Understanding Prerequisite and Corequisites
Prerequisites and corequisites apply to all students, including dual enrollment and personal enrichment students.
DEFINITIONS:
Prerequisite: A course that a student must pass before enrolling in the more advanced course. Equivalent skills or prior experience that a student possesses may also be accepted as a prerequisite for a course. An assessment exam with qualifying scores may also meet a prerequisite, for more details visit, http://sbcc.edu/assessmentcenter/
Corequisite: A course that a student must enroll in at the same time as, or in some cases prior to, enrolling in the desired course.
Skills Advisory Recommendations: In addition to prerequisites, many courses at Santa Barbara City College have recommended minimum math and/or English advisories, which are noted in the Schedule of Classes or by selecting the CRN (section) description on the on-line Class Schedule Search. Advisories have been established as a means of alerting students to the minimum standards necessary for class success. Enrollment in such courses is recommended only for students who have met the prescribed eligibility level.
Many courses at Santa Barbara City College have enforced prerequisites and/or corequisites. Prerequisites and corequisites requirements for a course can be found by checking the course CRN section information (e.g. Acct 240 - CRN 18064) on the on-line Class Schedule Search. Prerequisites and corequisites are intended to improve a student's chance of academic success. If a student does not meet the prerequisite(s) or corequisite(s) for a course as posted on the on-line class schedule CRN description, the student will be prevented from enrolling in the class. The student may receive a REGISTRATION BLOCK message when attempting to enroll in a course for which a prerequisite or corequisite has not been satisfied. The student must complete a Prerequisite Challenge form to petition to enroll in the class requiring the prerequisite or corequisite.
Successful completion of a prerequisite or corequisite course is achieved by a final grade of a "C" or better. Checking of completed or "in progress" prerequisite courses taken at SBCC will be done automatically when registering for a class, as will SBCC assessment levels that satisfy prerequisites. Students are permitted to challenge a prerequisite or corequisite based on coursework completed at another institution and must file a Prerequisite Challenge in advance of registering for the course requiring the prerequisite.
Some prerequisites may be satisfied by means other than a course (e.g. Assessment Level, Certification, License, AP score, Portfolio, etc.) as noted in the printed Schedule of Classes CRN description. Check the CRN description (e.g. Acct 240 - CRN 18064) on the on-line Class Schedule Search to determine if the course for which you are registering has a prerequisite or corequisite. Students must file a Prerequisite Challenge in advance of registering for the course requiring the prerequisite or corequisite if they have not already been cleared by completion of an SBCC course or assessment level.
Prerequisites can also be fulfilled by various test scores, i.e. AP, SAT, ACT, EPT, etc., for alternatives to testing click here for Assessment information:
Math Prerequisites: Any student who has not been enrolled in a mathematics course at Santa Barbara City College is required to place by examination prior to registering in any math class from Math 1 – Math 150. Students who wish to begin at the Math 1 level may request a test waiver by contacting the Assessment Center or the Academic Counseling Center. View Alternatives to Testing to determine whether or not you are required to test. Transfer students, who have completed an equivalent prerequisite math course at another college, with a grade of 'C' or better, should complete a Prerequisite Challenge FORM A. A catalog course description is required for any college outside of the California Community College system.
For Math test scores:
If you have an AP 3 Statistics score or AP Calculus score of 3 or higher, and would like to be considered for a Math Assessment
Waiver, submit the following along with the appropriate prerequisite challenge form:
- Attach AP report or transcript which shows appropriate AP Score
- Attach high school/college transcript for evaluation
Please note: Statistics is not a prerequisite for any math course at SBCC.
English Prerequisites: Any student who has not been enrolled in an English course at Santa Barbara City College is required to place by examination prior to registration. There are Alternatives to Testing, however, so you will want to review that information to determine whether or not you qualify for an exemption. Transfer students who have completed a course equivalent to SBCC ENG 110, as determined by the English Department, are applicable for English placement purposes. Transfer students who have completed an equivalent English course at another college with a grade of "C" or better should complete challenge FORM A. A catalog course description is required for any college outside of the California Community College system.
For English test scores:
If you have scored 680 on the SAT II Writing Exam or SAT Reasoning Test, Writing Section, 30 on the ACT Combined English/Writing test, a 3,4, or 5 on an AP English exam, 8 on the UC AWPE, or 151 on the CSU EPT and would like to be considered for an English Assessment Waiver submit the following along with the appropriate prerequisite challenge form:
Attach SAT, ACT, AP, AWPE, or EPT report or transcript which shows appropriate score
Attach high school/college transcript for evaluation
Challenging a Prerequisite or Corequisite:
A student may petition to challenge a prerequisite based upon one or more of the following:
- Student has the knowledge or ability to succeed in the course despite not meeting the prerequisite (e.g. student has prior course work, assessment levels, certification, license or work experience that satisfies the prerequisite, or by other criteria presented by the student).
- The prerequisite course has not been made reasonably available ("reasonably available" is defined by the college).
- The prerequisite is discriminatory or applied in a discriminatory manner.
- The prerequisite is not necessary for success in the course.
- The prerequisite approval did not follow SBCC District Policy.
All Prerequisite Challenge Forms must be received at least ten business days prior to the start date of the student's enrollment term. If the student has enrolled in a course attending the outcome of the petition and the petition is denied the student will be dropped from the course.
See Challenging Prerequisites and Corequisites
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- All Prerequisite Challenges are processed within 10 business days upon receipt (excluding weekends and holidays).
- Students who file challenges ten business days prior to the first day of the term/semester are permitted to pre-enroll for the class once the challenge is received, deemed complete and while the paperwork is being processed.
- Students who file less than ten business days prior to the first day of the term/semester are not permitted to pre-enroll in the course until the challenge is approved.
- The ten day clock begins once you receive an email from prerequisites@sbcc.edu regarding your Prerequisite Challenge.
- An approved petition does not guarantee space in any course.
- An add code from an instructor does not override a Prerequisite Challenge.
- If a challenge is denied within the ten day period and the student has pre-enrolled in the course requiring the pre-requisite, the student will be dropped and the student must request a refund.
