Course names and numbers are being updated so colleges are consistent throughout California.

A Clearer Path to Transfer

Coming summer and fall 2025, California Community Colleges will align course numbering to make transfer easier between state institutions. This effort, called Common Course Numbering, will occur in phases, so keep an eye out for changes to how your courses are listed in the class schedule.

What is it?

A state-wide effort to use the same course names and numbers at the community college level. No matter where you take courses, your course names and numbers will be align, making movement between different state institutions easier than ever.

How will it help?

  • Reduce the loss of credits when transferring.
  • Decrease the time needed for degree completion.
  • Make it easier to understand university transfer requirements.

Active Course Numbering Changes

Currently Active

Old Course Name and Number New Course Name and Number
ENG-1A English Composition ENGL-C1000 Academic Reading and Writing
COM-1 Public Speaking COMM-C1000 Introduction to Public Speaking
MAT-12 Statistics STAT-C1000 Introduction to Statistics

POL-1 American Politics

POLS-C1000 American Government and Politics
PSY-1 General Psychology PSYC-C1000 Introduction to Psychology

Open the Class Finder All Class Schedules

Starting Fall 2026

Old Course Name and Number New Course Name and Number
AHS-1 History of Western Art: Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval ARTH-C1100 Survey of Art from Prehistoric to Medieval Era
AHS-2 History of Western Art: Renaissance through Contemporary ARTH-C1200 Survey of Art from the Renaissance to Contemporary
ECO-7 Principles of Macroeconomics ECON-C2002 Principles of Macroeconomics
ECO-8 Principles of Microeconomics ECON-C2001 Principles of Microeconomics
ENGL-1B Critical Thinking and Writing ENGL-C1003 Critical Thinking and Writing Through Literature
HIS-6 United States History to 1877 HIST-C1001 United States History to 1877
HIS-7 United States History from 1865 HIST-C1002 United States History since 1865
MAT-1A Calculus I MATH-C2210 Calculus I: Early Transcendentals
MAT-1B Calculus II MATH-C2220 Calculus II: Early Transcendentals

Keep in Mind

  • You do not need to retake any courses due to these changes.
  • Be sure to use the new abbreviations when searching for courses. All affected courses start with a "C" in the course number.
  • You will be notified about the changes as courses are updated when class schedules are made available.
  • Students will see the old course for any classes taken before Summer 2025 on transcripts and archived course schedules.
  • Honors versions of affected courses will continue to be offered where available. An "H" will be appended after the course number to indicate it is an Honors course, such as ENGL C1000H.
Common Course Numbering video thumbnail
Learn more about how the Riverside Community College District is implementing Common Course Numbering.

Common Questions

Have Common Course Numbering questions? We have answers.

Courses identified as common between California Community Colleges are denoted with a "C" in the catalog number of the course (e.g. ENG 1A is now ENGL C1000)

Some subject area prefixes have been changed to align with what is common throughout the state (e.g. POL is now POLS).

Yes. Courses that have not been changed may continue to transfer under previously agreed-upon transfer agreements between two-year colleges and four-year colleges

Resources

 

 

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