• Common Course Identifiers
• Determining Course Equivalents for Transfer Credit
• Course Equivalent Exceptions
• Authority for Accepting Transfer Credit

All UF courses are identified by prefixes and numbers that are assigned by Florida’s Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). This common numbering system is used by all public postsecondary institutions in Florida and by participating non-public 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 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. 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 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 statewide course details.

Example of Course Identifiers

The course prefix (SYG) is the three-letter designation of academic discipline, subject area or subcategory of knowledge. The prefix does not identify the department in which a course is offered; rather, the course's content determines assignment of prefix.

Determining Course Equivalencies
Equivalent courses at different institutions are identified by the same prefixes and last three digits of the course number and are guaranteed for transfer between participating institutions offering the course, with a few exceptions. (Exceptions are listed below.)

For example, a survey course in social problems is offered by 34 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 the 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 a 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. The L represents a laboratory course or the laboratory part of a course (the course would have the same prefix and course number without a lab indicator, and may meet at a different time or place).

Transfer of a successfully completed course from one institution to another is guaranteed when the transferred course is determined to be equivalent to one offered by the receiving institution. Equivalencies are indicated by the same prefix and last three digits and comparable faculty credentials 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 will 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 the transfer student's satisfaction of requirements, on the same basis as credit awarded to a native student. It is also the prerogative of the receiving institution to offer transfer credit for courses that have not been designated as equivalent.

Exceptions to the General Rule for Equivalency
The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies. Transfer is at the discretion of the receiving institution:

• Courses in the 900-999 series (e.g., ART 2905)
• Internships, practica, clinical experiences and study abroad courses
• Performance or studio courses in art, dance, theater and music
• Skills courses in criminal justice
• Graduate courses
• Courses not offered by the receiving institution


• College preparatory and vocational preparatory courses are not transferable; they cannot be used to meet college degree requirements.

Authority for Acceptance of Equivalent Courses
State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024(19), Florida Administrative Code, reads:
When a student 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 common course numbering system, the receiving institution shall award credit for courses satisfactorily completed at the previous institutions when the courses are judged 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 award of credit may be limited to courses that are entered in the course numbering system. Credits so awarded 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 the university's Office of the University Registrar in 222 Criser Hall, 352-392-1361, or to the Florida Department of Education, Office of Articulation, 1401 Turlington Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400.