Merging Courses in Canvas (Cross-Listing)

Description

Merging courses in Canvas allows you to combine individual course sections (child courses) into one Canvas course (a parent course). Canvas refers to this process as "cross listing". Cross-listing does not affect course registration or how course sections appear in the University's Course Offerings but allows instructors to facilitate instruction for multiple sections in one space. 

Environment

Canvas in your web browser

Considerations

• Merging course sections
  • You will need to have at least 1 student enrolled in each section
  • You should merge the course sections before you publish your course for students
  • Students will only see the details of the parent course once courses are merged. To reduce confusion for students, we recommend changing the "Course Code" in Canvas to reflect only the subject and catalog number. (Ex: Math 1200) 
• Separating course sections
  • If you choose to separate previously merged course you will lose any student work that has already been submitted  
    • Canvas will include a message that all grades will no longer be visible. If you need to retain student grades and put them in the original course, you should export the Gradebook and import it into the original course before de-cross-listing the section.

Solution 

Merging/Cross-listing Courses

Note: Child courses should be merged before they have been published and each child course should have at least one student enrolled. 

1. Review How do I cross-list a section in a course as an instructor for step-by step instructions to merge course sections

or Watch the the Canvas Cross-Listing Overview video for a demonstration.  

2. Change the course code in Canvas:

   1. Access the cross-listed (merged) parent course in Canvas
   2. In the white Course Navigation Menu, select Settings
   3. Next to Course Code, enter the the subject and catalog number without the section number. (Ex: Math 1200) 

Outcome: Your child courses sections should now be merged as a single parent course. 

Separating/De-cross-listing courses

Note: If you de-cross-list a section that includes student grades, Canvas will include a message that all grades will no longer be visible. If you need to retain student grades and put them in the original course, you should export the Gradebook and import it into the original course before de-cross-listing the section.

1. To de-cross-list sections, please reach out to Canvas support. You can access "Get Help" from the left navigation menu within Canvas or start a live chat with Canvas Support.

Outcome: Your child courses sections should now be separated from the merged parent course. 

Get Help from Canvas

• Live chat with Canvas support (Faculty) 
• Get 24-hours/7-days a week Canvas support  
  • Dial the Canvas Support Hotline number located under "Get Help" in the Canvas Global Navigation Menu 
  • Contact OIT at 740-593-1222 for questions related to logging in, manually created courses, or third-party tools (Panopto, VoiceThread, Inclusive Access, etc.) 

Get Help from OIT

• Use the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) ticket form to submit a help ticket 
• Visit the Technology Resources and Training page for available training 

Additional Resources 

• Canvas Basics Guide 
• Canvas Instructor Guide 
• Canvas Video Guide 
• Mobile Guides 
• Canvas Course Accessibility Checklist
• Canvas LMS Implementation updates