Montana State University
New Course Numbers for Fall 2011

 

IMPORTANT: New numbering in certain subjects (see list below) only affects names and numbers, it does not affect course content or degree requirements. 

Background

The Montana University System is moving to common numbering for all undergraduate courses for all public institutions in Montana.

What this means:

  • All public colleges and universities in Montana will use the same subject abbreviations(the letter codes that indicate the course subject), numbers, and titles for courses taught on more than one campus. 
  • If students transfer to another campus, ONLY courses also taught at the new campus will automatically transfer as equivalent.  All other courses will continue to transfer as electives and will be applied to curricular requirements at the discretion of the faculty.
  • Most current MSU subject abbreviations and numbers WILL CHANGE as implementation moves forward.  Those that will change for fall 2010 (with registration in spring 2010) are listed below along with those previously implemented.
  • Many familiar course titles will change. 
  • Some courses will change level (e.g., from the 300-level to the 400-level).
  • Course content remains the purview of faculty and will NOT be changed as a result of this process.
  • During the transition period, which is likely to last several years, curricular tabs (the lists of what courses are required for majors) will be updated yearly to reflect the changes.

What you need to do

We have created a Common Courses Equivalency tool to let you find out how course numbers have changed.  With this tool, you can select the old subject abbreviations and see what those courses are now called or you can select the new subject code and see what they used to be called.

The online version of MSU's catalog is regularly updated to include the new numbers and titles in all curricula.  However, the printed version will reflect the old numbers in many disciplines.  If you are using the printed catalog, you can use the link above to find the new numbers.

New Disciplines for Fall 2011

  • Agricultural Education - AGED prefix did not change
  • Agricultural Sciences (AGSC) - formerly AG, PSPP, LRES
  • Agricultural Technology (AGTE) - formerly AGED
  • Animal Science (ANSC) - formerly ARNR
  • Anthropology (ANTY) -formerly ANTH
  • Education (EDU) - formerly EDCI, EDEL, EDSD
  • Finance (BFIN) - formerly FIN
  • Civil Engineering - some courses still CE; some now ECIV
  • Biological Engineering (EBIO) - formerly CHBE
  • Electrical Engineering (EELE) - formerly EE
  • General Engineering Core (EGEN) - formerly ME, ENGR, EM, I&ME
  • Industrial Engineering (EIND) - formerly I&ME
  • Materials Engineering (EMAT) - formerly CHBE, ME
  • Mechanical Engineering Core (EMEC) - formerly ME, MET
  • Engineering Technology - Civil & Construction (ETCC) - formerly CET
  • Mechanical Engineering Technology (ETME) - formerly MET
  • Environmental Sciences (ENSC) - formerly LRES
  • Equine Horsemanship (EQUH) - fomerly ARNR
  • Equine Science (EQUS) - formerly ARNR
  • Fish and Wildlife Science and Management (WILD) - formerly ARNR, F&WL
  • Horticulture and Landscape Design (HORT)- formerly PSPP
  • Native American Studies   (NASX) - formerly NAS
  • Natural Resource Science & Management   (NRSM) - formerly ARNR
  • Nutrition (NUTR) - formerly HDFN
  • Sustainable Foods and Bioenergy Systems (SFBS) - formerly HDFN

Disciplines Implemented in Fall 2010

  • Biochemistry: BCHM is no BCH
  • Biology: BIOL are now BIOB, BIOE, BIOM, or BIOO
  • Computer Science: CS courses are now CAPP or CSCI
  • Dance: HHD dance courses are now DANC
  • Land Resources & Environmental Sciences: Some LRES courses are now BIOM
  • Microbiology: MB and MBEH courses are now BIOB or BIOM
  • Music: MUS courses are now MUSE, MUSI, or MUST
  • Nursing: N is now NRSG
  • Philosophy: PHIL courses are now PHL
  • Physics: PHYS courses are now PHSX or ASTR
  • Plant Sciences & Plant Pathology: some PSPP courses are now BIOB, BIOE, BIOM, or BIOO
  • Religious Studies: RELS courses are now RLST
  • Theatre: some MTA courses are now THTR
  • Veterinary Molecular Biology: VTMB courses are now BIOB, BIOM, or BIOO

 

Disciplines Implemented in Fall 2009

  • Accounting: Some BUS and all ACCT courses are now ACTG
  • Chemistry: CHEM is now CHMY
  • Computer Applications: CS 150 is now CAPP 120
  • Earth Science: ESCI is now ERTH
  • Economics: All ECON courses are now ECNS
  • English: ENGL (undergrad only) changed to WRIT (writing) or LIT (Literature)
  • Geography: GEOG is now GPHY
  • Geology:GEOL is now GEO
  • History: HIST courses are now HSTA (American History) or HSTR (World History)
  • Modern Languages, Arabic: MLA is now ARAB
  • Modern Languages, French: MLF is now FRCH
  • Modern Languages, German: MLG in now GRMN
  • Modern Languages, Japanese: MLJ is now JPNS
  • Modern Languages, Spanish: MLS is now SPNS
  • Mathematics: All MATH courses are now M
  • Political Science: All POLS courses are now PSCI
  • Psychology: All PSY courses are now PSYX
  • Sociology: All SOC courses are now SOCI
  • Statistics: STAT remains as a subject abbreviation