the letter prefix right before the course number.

<p>I’ve seen Columbia course numbers with letter prefix like V, W, E, F… </p>

<p>Can someone explain to me what those letter means to the course numbers?</p>

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<p>The letter isn’t terribly important. I believe there were three different “listings” of Gen Chem last semester - C1403, W1403 and F1403. There was no discernible difference. (Oh yeah, the prefix E refers to classes offered by the engineering school.)</p>

<p>What about W? I’ve seen many Engineering courses with W prefix…</p>

<p>Such as? </p>

<p>(CS, by the way, is offered as a major in both CC and SEAS)</p>

<p>All of the course letters are spelled out in the bulletin. I don’t have one on me because I’m out of town but I can check when I get back. Otherwise consult either the SEAS or CC book.</p>

<p>It’s all online in the bulletin. You can look it up. For practical purposes, it doesn’t matter one bit.</p>

<p>Wow-someone dug up one of my old posts from two years ago. To answer your questions, the prefixes in front of the course number come from the university division which offers or sponsors the course-the link is here</p>

<p>[Departments</a> of Instruction | Columbia College](<a href=“Columbia College Bulletin < Columbia College | Columbia University”>Columbia College Bulletin < Columbia College | Columbia University)</p>

<p>W courses are interfaculty which means they can be sponsored by almost any department or division. C’02 is right-it ultimately does not matter very much to the student as long as the course description satisfies what you are interested in taking. In addition make sure the course you register for satisfies what ever requirement you are trying to meet.</p>

<p>Intro Bio is a good example-the course is either numbered C2005 or F2401. These courses are identical in content (except for a recitation section)- the C course is for CC and SEAS students and the F course is for General studies students. Each course satisfies a different set of requirements but they contain the exact same content, are taught by the same professor and even meet twice a day so you have a choice of which time you can attend. Yet during registration you need to make sure you sign up for the C or F course that satisfies your school’s or major’s requirement. </p>

<p>The only practical issue the student has here is making sure you sign up for the right course among many that may have similar sounding names and course numbers. Check the course catalog to determine what is required or suggested</p>

<p>I have the bulletin right in front of me, so I’ll check.
<em>checks bulletin</em>
The letter refers to which of Columbia’s many, many schools/divisions offers the course. Most of these are graduate schools, so we don’t care about them.</p>

<p>A Architecture school
B Business school
BC Barnard
C CC
E SEAS
F GS
G Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
H Paris
I Berlin
J J-School
K Continuing Ed
L Law School
M Med School
P School of Public Health
R School of the Arts
S Summer classes
T School of Social Work
TA-TZ Teachers College
U SIPA
V Interschool course with Barnard
W Interfaculty course
Z American Language Program</p>

<p>Most of our classes will be V or W and some will be C (or E if you’re in SEAS). I think a C class is a class that Barnardians can’t take, and the same might be true of an E class. V classes are obviously open to Barnardians and I suppose W classes are too. A V course is probably within one department, while a W “interfaculty” course is interdisciplinary. But I’m just speculating here.</p>

<p>edit: I think the C courses are primarily Core classes and intro seminars that are prereqs for majors. Most other CC courses are W and V, but I still can’t tell what the difference is. The W courses don’t all seem to be interdisciplinary, and I’m not sure whether Barnardians are allowed into them!</p>