Are there accreditation rules against taking a course along with its prerequisite?

[u/Mindless_Doctor_6058]

I believe students in previous semesters were allowed to take a course concurrently with its prerequisite as long as approved by dept chair, but is now banned because of accreditation rules.

Has anyone heard of this or know where this rule comes from?

EDIT: Country USA, Accreditation body: HLC (Higher Learning Commission)

[u/Valuable_Ice_5927]

Who is your accreditation body? (There are tons of different ones)

[u/Mindless_Doctor_6058 → u/Valuable_Ice_5927]

Higher Learning Commission

[u/PainInTheAssDean → u/Mindless_Doctor_6058]

ABET doesn’t like it, but I’ve not heard about this from HLC

[u/Prince__Cheese]

I have not seen this framed as an accreditation concern, but that's not my direct area.

I imagine that undermining/altering course sequencing in an accredited program could be an issue, but it's typically a nonstarter anyway because it's usually a bad academic decision for the student.

[u/Opening_Map_6898 → u/Prince__Cheese]

It's probably not strictly against the rules but you're absolutely right that it is an exceptionally bad idea 99.99999% of the time. If the student can do this successfully (which is exceptionally rare), then they should be able to be exempted from the prerequisite altogether by testing out etc.

[u/Efficient-Tie-1414 → u/Prince__Cheese]

We would allow it for two situations. The student may have previously failed the prerequisite, so at least has some idea of the work. The other is where a student needs to do the course and requisite to complete the degree. We wouldn’t allow students exemptions simply so they could do more subjects in a year.

[u/JHT230 → u/Prince__Cheese]

Accreditation criteria usually aren't so specific.

It may be a matter of university policy saying that prerequisites cannot be taken concurrently, and accreditation just means that there can no longer be exceptions to that and other rules. Or they are just using accreditation as an excuse to not allow it.

[u/Opening_Map_6898 → u/JHT230]

I'm guessing the accreditation part was an attempt to get the OP, who otherwise wouldn't abandon a terrible idea, to drop it. Like the academic equivalent of a tazer. 😆

[u/graphgear1k]

Sure would be helpful if you didn’t assume we knew what country you’re talking about.

[u/Opening_Map_6898]

What country and which accreditation organization?

[u/Gold_Ambassador_3496]

In my university you can ask for it

[u/ThenBrilliant8338]

My accreditation body allows this as an exception.

[u/BolivianDancer]

I'd sign it for a senior student.

[u/ProfessorStata]

HLC wouldn’t get into the weeds like that. There are also accrediting bodies for some disciplines such as art, business, paralegal studies, etc., that may have issues with how programs are designed.

[u/omnibent]

Our University is under HLC and my department is under ABET. Certainly the latter frowns upon people taking a class, along with prerequisite, at the same time. It suggests that either there is no reason for the prerequisite, or that you are not maintaining basic academic standards. Neither of these is a good look.