<p>just out of curiosity...why do all these courses have be named like 101, 202, 323, 293 and other weird numbers? why aren't they just 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on? isn't that simpler?</p>
<p>a 100-level class specifies how 'advanced' it is, per se. 100's are intro classes, 200's are like upper-intros, and 300 and 400's are upper classmen courses with 500's and above being grad courses. </p>
<p>After that, the last numbers indicate the invidual course it is. These are usually assigned according to what has been assigned in the past. If Bio101 (intro bio) has a big change, the numbers would probably change as well (to something like bio 103 or something). </p>
<p>Numbers like this are used to indicate specific courses so grad schools and employers (or anybody!) knows what bio101 is and isn't confused with a different bio. If you used just like 1, 2, 3, or 4, nobody would really know how to distinguish a course from one year to the next. A course will never have two different numbers. Likewise, if Bio 234 is used for one particular course and the course is done away with, no other course can take the "Bio 234" title. </p>
<p>Just thing, Cornell is adding a 4th number to all of the courses :)</p>
<p>how interesting! thanks.</p>
<p>gomestar - Are you currently at Cornell? You know a lot.</p>
<p>a 4th number? how will that come into play then lol</p>
<p>yes I am currently at Cornell. </p>
<p>the 4th number is needed because they're running out of course numbers. </p>
<p>Right now, courses are listed like ILROB 171(0) until they make any further changes.</p>
<p>It'll be like Columbia! Weird.</p>