When proposing a course, authors can establish prerequisites. Prerequisites should only be established when prior knowledge is necessary for success in the course. Prerequisites must be:
- Easily identifiable and enforceable, such as a placement exam or credit for a previous course (e.g. satisfactory score on math placement test or grade of at least C- in [Math 1151 or Math 1155]).
- Listed in the course description and entered in Coursedog to be enforced at registration. Unenforced or “soft” prerequisites are discouraged as they can create confusion for students and advisors.
- Explicitly stated in the course syllabus.
Instructors or departments should have a process for granting access to a course by permission number, if appropriate. If a prerequisite is routinely overridden by permission, consider removing it.
Additionally, please note that there are different ways to establish instructor permission as an option within Coursedog. “Require consent to enroll” should only be enabled for courses that will always require instructor or departmental approval, such as directed study or research. In other instances, departments or instructors can grant access to a course by permission number whether or not that consent is listed among the possible prerequisites.