Overview

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.

Course tiles labeled “Fall 2026 MSS10101,” “MSS10102,” and “MSS10103” merge via arrow into one tile labeled “MSS10101-02-03.”

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).

Dropdown menu labeled “Post to” with options: “Media Studies (MSS10101_26/FA),” “Media Studies (MSS10102_26/FA),” “Media Studies (MSS10103_26/FA),” and “All Sections.”

“Assign Access” boxes allow you to differentiate assignment, quiz, and discussion availability and due dates and times among sections.

“Assign To” panel with dropdown showing options: “Everyone,” “Mastery Paths,” and sections “Media Studies (MSS10101_26/FA),” “MSS10102_26/FA),” and “MSS10103_26/FA).”

In the gradebook, the “Sections” filter can be found by clicking the “Apply Filters” button in the top left of the Gradebook.

“Apply Filters” menu open with “Sections” list; “Media Studies (MSS10101_26/FA)” selected, with options for MSS10102_26/FA and MSS10103_26/FA below.

Please see the important note at the top of this page, regarding merged courses and the Submit Grades tool in Canvas.

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.

User list table with columns “Name,” “Login ID,” “SIS ID,” “Section,” and “Role”; highlighted section column shows enrollments in Media Studies sections (MSS10101_26/FA, MSS10102_26/FA, MSS10103_26/FA) with roles Teacher or Student.

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 →