As of May 2025, the "Copy this Course" (METHOD 1) button in the settings of your active courses was erroring out. If you attempt to do it and it fails, please make sure to follow the steps listed in METHOD 2 below.

Copying Courses

Why would I want to make a copy of my course?

Educators might want to make a copy of their Canvas course for reasons such as:

Course Reuse: To save time by reusing course materials in subsequent terms.
Course Updates: To improve and update course content based on feedback.
Multiple Sections: When teaching multiple sections of the same course.
Archiving: For backup and historical record-keeping.
Collaboration: To share with colleagues or co-teachers.
Experimentation: To test new teaching methods without affecting the original course.
Compliance and Records: For compliance or accreditation requirements.
Student Accommodations: To provide specific accommodations while keeping the original course intact.
Customization: For tailoring content to different groups or audiences.
Personal Organization: To keep courses organized by creating copies for each new term or session.

Let's Talk About it...

How to make a copy of a course (METHOD 1)

How to copy content using the course import tool (METHOD 2)

Let's Read About it...

How do I copy a course? (METHOD 1)

How do I copy content from another Canvas course using the Course Import tool? (METHOD 2)

Step By Step Directions: Copying Your Course (TWO METHODS)

This will copy all the content, and place that copy under the area of your Unpublished course on your Dashboard.
This process will copy all content, but not the students.
You will be able to rename this copy whatever you would like so you can identify it easily.
- We highly recommend using Course names and dates used.
PRO TIP: Remove dates from assignments for future use!

How to Copy a Course (METHOD 1)

Go into the course
Go to settings
From the menu on the far right choose "Copy this course"
Change the name using an "*" asterisk in front of it. (Ex: *Biology A - 23-24 - T3)
Make sure "All content" is selected
Check the box for "Adjust Events and Due Dates"
Then check the box for "Remove Dates"
Create Course
Once course copies are made, change the Settings from term to course.
1. 1. 1. Go to your newly created course copy
    2. Go to settings
    3. In "Course Details" scroll down to "participation"
    4. TThe drop down needs to say course...if it says term, change it to course.

Then scroll down and "update course details" to save the change

How to Copy a Course (METHOD 2)

Go to the Canvas dashboard
On the far right under the to-do list, locate and click on "Start a new course"
Name your new course using an "*" asterisk in front of it and add the word COPY (Ex: *Copy of Biology A - 23-24 - T3)
When the course is ready, it will load automatically on your settings page
Click "Import Existing Content" from the far right menu
From the drop down menu, select "Copy a Canvas Course"
Search the name of your CURRENT TERM course that you are wanting to copy/save for future use
When it comes up in the list, click on it (making sure the correct title appears in both boxes)
Scroll down to the settings of the import
Make sure "All content" is selected
Check the box for "Adjust Events and Due Dates"
Then check the box for "Remove Dates"
Click "+ Add to Import Queue"
Once course copies are made, change the Settings from term to course.
1. 1. 1. Go to your newly created course copy
    2. Go to settings
    3. In "Course Details" scroll down to "participation"
    4. The drop down needs to say course...if it says term, change it to course.
    5. Then scroll down and "update course details" to save the change

Videos and Website Help:

"Copy this Course" Video Instructions (METHOD 1)
"Copy this Course" instructions from Canvas (METHOD 1)
"Creating a Manual Course and Importing" instructions from Canvas (METHOD 2)
"Creating a Manual Course and Importing" instructions from EdTech (METHOD 2)
Canvas Clinics Instructions (all the ways in one place)

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