits to institutions on semester-term systems. For example, 4.0 quarter hours often transfers as 2.67 semester hours.

The Course Prefix

The course prefix is a three-letter designator for a major division of an academic discipline, subject matter area, or subcategory of knowledge. The prefix is not intended to identify the department in which a course is offered. Rather, the content of a course determines the assigned prefix to identify the course.

Authority for Acceptance of Equivalent 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.

Exceptions to Guaranteed Transferability

Since the initial implementation of the SCNS, specific disciplines or types of courses have been excepted from the guarantee of transfer for equivalent courses. These include variable topics courses that must be evaluated individually, or applied courses in which the student must be evaluated for mastery of skill and technique. The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies and will not transfer automatically. Transferability is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

• Courses not offered by the receiving institution.

• For courses at non-regionally accredited (private) institutions, courses offered prior to the established transfer date of the course in question.

• Courses in the X900-999 series are not automatically transferable and must be evaluated individually. These include such courses as Special Topics, seminars, internships, apprenticeships, practicums, Study Abroad experiences, Thesis and Dissertations (including any similar individualized courses with numbers other than those in the 900-999 series).

• College preparatory (developmental or remedial) and career preparatory courses.

• Graduate-level courses.

• Applied courses in the performing arts (Art [prefix ART], Dance [DAA], Interior Design, Music [MVB, MVH, MVJ, MVK, MVO, MVP, MVS, MVV, and MVW] and Theater [TPP with numbers ranging from 000-299]) and skills courses in Criminal Justice are not automatically transferable. These courses need evidence of achievement (e.g., portfolio, audition, interview, etc.) and must be evaluated individually.

Courses at Nonregionally Accredited Institutions

The SCNS makes available on its website a report entitled “Courses at Nonregionally Accredited Institutions” that contains a comprehensive listing of all nonpublic institution courses in the SCNS inventory, as well as each course’s transfer level and transfer effective date. This report is updated monthly.

Questions about the SCNS and appeals regarding course credit transfer decisions should be directed to the Curriculum Services office at Florida State College at Jacksonville 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 SCNS office at (850) 245-0427 or via their website.

Course Descriptions

All courses in this catalog are not taught each term. Class schedules are published prior to each term that show the courses that will be offered. Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite courses listed in the course description. Prerequisites and corequisites for any course are subject to change. Students must meet the prerequisite and corequisite requirements of any course at the time the student attempts to register for that course. If you have questions about the prerequisites or corequisites for a course, please contact any academic advisor.