FAQs

A prerequisite is a course or qualification that must be satisfactorily completed before you may register for another course. You must earn a minimum grade of “C” or “Credit” in the prerequisite course.

A corequisite is a course that must be taken at the same time as the indicated course. If you do not take corequisites, you can be dropped from courses requiring the corequisites.
Limitations on enrollment are additional requirements that must be met before you can enroll in a class. There are actually several different types of limitations:
- Performance courses may require students to try out for intercollegiate athletic teams or to audition for courses involving public performances (for example, band, chorus, competitive speech, and theater) prior to enrollment.
- Enrollment in blocks of courses or sections may be a requirement so that a group of students will enroll together in that set of classes. Typically the students are part of a special program or Learning Community such as PUENTE or Future Teachers.
- Enrollment may be limited due to legal requirements imposed by statute, regulation, and/or contract. For example, some courses may require that the student have a valid driver license, a health clearance, a nursing license or certificate, etc.
Recommended preparation is previous training or coursework that helps you successfully complete a subsequent course. You are encouraged to complete the recommended preparation course (with a grade of “C” or better) to improve your chances of success.

Recommended concurrent enrollment is a course that you should complete - but are not required to complete - while enrolled for another course. Enrollment in such a course improves student success.
Recognizing that the proper establishment of prerequisites, corequisites, limitations on enrollment, and recommendations is critical to student learning, the Southwestern College faculty take great effort to ensure your success by diligently reviewing each requisite and recommendation prior to its implementation.

The College seeks to inform you of skills needed to succeed in courses before you enroll in these courses. This helps SWC avoid denying you access to the college coursework, and, at the same time, upholds academic standards for efficient and effective educational programs.

Prerequisites are critical in the development of college curriculum. Student success is highly dependent on previously acquired skills or knowledge. Prerequisites make sure that you have the skills and knowledge that you need to receive a passing grade in the course.

Once SWC has established a prerequisite, Title 5 (the regulations that govern California Community Colleges), requires the College to ensure each prerequisite is enforced consistently, equitably, and fairly.
Requisites - prerequisites, corequisites, and limitations on enrollment - are enforced at Southwestern College.
- If you have not met the listed prerequisites, you will not be able to enroll in courses requiring the prerequisites.
- Prerequisites may be met by satisfactory completion of courses at Southwestern College or equivalent coursework from another college or university.
- Some prerequisites may also be fulfilled with Southwestern College's multiple measures placement process. Others may be fulfilled with previous and/or satisfactory results on appropriate validated Southwestern College assessments dated within three years (as of Fall 2019, Assessments are no longer offered at SWC).
- If prerequisites were completed at another college or university, you will need to submit an External Course Prerequisite Evaluation along with copies of appropriate transcripts to establish prerequisite equivalency through the Assessment Center prior to registration.
Advisories - recommended preparation and recommended concurrent enrollment - are non-enforced recommendations.
- You are strongly encouraged to follow recommended preparation and recommended concurrent enrollment wherever they are listed in the catalog or class schedule to improve your chances for success in Southwestern College courses.
- Enrollment may not be denied to any student for not meeting a recommended preparation or recommended concurrent enrollment.
No. However, while you cannot be denied enrollment in any course for not having met a recommended preparation or recommended concurrent enrollment, you should plan to follow these recommendations. Being adequately prepared for courses will help you reach your educational goals.
When you attempt to enroll in a course, the computer will determine if there is a prerequisite for that course. If there is a prerequisite, the computer then searches your record to see if you have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite course with a grade of “C” or better. In the case of some mathematics, English, and reading courses, if you have not successfully completed the necessary prerequisite course, the computer will also search your record for the appropriate assessment result (course placement). Your registration in the selected course will depend upon your having successfully completed the prerequisite:
- If you have successfully completed the prerequisite, the computer will permit you to enroll in the course—provided that section is still open for enrollment.
- If you have not successfully completed the prerequisite or established prerequisite equivalency prior to attempting to enroll, the computer will not permit your enrollment in the course. You will receive an immediate response from MySWC telling you that you did not meet the prerequisite for the selected course. You should contact a counselor regarding alternative courses that will help you meet your educational goal.
When you attempt to enroll in a course, the computer will determine if there is a corequisite for that course. If there is a corequisite, the computer will then determine if that corequisite must be taken at the same time or if it could have been completed previously.

If the courses must be taken simultaneously, you will receive an immediate response from either MySWC telling you that a corequisite course is required and you will receive information on how to register for both courses. The computer will not permit you to register for only one of the courses.

If it is permissible to have completed the corequisite previously, the computer will search your record to see if you have satisfactorily completed the corequisite course with a grade of “C” or better:
- If you have successfully completed the corequisite, the computer will permit you to enroll in the course - provided that section is still open for enrollment.
- If you have not successfully completed the corequisite, the computer will not permit your enrollment in the course unless you take the courses concurrently. You will receive an immediate response from MySWC telling you that a corequisite course is required and informing you on how to register for both courses.
No. All prerequisites are strictly enforced by computer. This enforcement occurs during the registration period and the class change period. When adding a course after the semester/term begins, you must obtain an add code from the instructor or the instructor's signature on an add form. When you attempt to add the course - whether you attempt to do so online, over the telephone, or in person at the Admissions Center - your records will be checked by computer to ensure you have met the necessary prerequisite(s).
You can request that a course or assessment you have completed at another college be used to meet a Southwestern College course prerequisite:
- If you completed a course that you wish considered for meeting the prerequisite, you must submit an External Course Prerequisite Evaluation.
- If you completed an assessment, like the Advanced Placement exam, that you wish considered for meeting the prerequisite, you must file a External Assessment Prerequisite Evaluation.
Be sure to submit appropriate documentation with your form - transcript/grade report and/or assessment results - by the means listed above. Please be sure to indicate if you have submitted official transcripts to the Admissions Center; in most cases we are able to access these transcripts, but in some instances we may contact you to provide another copy. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for prerequisite evaluation. In rare circumstances, you may be required to provide a copy of the catalog from the college where you completed the coursework and/or a syllabus for the course.

Most evaluation requests will be processed within 3 - 5 business days of receipt of the request.
No. If your request is approved, you are only eligible to register in the class. Depending on when you file the request, the desired course section may be closed, and you will have to either attempt to add the desired course during the class change period or find another course section. In some cases, you may have to wait until the next term to register for the course.
Your results will be emailed to you at your MySWC email address.

You can also view results on MySWC under Academic Profile.
- Placement results can be viewed under SWC Placement Results.
- Prerequisite review results can be viewed under SWC Prerequisite Review.
There is no deadline, but the College will make every effort to process each request on a timely basis. Most evaluation requests will be processed within 3 - 5 business days of receipt of the request. However, additional processing time of forms may be needed if the request requires approval from one of the School deans or a designee, such as a department chair.
You may challenge a prerequisite or corequisite on one or more of the grounds listed below:
- The prerequisite/corequisite was not established in accordance with SWC District policy.
- The prerequisite/corequisite is in violation of Section 55201 of Title 5.
- The prerequisite/corequisite is discriminatory or is being applied in a discriminatory manner.
- You have the knowledge or ability to succeed in the course without having met the prerequisite/corequisite.
- The prerequisite/corequisite course was not made reasonably available, thereby causing you an undue delay in attaining your educational goals.
You bear the initial burden of showing that grounds exist for making the challenge.
A counselor or the Placement and Prerequisites Faculty Coordinator can help determine if you would benefit from the challenge. If you elect to challenge a prerequisite or corequisite, you may obtain a Requisite Challenge by emailing the Placement and Prerequisites Faculty Coordinator, Ryan Lennon, at rlennon@swccd.edu or emailing SWCPrerequisites@swccd.edu.
The pertinent dean or designee will review the petition and will provide you with written notification as to the outcome of the challenge. You will also be notified by phone or email when the response is received in the Placement and Prerequisites Center.
No. If your challenge is approved, you are only eligible to register in the class. Depending on when you file the challenge petition, the desired course section may be closed, and you will have to either attempt to add the desired course during the class change period or find another course section. In some cases, you may have to wait until the next term to register for the course.
Yes. The College must provide you with the outcome of the challenge within ten (10) working days after you submit the challenge petition. During summer and breaks, the College is allowed fifteen (15) working days to respond.
Yes, but only in rare circumstances. You may file a Requisite Challenge Form to request a prerequisite be waived only if the prerequisite course has not been made reasonably available. The Challenge Form can be obtained by emailing the Placement and Prerequisites Faculty Coordinator, Ryan Lennon, at rlennon@swccd.edu, and you must submit the completed form to the Placement and Prerequisites Center.

Instructors and counselors cannot waive course prerequisites.

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