Joel VannerOverview
A merged course in Canvas is created when multiple sections of the same course, in the same term, taught by the same instructor, are combined into a single Canvas course. In rare cases, sections of the same course taught by different instructors can be merged into a single course.
For example, if you are teaching sections 01, 02, and 03 of MSS 101 in Fall 2026, you can combine all three sections into one course to streamline course management, ensure consistency, and increase efficiency.
Functionality
Within a merged course, students still belong to their original sections in the back-end of Canvas and Colleague. This means that, as an instructor, you can still communicate, assign, and filter by section throughout the course.
Select “All Sections” to post an announcement to all sections, or select an individual section(s).
“Assign Access” boxes allow you to differentiate assignment, quiz, and discussion availability and due dates and times among sections.
In the gradebook, the “Sections” filter can be found by clicking the “Apply Filters” button in the top left of the Gradebook.
If you use textbook publisher LTI integrations, such as Cengage, McGraw-Hill, or Pearson, check with your publisher representative before requesting a merged course. If they confirm functionality, request the merged course and then wait until the course is created to sync publisher content into Canvas.
By default, students can only interact with other students assigned to the same section.
Course Management
The People area of the merged course in Canvas is the easiest place to find out which specific section of your course a student is enrolled in. If there are multiple teachers in the merged course (which is rare), you’ll also be able to see what sections they are assigned to here.
Request Form
QILT cannot merge course sections for you. To request a merged course, contact QU IT →
Once course sections have content, they cannot be included into a merged course. The sections will need to be emptied of content before they can be merged. Any content within a section will be lost during the merge process.
If your course is cross-listed, you cannot merge your course.
QU is using a new Colleague tool, ILP, to streamline administrative course management. When a cross-listed course is merged in this new tool, it is later undone when ILP syncs with Canvas. There is no workaround at this time. If a merged course is desired, it is advised not to cross-list courses officially.
Blueprints are an alternative Canvas feature that may fit your needs. Learn more about Blueprints →
Resources
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