It may seem that our course numbers are assigned on a random basis, but there is some method to our assignments! The course numbers are four digit numbers where the digits have some meaning:
First digit – indicates the level of the course:
- A 1000 level course is an introductory course available to all students
- A 2000 level course is typically taken by a second year student, and often requires taking the corresponding introductory course as a prerequisite
- Courses with 3000 and 4000 numbers are upper level undergraduate courses
- 7000 – 9000 level courses are taught at the graduate level
Second digit – indicates the subdiscipline of chemistry taught in the course:
- 100 numbered courses are General Chemistry
- 200 numbered courses are Organic Chemistry
- 300 numbered courses are Inorganic Chemistry
- 400 numbered courses are Physical Chemistry
- 500 numbered courses are Analytical Chemistry
- 600 numbered courses are Biochemistry.
Third digit – differentiates between courses at a similar level taught to different student audiences:
- 00 numbered courses are typically laboratory courses
- 10 numbered courses are general introductory courses
- 20 or higher describes courses taught for a specific major
For example, CHM 1131 is a General Chemistry course designed for Nursing majors, while CHM 1151 is a General Chemistry course designed for Biology or Engineering majors.
Fourth digit – In general, an odd number indicates the first course in a multiple course sequence, while an even number indicates the second course in that sequence.
