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. (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.

Transfer of any successfully completed course from one institution to another is guaranteed in cases where the course to be transferred is equivalent to one offered by the receiving institution. Equivalencies are established 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 complete 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 the native students. It is the prerogative of the receiving institution, however, to offer transfer credit for courses successfully completed that have not been designated as equivalent.

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. Transferability is at the discretion of the receiving institution

1. Courses not offered by the receiving institution
2. Courses with the last three digits ranging from 900-999 (e.g., ART 2905)
3. College preparatory and vocational preparatory courses
4. internship, practica, clinical experiences, and study abroad courses with numbers other than those ranging from 900-999
5. Applied performance or studio courses in Art, Dance, Interior Design, Music and Theatre
6. Skills courses in Criminal Justice
7. Graduate courses
8. 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 Dr. Elliot Vittes, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies, Millican Hall 210, University of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, FL 32816, 407 823 2691. Special reports and technical information may be requested by calling the Statewide Course Numbering System office at 850 245 0427, SunCom 205 0427 or via the internet at http://scns.fldoe.org.