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GUIDELINES OF THE
TEXAS COMMON COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
The Texas Common Course Numbering System was developed by representatives from the nine community and junior colleges in the Gulf Coast Consortium over a period of two years from August of 1987 to October of 1989. The Common Course Numbering System was developed for the purpose of facilitating transfer of general academic courses. The system was implemented in a cooperative effort by the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (TACRAO) and the Gulf Coast Consortium of Community/Junior Colleges.
For the basic format of the common numbers, the numbering structure recommended to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in a 1975 TACRAO report was utilized. Common courses are those which are approved for funding and which are included in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual. Generic course titles are included with the corresponding course approval number; the title of specific courses approved for institutions may vary.
Adoption of the Texas Common Course Numbering System by institutions is voluntary; however, institutions wishing to implement the System must seek membership by completing the Texas Common Course Numbering System Agreement form. Members are required to maintain the Texas Common Course Numbering System in accordance with the following guidelines:
(1) Course numbers included in the Common Course Numbering System will not be used to identify courses which do not correspond with the general description of that course or category of courses in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual.
(2) The course approval number in the Community College General Academic Course Guide Manual will be used as a guide to assist in the process of determining proper categorization of courses for a common course number.
(3) The four-letter prefix specified in the System will be used to identify subject areas.
(4) The four-digit numbers specified in the
System will be as follows:
First digit - to identify level (1 - Freshman, 2 - Sophomore)
Second digit - to identify credit hour value Third and fourth digits
- to establish course sequence
(5) When new courses are added to an institution's inventory, the common number for that course will be used if one exists. Addition or deleting of courses to an institution's inventory for which a common number exist, should be indicated on the biennial update document sent to institutions Database Coordinator. If a common number is not listed and the institutional contact believes a common number is appropriate, the form, Request to Add A New Course , should be used.
(6) If an institution wishes to propose a change to the existing guidelines, policies, and procedures, recommendations should be sent to the TCCNS Board Chair be placed on a Board meeting agenda for consideration.
(7) Each institution may have a number of courses for which the designation of a common course number does not seem appropriate. It is imperative that care be given in the assignment of course numbers for those courses. Simply because a number is not currently being used as a common course number does not make it “fair game” for assignment. In order to maintain purity in the system, non-common courses should be designated with a “7” in the third position of the number. For example, Cost Accounting might be assigned ACCT xx7x. This allows for use of up to 20 numbers in any program area at any institution. If there is a need for more than 20 such courses in a particular area, then it may be that a different rubric should be used.
(8) Common numbers have not been assigned to remedial level courses.
(9) Any number between 1100 to 1150 and 2100 to 2150 may be used for physical education activity courses. (No attempt has been made to standardize each number within that area
(10) Applied music (rubric MUAP) courses are not included in the System listing. (This was done in the interest of conserving space.) Common course numbers do exist for those courses. The numbers for applied music (rubric MUAP) courses are determined as follows:
a. The first and second digits of the course number are determined in the normal manner.
b. The sequencing for the third and fourth digits is:
| I. Instrument |
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| 1. Violin (Strings) |
01-04 | ||
| 2. Viola |
05-08 | ||
| 3. Cello |
09-12 | ||
| 4. Bass |
13-14 | ||
| 5. Electric Bass |
15-16 | ||
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| 1. Flute |
17-20 |
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| 2. Oboe |
21-24 |
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| 3. Bassoon |
25-28 |
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| 4. Clarinet |
29-32 |
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| 5. Saxophone |
33-36 |
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| 1. Trumpet (Brass) |
37-40 |
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| 2. Horn |
41-44 |
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| 3. Trombone |
45-48 |
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| 4. Euphonium Baritone |
49-52 |
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| 5. Tuba |
53-56 |
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57-60 |
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61-64 |
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| II. Keyboard/Harp |
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| A. Organ |
65-68 | ||
| B. Piano (Keyboard) |
69-72 | ||
| C. Electronic Keyboard |
73-76 | ||
| D. Harp |
77-80 | ||
III. Voice |
81-84 | ||
IV. Improvisation |
85-86 | ||
V. Other |
87-99 | ||
(11) Music ensemble (rubric MUEN) courses are not included in the System listing. (This was done in the interest of conserving space.) Common course numbers do exist for those courses. For music ensemble (rubric MUEN) courses, the last two digits will be designated as follows:
Approval Number |
Course type (title) |
Last Two Digits |
| 5009035530 | Major Instrumental Ensemble | 21-30 |
| 5009035630 | Instrumental Chamber Ensemble (small) | 31-40, 00-02 |
| 5009035730 | Major Vocal Ensemble | 41-50 |
| 5009035830 | Chamber (small) Vocal Ensemble | 51-60 |
This division allows for 20 major instrumental
ensembles, 20 small instrumental
ensembles, 20 major choral ensembles, 20 chamber vocal ensembles. Once
again, similar to physical education courses, no attempt was made to
distinguish each unique possibility.
