Instituting a New Course Numbering Scheme

In the spring of 2009, the Office of Curriculum and Course Development formed a committee consisting of faculty and administrators from Arts & Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering to consider and develop a new numbering scheme for courses offered by Arts & Sciences departments and programs (including the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Sanford School of Public Policy), the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Graduate School.

It had become apparent that the current course numbering scheme was no longer meeting the needs of a growing university with an increasing number of interdisciplinary, cross-listed courses. The committee created a new numbering scheme that would

  • be comprehensible and transparent to students, faculty, and the outside world,
  • allow departments / programs to more clearly indicate course levels, sequencing, and logic of the curriculum,
  • be consistent across departments and programs in Arts & Sciences, to include the Nicholas School of the Environment, the Sanford School of Public Policy, the Pratt School of Engineering, and the Graduate School.

The new numbering scheme was presented to and approved by the Arts & Sciences Council and the respective School Deans in May, 2009.

In the 2009-2010 academic year, all departments and programs within the above schools were given guidelines and asked to renumber all courses. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the new numbers were reviewed and entered into all systems. All university websites, brochures, advising materials will be revised to reflect both new and old numbers by the end of January, 2012.

The new numbers became effective for the Fall 2012 semester. Students registered in Spring 2012 for fall 2012 courses under their new numbers.

Beginning in the Fall 2012 Duke transcripts for all continuing students contain a note regarding the change in course numbers. In addition, the transcript guide, printed on the back of each transcript, contains an explanation of the change in course numbering scheme. Please also note that the new course numbers appear from Fall 2012 forward. All coursework taken prior to that semester is listed under the current course numbers.

This website serves as the main resource for information regarding the implementation of the new course numbering scheme. Questions should be directed to Dean , Director of the Office of Curriculum and Course Development.

Current and New Course Numbering Schemes

Current Course Numbering Scheme

 0 - 99

 

Introductory-level

[1 – 49 primarily for 1st year students]

 100 - 199

 

Advanced-level

 

 

200 – 299

 

 Seniors and graduate students

 300 - 399

 

Graduate students only

 

  

New Course Numbering Scheme (effective Fall 2012)

 

0 - 99

 

 

Advanced Placement credit; House Courses;

First-Year Seminars; First-Year Writing;

Registrar / Department special purpose

 

100 -199

 

 

Introductory-level undergraduate courses; basic skills / activity courses; foundation courses; Focus program courses

 

 

200 -399

 

 

Undergraduate courses above introductory level

 

 

400 -499

 

 Advanced undergraduate, senior seminars, capstone courses, honors thesis courses

 

 

 

500 -699

 

 

Graduate courses open to advanced undergraduates

 

 

700 -999

 

 

Graduate only courses (not open to undergraduates)

 

Course Renumbering Team receives 2011 University Teamwork Award

The Arts & Sciences Course Renumbering Team, led by Dr. Ingeborg Walther, received a Blue Ribbon Teamwork Award for its two-year project to standardize numbers for over 8,000 courses across five schools.

New Course Numbering Scheme

Click here for the new course numbering scheme that will become effective in Fall 2012.

Master List of Current and New Numbers (all departments and programs)

Sorted by current (old) number

Sorted by new number

Note: Each of the above two documents are over a thousand pages, but are searchable. Excel spreadsheets containing list of current and new numbers for individual departments/programs/subjects are available on the Sakai Course Renumbering website available to program directors and assistants. Please contact  for access to the Sakai website. 

Course Renumbering Transition: Timeline and Instructions for departments and programs

Click here for instructions on managing the transition to the new course numbers.

Instituting a New Course Numbering Scheme: Description and Guidelines

Memorandum from June, 2009, including the full rationale, description of the current and new numbering scheme, the process and timeline for implementation, and guidelines and Instructions for departments and programs.

Powerpoint presented to Arts & Sciences Council, May 2009.

Revised Timeline for Course Renumbering

Memorandum from May 2010 providing revised timeline for implementation of coourse re-numberings.