• Course Identifiers
• General Rule for Determining Course Equivalencies
• The Course Prefix
• Authority for Acceptance of Equivalent Courses
• Exceptions to the General Rule for Equivalency

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. 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 Statewide Course Numbering System (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 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.

General Rule for Determining 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. (Exceptions are listed below.)

For example, a survey course in social problems is offered by 35 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 "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.

Social Problems (Survey Course)

The Course Prefix

Social Problems (Survey 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 the General Rule for Equivalency

The following courses are exceptions to the general rule for course equivalencies and may not transfer. Transfer is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

• Courses not offered by the receiving institution
• Courses with the last three digits ranging from 900-999 (e.g., ART 2905)
• College preparatory and vocational preparatory courses
• Internships, practica, clinical experiences, and study abroad courses with numbers other than those ranging from 900-999
• Applied performance or studio courses in Art, Dance, Interior Design, Music and Theatre
• Skills courses in Criminal Justice
• Graduate courses
• For courses at non-regionally accredited institutions, courses offered prior to the established transfer date of the course

Questions about the Statewide Course Numbering System and appeals regarding course credit transfer decisions should be directed to the Office of Admissions in 201 Criser Hall 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 via the internet at scns.fldoe.org.
(Rev. 08/07; Office of Articulation, Florida Department of Education)