FLORIDA STATEWIDE COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM (SCNS)
Courses in this Catalog are identified by prefixes and numbers that were assigned by Florida's Statewide Course Number System (SCNS). This common numbering system is used by all public postsecondary institutions in Florida and by participating private institutions. The major purpose of this system is to facilitate the transfer of courses between participating institutions.
Each participating institution controls the title, credit, and content of its own courses and assigns the first digit of the course number to indicate the level at which students normally take the course. Course number prefixes and the last three digits 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 number prefix and each digit have meaning in the SCNS. The list of course prefixes and numbers, along with their generic titles, is referred to as the "SCNS taxonomy." Descriptions of the content of courses are referred to as "course equivalency profiles."
Example of Course Identifier
| Prefix | Level Code (first digit) | Century Digit (second digit) | Decade Digit (third digit) | Unit Digit (fourth digit) | Lab Code |
| SYG | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Sociology, General | Freshman level at this institution | Entry-Level General Sociology | Survey Course | Social Problems | No laboratory component in this course |
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 the participating institutions that offer the course, with a few exceptions (see below).
For example, a survey course in social problems is offered by 31 different postsecondary institutions. Each institution uses "SYG --010" to identify its social problems course. The level code is the first digit and represents the year in which students normally take this course at a specific institution. In the SCNS taxonomy, "SYG" means "Sociology, General," the century digit "0" represents "Entry-Level General Sociology," the decade digit "1" represents "Survey Course," and the unit digit "0" represents "Social Problems."
In science and other areas, a "C" or "L" after the course number is known as a lab indicator. The "C" represents a combined lecture and laboratory course that meets in the same place at the same time. The "L" represents a laboratory course or the laboratory part of a course, having the same prefix and course number without a lab indicator, which meets at a different time or place.
Transfer of any successfully completed course from one participating institution to another is guaranteed in cases where the course to be transferred is offered by the receiving institution and is identified by the same prefix and last three digits at both institutions. For example, SYG 1010 is offered at a community college. The same course is offered at a state university as SYG 2010. A student who has successfully completed SYG 1010 at the community college is guaranteed to receive transfer credit for SYG 2010 at the state university if the student transfers. The student cannot be required to take SYG 2010 again since SYG 1010 is equivalent to SYG 2010. Transfer credit must be awarded for successfully completed equivalent courses and used by the receiving institution to determine satisfaction of requirements by transfer students on the same basis as credit awarded to native students. It is the prerogative of The University of West Florida, however, to offer transfer credit for courses successfully completed which have not been designated as equivalent.
Sometimes, as in Chemistry, a sequence of one or more courses must be completed at the same institution in order for the courses to be transferable to another institution, even if the course prefix and numbers are the same. This information is contained in the individual SCNS course equivalency profiles for each course in the sequence.
Authority for Acceptance of Equivalent Courses
State Board of Education Rule, Florida Administrative Code, reads:
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"When a student transfers among institutions that participate in the common course designation and numbering system, the receiving institution shall award credit for courses satisfactorily completed at the previous participating institutions when the courses are judged by the appropriate common course designation and numbering system faculty task forces to be equivalent to courses offered at the receiving institution and are entered in the course numbering system. Credit so awarded can be used by transfer students to satisfy requirements in these institutions on the same basis as native students."
The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies and may not be transferable. Transferability is at the discretion of the University of West Florida.
- Courses in the _900 - _999 series (e.g., ART 2905).
- Internships, practica, clinical experience, and study abroad courses.
- Performance or studio courses in art, dance, theatre, and music.
- Skills courses in criminal justice.
- Graduate courses.
Questions about the SCNS should be directed to the Office of Admissions, The University of West Florida 32514; or the Florida Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education Coordination, 1101 Florida Education Center, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Special reports and technical information may be requested by calling (904) 488-6402 or Suncom 278-6402.
HOW TO FIND COURSES
UWF courses are listed alphabetically by prefix, and then numerically by the four-digit course number. Numbers under each prefix range from undergraduate-level courses (1000-4999) to specialist- and doctoral- level courses (5000-8999).
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 used to identify the course.
Classification of Courses
The University course numbering system is as follows:
| 1000-2999 | Freshmen and sophomores, unless otherwise noted. |
| 3000-4999 | Open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. |
| 5000-5999 | Open to all graduate and non degree-seeking (special) students. Juniors and seniors may register for 5000-level courses under conditions outlined on p. 32. |
| 6000-7999 | Restricted to students enrolled in graduate programs and other post-baccalaureate students who may be admitted at the discretion of the department chairperson. Non degree-seeking (special) students must have permission of the specific course instructor to register for 6000-level courses. |
| 8000-8999 | Restricted to students enrolled in the doctoral program. |
Hours Code
Each course listing is followed by a code which shows hours of credit and, in parentheses, hours of lecture/seminar and hours of lab/fieldwork, etc.
| Example: | ||
|---|---|---|
| CHM 3410 | Physical Chemistry I | 4(3,2) |
Physical Chemistry I, a 4 credit-hour course, requires 3 semester hours of lecture, and 2 semester hours of laboratory.
UWF Home Page
Adrienne Turner
Enrollment Services
September 20, 1996