Common Course Numbering

Big changes are coming to course numbers across all
California Community Colleges, including College of the Desert!

Making Your Transfer Journey Easier

Starting Fall 2025, COD will begin the first phase of the Common Course Numbering Project, which aims to align courses with similar content across all California Community Colleges. By aligning course numbers and content, students can easily identify transferable courses, reducing confusion. Over the next two years, approximately 75 courses will have common numbers across all California Community Colleges. Check back for more information on updates regarding future course number changes!  

 

A Common Course Number is comprised of four elements:

  • Subject: 4-letter standardized abbreviation to be used across the state (ex: COMM)
  • Course Type Identifier: All CCN courses are indicated with a “C” prefix before the number
  • Number: 4-digit standardized course number (ex: 1000)
  • Course Specialty Identifier: System-level suffixes for special courses (E = Embedded Support)
The following courses will take effect Fall 2025:

Old Course

New Course

Effective Term

COMM 001

Introduction to Public Speaking

COMM C1000 

Introduction to Public Speaking

 Fall 2025

ENG 001A

English Composition

ENGL C1000 

Academic Reading and Writing

 Fall 2025

ENG 001X

English Composition with Co-Curricular Support

ENGL C1000E 

Academic Reading and Writing

 Fall 2025

ENG 003

Argumentative Writing and Critical Thinking

ENGL C1001

Critical Thinking and Writing

 Fall 2025

MATH 014

Statistical Methods

STAT C1000 

Introduction to Statistics

 Fall 2025

PS 001

Introduction to Government

POLS C1000 

American Government and Politics

 Fall 2025

PSY 001

General Psychology

PSYC C1000 

Introduction to Psychology

 Fall 2025

 

Frequently Asked Questions

The California Community College system is implementing a student-facing Common Course Numbering (CCN) system. This system will create common course numbers for comparable courses across all community colleges in the state, facilitating smoother transfers to four-year institutions and reducing unnecessary credit accumulation. (Source: ASCCC) 

Understanding these changes will help you avoid repeating courses. You might still see the old course numbers listed as prerequisites, but knowing the new common course numbers will help prevent any confusion.

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.

Summer courses will still be offered under the old numbering system, but you’ll need to search for them in self-service using the new course numbers. For example, if you want to take Psychology this summer, search for PSYC C1000. The course sections will be listed as PSY 001.

If you are using the advanced search option, look for the course subject-CCN. For example, STAT C1000 will be listed under Statistics-CCN and not Mathematics. 

Courses identified as common between California Community Colleges are denoted with a "C" in the catalog number of the course (ENG 001A is now ENGL C1000)

You will enroll in ENGL C1000, which is equivalent to ENG 001a and fulfills the same requirement. The repeat policy will also apply and the grade in ENGL C1000 will replace the original grade in ENG 001a in your GPA calculation. 

Background on the Common Course Numbering project is available at the website of the California Community College Chancellor's Office.
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