Canvas - Merge/Cross-Listing Courses

🗂️ Overview

Who is this for?

  • Faculty

Cross-listing allows instructors to combine multiple course sections into a single Canvas course. This can simplify course management by allowing you to maintain one set of content, assignments, announcements, and grades while students from multiple sections remain enrolled in their respective course sections.

☑️ Before you begin

Before cross-listing courses, keep the following in mind:

  • Decide which course will serve as the primary course (the course that contains your content and will remain active).
  • You should initiate the cross-listing process from the course that will be merged into the primary course.
  • Student enrollments from the selected section will be moved into the primary course.
  • If the course being cross-listed contains student submissions, grades, or other course activity, that information may no longer be accessible after the cross-listing is completed.
  • Review and save any needed information before proceeding.

enlightenedCross-listing can be reversed through a process called de-cross-listing; however, only Canvas administrators can perform this action. If you need to separate courses after they have been cross-  listed, submit a Help Desk ticket for assistance.

🪜 Steps

Step 1

Open the course section that you want to merge into your primary course and select Settings.

This should typically be the course that does not contain your active course content.

Step 2

Select the Sections tab at the top of the Settings page. 

Step 3

Click the section name that contains the students you want to move into the primary course.

Step 4

On the section details page, select Cross-List this Section.

Cross-List Section

Step 5

In the Search for Course field, enter part of the name of your primary course.

Step 6

Select the correct course from the list of search results.

Search for Course

Step 7

Confirm you have the correct course. Then click Cross-List This Section.

Cross-List this Section

Step 8

Confirm the action when prompted.

✅ Expected Result

After the cross-listing is complete:

  • The selected section will appear under the primary course.
  • Students from the cross-listed section will have access to the primary course content.
  • The primary course will display all associated sections under Settings > Sections.
  • You can manage content, assignments, grades, and announcements from a single course.
💡 Tips/Troubleshooting

I don't see the Cross-List this Section button

  • Verify that you are viewing the section details page and not the main course settings page.
  • Confirm that your instructor role has permission to cross-list sections.

I cannot find my target course

  • Try searching using only part of the course title.
  • Verify that you are enrolled as an instructor in the target course.

Students or grades are missing after cross-listing

  • Refresh the course and allow a few minutes for Canvas to update enrollments.
  • Review whether the section contained existing grades or submissions before it was cross-listed.
  • Contact the YCCD Help Desk for assistance if expected enrollments or data do not appear.
🆘 Still Need Help?

For detailed Canvas documentation, see: How do I cross-list a section in a course as an instructor?

If you have any questions or need further assistance:
Submit a Help Desk ticket via help.yccd.edu or call 530.741.6981 (Students) or 530.491.5718 (Staff)
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