Last revised January 26th 2022

With the Requirements and Prerequisites functions, you can lock modules in Canvas so that they become interdependent - that is, a student must fulfill the defined requirements within the module in order to be able to access the upcoming module.

Keep in mind that adding requirements and prerequisites to a module limits the student's ability to control his or her own studies. It can have consequences, for example, if a student becomes ill and needs to work simultaneously on different parts of the course to catch up.

Start by setting the requirements

The first step is to set which requirements must be fulfilled for a specific module to be considered complete.

Edit module settings

Click on the three dots to the right of the module header and select Edit to start adding requirements.

Click the Add requirement link to set the required items in the module. Depending on the type of material you have added, it may also be possible to choose how the requirement is to be met.

You do not need to add requirements for all materials in the module. It may well be that you would like the students to complete one single item in the module in order to move on.

Set the module prerequisites

When you have set the requirements, then locate the module that you would like to be locked and, in the drop-down menu, select the module (prerequisite) that students must complete before moving on.

Prerequisties

Click on the three dots to the right of the header for the module that would like to be locked, and select Edit to start adding prerequisites.

Click the Add prerequisite link to select the module that students must complete before they can move on.

This is what it can look like when it's done

Student view of Modules

To the right of the module header, you can see which requirements apply. In this case, students are required to complete all requirements in the module.

The text in small letters under each item/assignment indicate the required items for the module.
View the prerequisites that apply to open the module in the module header. In the student view, there will also be a lock icon indicating that there are prerequisites to be fulfilled.