Common Course Numbering

Course Numbers Changes: Fall 2025

See list of courses with new numbers

A recent state law is requiring colleges to change the numbering for certain courses, so that comparable courses will have the same titles and numbers at community colleges across California. This should make it a little easier for students who transfer within the UC, CSU and community college systems.

To comply with the new rule, De Anza has changed the numbers for some important courses that you may need to take for your certificate, degree, General Education or transfer requirements. The new numbering system, known as Common Course Numbering, takes effect in fall 2025 for 11 courses, with changes coming to more courses in the future.

Here are some examples of how the new course numbering will work, starting in fall 2025:

• If you need to take English Composition and Reading, which was previously known as EWRT 1A at De Anza, you’ll be looking for ENGL C1000 when you go to register for the 2025 fall quarter or any term after that.
• If you've already taken EWRT 1A at De Anza, then don't try to take ENGL C1000 – because it's the same course.

Below are the courses that have been renumbered, listed here with the new numbers you'll see in the course listings beginning with the 2025 fall quarter. Further down on this webpage, you'll find some answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the new Common Course Numbering (CCN) system.

Courses With New Numbers

OLD NUMBER	FULL NAME	NEW NUMBER
COMM 1	Public Speaking	COMM C1000
COMM 1H	Public Speaking (Honors)	COMM C1000H
EWRT 1A	Composition and Reading	ENGL C1000
EWRT 1AH	Composition and Reading (Honors)	ENGL C1000H
EWRT 2	Critical Reading Writing and Thinking	ENGL C1001
EWRT 2H	Critical Reading, Writing and Thinking (Honors)	ENGL C1001H
MATH 10	Introductory Statistics	STAT C1000
MATH 10H	Introductory Statistics (Honors)	STAT C1000H
POLI 1	American Government and Politics	POLS C1000
POLI 1H	American Government and Politics (Honors)	POLS C1000H
PSYC 1	General Psychology	PSYC C1000

Important Note

Even with the common numbering system, a course taken at one college may still be treated differently by another college, when you are attempting to transfer credits or satisfy other requirements. Always consult a counselor or adviser to see if the course will be accepted at your transfer destination.

FAQs ... and Answers

• If I took a course when it was listed with the old number, do I need to take it again with the new number?

  No. You should not retake any course due to number changes.  The old number will be considered equivalent to the new common course number for any major requirements.

• Will a renumbered course still count toward my GE, certificate or degree requirements, regardless of which number it had when I took it?

  A renumbered course will still count in the same major areas regardless of the number it had when it was taken. General education applicability is set at the time the course is completed. If your course was approved for a specific GE area at the time the course was completed, it will meet that GE requirement regardless of number. See ASSIST.org or speak with a counselor about general education applicability.

• Will a renumbered course still count for satisfying a prerequisite, regardless of which number it had when I took it?

  Yes. If the prerequisite for a course lists the Common Course Number, but you took the old course number, it should automatically meet the prerequisite requirement.

  If you took the prerequisite at another school and you are in need of a prerequisite clearance, please see the Meeting Prerequisites webpage for more information.

• Will I still be able to transfer courses that are NOT being renumbered?

  Yes. Any course numbered 00-49 is considered UC-transferable, and courses numbered 00-99 are considered CSU-transferable.  All of our transfer agreements are still valid, regardless of course number.  Please see ASSIST.org or speak with a counselor for more information on transfering courses.

• How do I know if a course has a Common Course Number?

  Courses that are part of Common Course Numbering (CCN) are identified with a leading "C" in the course number. For example, EWRT 1A has been renumbered as ENGL C1000.  

  You can also view the chart on this page, which lists the Common Course Numbers and their former course numbers.

• If I received a substandard grade (below a C) on a course when it was listed with the old number, can I have that grade excluded from my GPA by taking the same course with the new number?

  Yes. Repeating the course with the new number should exclude the previous grade from your GPA calculation.  Please check your unofficial transcript to ensure that an "E" is listed next to your previous attempt, to indicate that the grade has been excluded from your GPA calculation.

• I took EWRT 1A and earned a grade of "C" or higher, but my program requires ENGL C1000. Do I need to complete ENGL C1000?

  No. They are considered the same course.  Please see the course description of the Common Course Number to find the previous course number.

• I took ENGL C1000E at another California community college, but De Anza does not offer that class and it's not listed as a part of my degree or certificate requirements. Can I still use it on my certificate or degree?

  Yes. CCN course numbers with "E" or "H" at the end indicates that a course has embedded support or has been designated as an honors class.  Even if De Anza does not offer that type of course section, we would still honor that version as an acceptable alternative to ENGL C1000 (or another Common Course Numbered course).

• I have catalog rights to the 2024-25 catalog. My Degree Works audit says that I need MATH 10, but that course is no longer available. Do I need to complete a course substitution petition for STAT C1000 to count towards my degree requirement?

  No. You should not need a course substitution.  If you enroll in the course with the updated number, it should pull in to your Degree Works audit.

• I took a Common Course Numbered course at another community college, but I want to graduate from De Anza. Will my course count for the same area on the Cal-GETC?

  Colleges are working to align course articulation across the state – for community colleges as well as the University of California and California State University systems – for Cal-GETC, major preparation, and course-to-course equivalencies. However, this alignment has not been completed.

  You should consult ASSIST.org or speak with a counselor to confirm how the course will apply to your specific academic plan. General education applicability is defined at the time the course was taken at the school in which it was taken. De Anza will honor the general education applicability of the course at the time it was taken, regardless of whether that matches the applicability of our current course.