Common Course Numbering (CCN)

The California Community College system, including College of the Desert, is implementing a student-facing Common Course Numbering (CCN) system, as required by Education Code Sections 66725-66725.5 through Assembly Bill No. 1111 (Berman), to be completed by July 1, 2027. This system will create common course numbers for comparable courses across all community colleges in the state, facilitating smoother transfers to four-year institutions and reducing unnecessary credit accumulation. By maximizing credit mobility, the CCN system will enhance equitable transfer opportunities and support student success by helping students build cohesive academic plans, understand course transferability, and make informed course selections. This collaborative effort involves faculty, administrators, staff, and system officials to ensure the best outcomes for California community college students. (Source: ASCCC) 

Implementation of Common Course Numbers began in Fall 2025 with Phase I and continues with Phase II in Fall 2026. The chart below shows the impacted courses.

A Common Course Number is comprised of four elements:

• Subject: 4-letter standardized abbreviation to be used across the state (ex: ENGL)
• Course Type Identifier: All CCN courses are indicated with a “C” prefix before the number
• Number: 4-digit standardized course number (ex: 1000)
• Course Specialty Identifier: System-level suffixes for special courses (E = Embedded Support)