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 to avoid misinterpretation.

Example of a complex, but easy to understand, prerequisite:

  • ((ABC 001 or BCD 001) and (ZYX 001 C- or better or JKL 001)) and MNO 001
    If the student passed ABC 001, JKL 001, and MNO 001, they meet the prerequisite. 

Building a Prerequisite Statement

Punctuation/Conjunctions

How you build a prerequisite statement with and, or, and place parentheses makes a difference in how your prerequisite is understood.

Write the prerequisite like a math equation.

  • ( ) — Groups statements within complex requirements and separate AND from OR course groups.
  • Or — Can be used with courses or between groupings. Do not write 'OR' after a comma.
  • And — Joins required courses or groups of courses.
  • , (comma) — Same as And
  • ; (semi-colon) — Same as And

See if the statement makes sense, check the Prerequisite Catalog View while creating the prerequisite.  

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 each course.

  • ABC 001, XYZ 001 C- or better, ABC 002. 
    The student must have taken all three courses and have a C- or better in XYZ 001.

If the courses can be taken concurrently, select the Can Be Concurrent check box; the concurrent statement is added.

  • (XYZ 001A { can be concurrent } or XYZ 001 { can be concurrent }) or ZYX 010.

Non-course prerequisites from Recommended or Other Text follow the course prerequisites.  

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

Co-Requisites

Co-requisite course enforcement is not possible. You can set up a prerequisite (can be concurrent) for both courses, and then, when prompted, the student can fill out a petition stating they are taking both courses.

Consent of Instructor

If Consent of Instructor is the only entry in the prerequisite, or if and Consent of Instructor is selected, the ICMS team selects the Suppress CRN in Schedule on the Restrictions tab, giving the department scheduler the option to not print the CRN in Schedule Builder.

If you use the words or Consent of Instructor in the Enrollment Restrictions text field or the Prerequisite text field along with other text and do not select Suppress CRN in Schedule, it is considered text only and enforced by the student and faculty.

Recommended & Equivalent Prerequisites

Recommended

ANY course identified as Recommended is not entered in Banner as a pre-requisite, but does display in the Gneeral Catalog.

  • FTS 001, AAS 170, AAS 050 recommended.

Do not put punctuation between the course and the word recommended.

Equivalent

The phrases and equivalent, or equivalent, are ignored and all courses stated are entered as prerequisites.

  • ABC 150A and ABC 165 or equivalent and (CMN 001 or CMN 003 recommended); upper division composition recommended.
    • Banner checks for ABC 150A and ABC 165.
    • No other courses or statuses are 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.