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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. (Exceptions
are listed 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 receiving institution,
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.
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 used to identify the course.
AUTHORITY FOR ACCEPTANCE OF
EQUIVALENT COURSES
State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024(17), Florida
Administrative Code, reads:
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 |
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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.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL
RULE FOR EQUIVALENCY
The following courses are exceptions to the general rule
for course equivalencies and may not be transferable. Transferability
is at the discretion of the receiving institution:
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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. |
College preparatory
and vocational preparatory courses are not used to meet degree
requirements and are not transferable.
Questions about the Statewide Course Numbering System
and appeals regarding course credit transfer decisions should
be directed to 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 telephone number
(904) 488-6402 or Suncom 278-6402.
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