Quick Links: | What is a Cross-Listed Course? | Who Can Cross-List Courses? | Cross-Listing Sections Into One Course Shell | Cross-Listing Sections With Different Instructors | Canvas' Cross-Listing Instructions |
Cross-listing courses in Canvas is a useful feature that allows instructors to combine multiple course sections into a single "parent" course. In Blackboard, this process was known as a "Common Learning Environment" and was handled by departments. In Canvas, cross-listing is performed by the instructor. In this article, we will discuss what a cross-listed course is, who can cross-list courses, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to cross-list courses in Canvas.
What is a Cross-Listed Course?
Cross-listing involves putting two or more courses or course sections together to teach from a single "parent" course. This can be useful for several reasons, such as saving time and effort for instructors, allowing for a unified learning experience for students, and providing easier management of course content. Cross-listing is commonly used when:
- One instructor teaches multiple sections of the same course and wants to save time and effort by combining all the students into one-course shell.
- Two courses with different course IDs will be taught using the same content.
- Lecture/lab combo courses may not be a good fit for cross-listing. Instead, consider NOT publishing the lab.
Who Can Cross-List Courses?
Instructors are responsible for performing the cross-listing steps unless the combined courses are taught by different instructors. When cross-listing courses, it is important to note:
- The "parent" section is the section you want visible. Usually, this is the section that you have already built content in.
- The "child" section is the section(s) you do NOT want visible.
- Start the cross-list steps from the Child section.
- Start the cross list steps BEFORE the courses are published. Otherwise, you can lose data.
- Coursework is retained with the course, not with the section enrollments, so if a published course is cross-listed, all cross-listed enrollments will lose any associated assignment submissions and grades.
How do I Cross-List Multiple Sections Into One Course Shell?
Here is a video tutorial that shows someone cross-listing their course.
Use the following steps to perform the cross-listing process. Note: you must be enrolled in both sections as a Teacher. If you want to to cross-list your course section with a section taught by another instructor, check the instructions in the next section to get started.
- Open the course shell that will be child section. From Global Navigation, click the Courses link [1], then click the child course link [2].

- From the child course shell, select Settings [1] and navigate to the Sections tab [2]. Finally, select the section you want to cross-list [3].

- From the section settings screen, select Cross-List this Section.

- In the Search for Course field [1], type the name of the parent course section. Confirm the parent course details in the Selected Course field [2] and select Cross-List This Section [3]. Important: make sure the parent course shell is from the same term as the child.

- The cross-listed section now appears in the new course. The breadcrumbs show the new course code.

Note: If you find that you've cross-listed a section in error, please reach out to the Learning Technologies team to have your course de-cross-listed. Learning Technologies will need the following information:
- Section name to de-cross-list
- Parent course name; OR
- Parent course Canvas URL
How Can I Cross-List My Section With Another Instructor's Section?
Cross-listing courses in Canvas can also be useful when multiple instructors want to share a course shell. Here are the steps for two instructors to cross-list their courses:
- Nominate one instructor to manage the cross-listing process.
- Contact the department and request that instructor be added to the other class(es) as a Secondary Instructor.
- The instructor should then perform the cross-listing process by following the same steps as outlined in the previous section.
Canvas' Step-by-Step Instructions for Cross-Listing Courses
Canvas offers a straightforward process for cross-listing courses. You can follow this Canvas step-by-step tutorial for cross-listing Canvas courses.
Note: Chico State does not allow anyone other than admins to Re-Cross List sections.