What does corequisite mean?
A corequisite is a course or academic requirement that must be completed at the same time as another, rather than before it. The term belongs chiefly to the vocabulary of higher education, appearing in course catalogs, degree plans, and registration systems where programs specify which classes must be taken concurrently. It contrasts directly with a prerequisite, which must be finished beforehand; a student who has met the prerequisites but not registered for a corequisite may still be blocked from enrolling. The word carries a neutral, administrative tone and is rarely used outside educational contexts, though it has gained prominence in recent years through 'corequisite remediation' — a widely adopted model in which students needing extra support take college-level courses alongside supplementary instruction instead of separate developmental classes first. For anyone navigating university requirements, understanding corequisites is essential to planning a workable schedule.
nounA course or subject that must be taken at the same time as another, typically as a formal requirement of an academic program.
- A course that must be taken concurrently with another specified course as an academic requirement.
"Organic Chemistry II is a corequisite for the advanced biochemistry lab, so students must enrol in both during the same term."
"The calculus-based physics course lists Calculus I as a corequisite, so students must register for both in the same semester."
"Because Statistics was a corequisite for her research methods class, she adjusted her schedule to fit them into the same term."
Standard plural formation; used when referring to multiple concurrent requirements across different courses or programs.
"The program's corequisites include both a statistics course and a writing seminar."
Swap one prefix and the whole meaning flips: a prerequisite comes before, but a corequisite rides alongside — take them together or not at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corequisite
Corequisite derives from the Latin root 'quaerere', meaning 'to seek or ask', via the past participle stem 'quaesit-', which also gives English words such as requisite, request, and acquire. The prefix 'co-' (from Latin 'cum', meaning 'together') combines with 'requisite' — itself meaning something required — to indicate a requirement held jointly or simultaneously. The word emerged in English as educational institutions formalized their curricular terminology, likely in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century as modern course-registration systems developed.
How corequisite is actually used
Primarily used in academic and educational contexts, especially in course catalogs, registration systems, and advising materials. The term is standard in both British and American higher education, though everyday speech outside academic settings rarely uses it. Increasingly common in discussions of 'corequisite remediation,' where students take credit-bearing courses with concurrent support.
Easily confused with corequisite
A prerequisite must be completed before taking a course, whereas a corequisite must be taken at the same time as it.