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.