Prerequisite Guidelines Policy

Policy: INST734
Steward: Vice President of Instruction
Contact: mrenaldo-bilbrey@spscc.edu
Effective Date: 10 Nov 2021
Last Revised: 18 Jul 2024
Last Reviewed: 18 Jul 2022
Applies to: Those proposing changes to course outlines to Instructional Council.
Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to provide consistent language in the catalog and course outlines, and to provide clarity in defining prerequisites.
REFERENCES
Courses and Program Prerequisites and Degree Requirements
1. The determination of prerequisites and degree requirements, including minimum qualifying grades, is the responsibility of the institution awarding the degree. Each institution shall make public such prerequisites and requirements.
2. Provided students obtain minimum qualifying grades, transfer courses which have been identified as satisfying prerequisites or degree requirements shall be applicable toward those requirements upon transfer.
DEFINITIONS

  • Prerequisite: A course taken prior to the course of interest.
  • Corequisite: A course taken at the same time as the course of interest.
  • Guided Self Placement (GSP): A questionnaire that helps students identify their correct English or math class placement. 

 
 
 

South Puget Sound Community College adheres to a prerequisite policy to ensure consistency throughout our credit courses.

  1. When there is a single prerequisite, write it as:

Prerequisite: ENGL& 101.

  1. When there are multiple prerequisites for a course, language should be clear to determine which prerequisites meet the same requirement and which ones are separate.
  1. Multiple options list as:
    1. Prerequisite:  Either ENGL& 101 with a “C” or better or ENGL& 102.
  2. Multiple prerequisites, list as:
    1. Prerequisite:  Both ENGL& 101 and MATH& 107.
    2. Prerequisite:  Both ENGL& 101 with a “C” or better and MATH& 107 with a “C” or better.
  3. Multiple prerequisites, with multiple options for each prerequisite, list as:
    1. Prerequisite: ENGL& 101 with a “C” or better or ENGL& 201; and MATH& 141 or MATH& 146.
  4. Corequisites list as:
    1. Prerequisite: Completion of MATH& 141 with a “C” or better or concurrent enrollment in MATH& 141.
  1. Instead of using “eligible for” language, indicate which completions or placements would qualify a student for a class, i.e., qualifying placement, including Guided Self Placement, placement exam, and transcript evaluation can be used to fulfil a prerequisite.
  1. Prerequisite: Appropriate placement or a “B-” or better in ENGL 095 or a “C” or better in ENGL 098 (instead of “eligible for ENGL 098 or ENGL& 101.”)
  1. If a specific grade is required, it should be listed as part of the prerequisite. Any time a grade is not listed as part of a prerequisite, it is assumed that any passing grade (D or better, including an S grade) would allow the student to enroll in the class.
  1. Prerequisite:  Either ENGL& 101 with “C” or better or ENGL& 102.
  2. In the above example, a “D” or “S” grade in ENGL& 102 would fulfill the prerequisite.
  1. Courses listed as “recommended” cannot be enforced as a prerequisite and should be listed as part of the course description.
    1. In course description: “…ENGL& 101 recommended.”
  2. During the registration period, if a student is currently enrolled in a course named as a prerequisite, they should be allowed to enroll in the desired course.
  3. “Instructor permission” is allowable as a prerequisite. All prerequisites can be overridden by instructor permission. When instructor permission is given to override a prerequisite, it is only waived for that specific class in that specific quarter.
  4. Each proposed course prerequisite must include rationale of necessity.

 

References: