Course Numbers vs. CRNs

Course numbers and CRNs are not the same thing. Both have five digits but designate different things.

• Course Numbers identify the course by subject and number. Course numbers stay consistent throughout your degree (except for curriculum updates that occasionally happen). 
  • For example, the course number for General Psychology is PSYC 11762: PSYC (Psychology subject) and 11762 (course number).
  • The course number identifies the department and the course level. Lower-division course numbers begin with a 1 or 2 (freshman- and sophomore-level) while upper-division course numbers begin with a 3 or 4 (junior- and senior-level).
     
• CRNs are Course Reference Numbers. CRNs change every semester and are used in FlashLine to allow students to register for classes.
  • Each CRN is different for each section of a course and designates the day/time/instructor, etc., for that semester’s course.
  • CRNs are different for each course offered each semester.