Prerequisite Entry

As with mathematical statements, the prerequisite statement is built logically with parentheses and conjunctions to identify groupings and order.

Because prerequisite courses are entered into Banner, the statements must be written consistently and logically in ICMS to avoid misinterpretation.

Example of a complex but easy to understand prerequisite:

(ABC 001 or BCD 001) and MNO 001 and (ZYX 001 C- or better or IJK 001)

Writing a Prerequisite

Punctuation/Conjunctions. How you write the prerequisite statement with "and," "or," and place parentheses makes a difference in how your prerequisite is understood.  

(  )

  • What it means. "Do First"
  • What it does:
    • Groups statements within complex requirements. 
    • Use parens to separate AND from OR.

Or

  • What it means. OR
  • What it does:
    • Can be used with courses or between groupings.
    • Do not write 'OR' after a comma.

, (comma)

  • What it means. AND
  • What it does. Separates individual courses listed.

and

  • What it means. AND
  • What it does. Separates individual courses or use between groupings.

; (semi-colon)

  • What it means. AND
  • What it does. Separates statements within simple requirements, like courses from non-course prerequisites.

READ your statement! Replace all commas and semicolons with the word "AND" to see if the narrative makes sense. Visualize your groupings.

If you need a minimum passing grade for a student to have in a prerequisite course, it must be written in the prerequisite statement next to the course.

  • ABC 001, XYZ 001 C- or better, ABC 002.

    This means the student must have taken all 3 courses and have a C- or better in XYZ 001.

Keep course prerequisites and non-course prerequisites separate. 

  • Example: XYZ 001 and ABC 001; basic computer skills and high school algebra

If the course can be taken concurrently, state this next to each course.

  • Example: (XYZ 001A concurrently or XYZ 001 concurrently) or ZYX 010.

DO NOT WRITE:

  • (XYZ 001A or XYZ 001, concurrently); high school algebra; or ZYX 010 C- or better; basic computer skills.

This does not make sense! It reads:

  • (XYZ 001A or XYZ 001 and concurrently) and high school algebra and or ZYX 010 with C- and basic computer skills.

DO WRITE:

  • (XYZ 001 can be concurrent or XYZ 001 can be concurrent) or ZYX 010 C- or better;  basic computer skills and high school algebra.

Leave the commas out when not needed. Use parenthesis to group. Keep course prereqs and non-course prereqs separate.

Enrollment Restrictions

The following phrases are usually "Restrictions," not Prerequisites, and belong in the corresponding field on the course form. If you want the ability to request "enrollment restrictions" on your CRNs (schedules), then put phrases like these in the Restrictions field, not the prerequisite field, then follow the standard process of contacting the scheduling unit during the quarterly course scheduling maintenance period to utilize the restrictions.

  • Restricted to upper division standing.
  • Restricted to graduate standing
  • Restricted to GPA 3.500 {or the GPA required}.
  • Open to students in _______ Major.
  • Not open to students______.
  • Limited enrollment, class size limited to _____.
  • Class size limited to _____.

Co-Requisites

At this time, prerequisites can be coded to allow a prerequisite be taken concurrent with the course. If you require concurrent courses, that is a "co-requisite." You can state they MUST be concurrent or it is a co-requisite. This will be reflected in the catalog and schedule text, but must be enforced by the departments. Co-requisites are not entered in Banner.

Consent of Instructor—CRN Suppress & Use of "And" and "Or"

The ICMS course form has three fields under "Restrictions"; two "restrictions" fields and the "prerequisite" field. Use of the fields and what they mean can be tricky!

If you want the CRN suppressed in the Class Schedule, requiring students to obtain a CRN to register for the course, select YES in the field "Consent of Instructor (CRN Suppress)". This gives the department the option (during the quarterly course scheduling maintenance period) to suppress the CRN from showing in the class schedule.

If you use the words "and consent of instructor" in the Restrictions on Enrollment Text or the Prerequisite(s) field, we believe you want the option to suppress the CRN in the schedules. We will mark "Consent of Instructor (CRN Suppress) as YES. If "consent of instructor" is the only entry in a prerequisite field, we will also mark the CRN Suppress field as YES. 

If you use the words "or consent of instructor" in the Restrictions on Enrollment Text or the Prerequisite(s) field along with other text and do not mark the CRN Suppress field, it is considered text only for the catalog and enforcement will be the responsibility of the student and faculty.

NOTE:  At UC Davis, it is unequivocal that a student may attend any course with instructor consent. This statement does not have to be made in the catalog.

Other Prerequisites

Recommended. ANY course identified as "recommended" will not be entered in Banner as a pre-requisite, but it will show in the catalog. 

  • FTS 001, AAS 170, AAS 050 recommended

Do not put punctuation between the course and the word 'recommended'.  (Remember a comma means "AND", you would not say ABC 123 and recommended!)

Equivalent. The phrases "and equivalent," "or equivalent," will be ignored and all courses stated will be entered as pre-requisites. 

  • Example: ABC 150A and ABC 165 or equivalent and (CMN 001 or CMN 003 recommended); upper division composition recommended.
    • Banner will check for ABC 150A and ABC 165.
    • No other courses or statuses will be checked because CMN 001 and 003 are "recommended."
    • Verification that a student has met a prerequisite through an equivalent course must be enforced/managed by the student and the department.