The specialty catalog is divided into three levels: discipline category, specialty category and specialty, and its code is represented by two, four and six digits respectively. The specialty code of ad hoc specialty and national control distribution specialty shall be marked with "T" and "K" to distinguish them.
The specialty code generally refers to the undergraduate specialty directory of ordinary colleges and universities. The Catalog of Undergraduate Specialties in Ordinary Institutions of Higher Learning is a catalog of undergraduate majors in ordinary institutions of higher learning formulated and revised by the Ministry of Education (the former National Education Commission), and one of the basic guiding documents for higher education. It stipulates the division, name and category of majors, and is an important basis for setting and adjusting majors, implementing talent training, arranging enrollment, awarding degrees, guiding employment, conducting education statistics and forecasting talent demand. Since the reform and opening up, China has carried out four large-scale adjustments of subject catalogues and specialty settings.
The specialties in the catalog that are closely related to national security, public security and special industries, such as medicine, education, public security and justice, are nationally controlled specialties, and the specialty code is indicated by adding "K".
The special specialty is set up according to the characteristics of different colleges and universities, or to meet the special needs of talent cultivation in recent years.