Adding a course in Canvas as an instructor

To add a course in Canvas, you log in to your institution's Canvas account, go to the Courses menu, and select the option to create a new course. The exact steps depend on whether your school's Canvas administrator has given you permission to create courses yourself, or whether you need to request one through your institution. Most instructors at schools that use Canvas can create their own courses, but some institutions restrict this to administrators only.

If you have course creation permission, the process takes about five minutes. You will need to choose a course name, a course code (usually provided by your institution), and a term. Canvas will then generate a course shell with default settings, and you can customize it from there. If you do not have permission, you will see a button to request a course instead, and your institution's Canvas administrator will create it for you within one to three business days.

Key Takeaways

  • Course creation permission is set by your institution's Canvas administrator, and you can check whether you have it by looking for a "Create a New Course" button in your Courses menu.
  • If you can create courses, you will need your institution's course code and the term you are teaching in before you start.
  • After Canvas creates the course shell, you can add students, upload content, and change settings like grading scale and course visibility.
  • If you do not have creation permission, you can request a course through Canvas and an administrator will build it for you.

Finding the course creation option in Canvas

Log in to Canvas using your institution's login credentials. On the left side of the screen, you will see a menu. Click on "Courses" at the top of that menu. You should see a list of any courses you are already teaching or enrolled in.

Look for a button or link that says "Create a New Course" or "Add a Course." This button is usually near the top of the Courses page, sometimes in a blue box or next to a plus sign. If you do not see this button, your institution has not given you course creation permission. In that case, look for a "Request a Course" button instead and follow the prompts to submit a request to your Canvas administrator.

Filling in the course details

When you click "Create a New Course," Canvas will open a form with several fields. The first field is Course Name — this is what students will see when they look for your course. Use a name that is clear and matches what your institution expects, such as "Biology 101: Introduction to Cellular Biology" or "MATH 201 Calculus II."

The second field is Course Code. Your institution assigns this code, and it usually appears on your course roster or in your institution's course catalog. It might look like "BIO-101-01" or "MATH-201." If you are not sure what your course code is, check your institution's registration system or ask your department chair.

The third field is Term. Click the dropdown menu and select the term you are teaching in — for example, "Fall 2024" or "Spring 2025." This helps Canvas organize courses by semester and helps students find the right section. If your term is not in the list, your institution's Canvas administrator may not have set up that term yet, and you should contact them before proceeding.

Some institutions also ask for a Course ID or SIS ID (Student Information System ID). If this field appears, your institution will have provided this number. If you are unsure, leave it blank and ask your administrator — Canvas can usually fill this in later.

Choosing course settings before students enroll

After you fill in the course name, code, and term, Canvas will ask you to choose a few settings. One important choice is Course Visibility. You can set the course to "Public" (anyone can see it), "Closed" (only enrolled students can see it), or "Private" (only you can see it until you are ready). Most instructors choose "Closed" so that only their students can view the course once they enroll.

Canvas will also ask whether you want to copy content from a previous course. If you have taught this course before in Canvas and saved your materials, you can select that course and Canvas will copy all your modules, assignments, and files into the new course. This can save significant time. If this is your first time teaching the course in Canvas, select "Do Not Copy Content."

You may also see an option to choose a Grading Scale. Canvas has a default grading scale (A = 90–100, B = 80–89, and so on), but you can change this to match your institution's scale or your own preferences. You can also adjust this setting later, so you do not need to decide right now.

What happens after Canvas creates your course

Once you click "Create Course," Canvas will build your course shell within a few seconds. You will then see your new course listed in your Courses menu, and you can click on it to open it. The course will have a default layout with a navigation menu on the left side showing options like "Home," "Syllabus," "Modules," "Assignments," and "Grades."

At this point, your course is empty and ready for you to customize. You can add students by going to the "People" section and importing a roster from your institution, or by sharing an enrollment link. You can then begin adding content — uploading files, creating modules, building assignments, and setting up your gradebook. Canvas will save all your changes automatically.

Requesting a course if you do not have creation permission

If you do not see a "Create a New Course" button, your institution has restricted course creation to administrators. In this case, look for a "Request a Course" link or button in your Courses menu. Click it and fill out the form with your course name, code, and term.

Your request will go to your institution's Canvas administrator, who will create the course for you and then enroll you as the instructor. This usually takes one to three business days. Once the course is created, you will receive a notification in Canvas, and the course will appear in your Courses menu. You can then log in and begin customizing it.

If you cannot find a request option and do not have creation permission, contact your institution's Canvas support team or your department's Canvas coordinator. They can either give you permission to create courses or create one for you directly.

Common mistakes to avoid when setting up a new course

One frequent mistake is using the wrong course code. Double-check your code against your institution's registration system before you submit the form. If you use an incorrect code, Canvas may not sync properly with your institution's student roster, and students might not enroll automatically.

Another mistake is selecting the wrong term. If you create a course for "Fall 2024" but you are actually teaching in "Spring 2025," students will not find your course when they search by term. Check your course schedule before you proceed.

A third mistake is setting the course visibility to "Public" by accident. If your course is public, anyone on the internet can see your syllabus and course materials before students enroll. Most instructors want to keep courses "Closed" until the semester begins.

Finally, do not forget to add students after you create the course. A new course is empty until you enroll students or import a roster. If your institution does not automatically sync rosters to Canvas, you will need to upload a list of students manually or share an enrollment link with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the course name or code after I create the course?

Yes. Go to "Settings" in your course menu, find the "Course Details" section, and edit the name or code. If your institution syncs course information from its registration system, some fields like the course code may be locked and you will not be able to change them. Contact your Canvas administrator if you need to update locked fields.

What if I create a course for the wrong term by mistake?

You can edit the term in your course settings. Go to "Settings," find "Course Details," and click the term dropdown to select the correct one. If you have already enrolled students, changing the term may affect how the course appears in your institution's system, so contact your Canvas administrator before making the change.

Do I need to add students before I start building my course?

No. You can build your entire course — add modules, assignments, and files — before any students enroll. Many instructors prefer to set up their course completely before the semester starts, then enroll students once everything is ready.

Can I copy a course I taught in a previous term?

Yes. When you create a new course, Canvas will ask if you want to copy content from a previous course. Select the course you taught before, and Canvas will copy all modules, assignments, files, and other content into your new course. You can then edit anything that needs updating for the new term.

What if my institution does not appear in the term dropdown?

Your institution's Canvas administrator may not have set up that term yet in Canvas. Contact your Canvas support team or your department coordinator and ask them to add the term to the system. Once they do, it will appear in the dropdown the next time you create a course.