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How to Use the Prerequisite Feature in a Course?

Control Learner Progression Using Course and Content Prerequisites

Overview

Prerequisites ensure that learners have mastered specific foundational content before moving on to more advanced topics. You can set requirements at the Course level (requiring completion of a previous course) or the Subsection level (requiring completion of a specific part of the current course).

Tip: Ensure you are logged into Open edX Studio before starting, and that the subsection prerequisites are enabled from the Course Advanced Settings

Screenshot 2026-05-14 at 3.17.02 PM

Part 1: Setting a Prerequisite Course

Use this if you want to prevent learners from starting "Course B" until they have passed "Course A."

  1. Open your course in Studio.

  2. Navigate to Settings > Schedule & Details.

  3. Search for the field "Prerequisite Courses."


  4. For Entrance Exam, set the value to true if you want a specific exam to gate the course.

  5. For Prerequisite Courses, enter the Course ID of the required course in the bracketed list format (e.g., ["course-v1:Edly+CS101+2025"]).

  6. Click Save Changes.

Part 2: Setting Subsection Prerequisites

This allows you to lock "Subsection 2" until the learner passes "Subsection 1."

Step 1: Designate the "Required" Subsection

  1. Go to your Course Outline.

  2. Locate the Subsection that must be completed first.

  3. Click the three dots (⋮) and then Configure from the drop-down menu for that subsection.

  4. Select the Advanced tab.

  5. Locate the setting Use as a Prerequisite and toggle on: "Make this subsection available as a prerequisite to other content."

  6. Click Save.

Step 2: Lock the "Gated" Subsection

  1. Locate the Subsection you want to hide/lock until the requirement is met.

  2. Click its Configure (gear icon) and go to the Advanced tab.

  3. Scroll to the Limit Access section.

  4. In the Prerequisite dropdown, select the name of the subsection you designated in Step 1.

  5. Set Achievement Thresholds:

    • Minimum Score: Enter the percentage (e.g., 70) the learner must earn in the prerequisite problems.

    • Minimum Completion Percentage: Enter the percentage of content the learner must view/interact with.

  6. Click Save.

Learner Experience in the LMS

When a prerequisite is active, the gated content is hidden or locked in the learner's sidebar.

  • A message will appear stating: "This section is hidden because you have not yet completed the prerequisite: [Subsection Name]."

  • As soon as the learner meets the Minimum Score or Completion criteria, the locked subsection becomes available instantly.

Important Rules

  • Visibility: Prerequisites are generally only supported for Graded subsections.

  • Order of Operations: Ensure your prerequisites follow a logical flow. Avoid "Circular Prerequisites" (e.g., Subsection A requiring B, and B requiring A), as this will lock the content permanently for learners.

  • Point Values: You cannot use components with a point value of 0 as a scoring prerequisite.

  • Portability: Note that subsection prerequisite settings are not preserved when you export/import a course or create a course re-run. You must re-configure them in the new course run.