Course equivalencies are created and maintained by catalog dates and consider the source institution of study, academic department, rigor, learning materials, depth of the learning experience, grading, faculty level, seat time, credit unit, and learning outcomes articulated. Institutions track the assessment of courses and learning opportunities either when a learner's claim or petition initiates or when they proactively canvas offerings when called upon by academic or enrollment efforts.
Course equivalencies can be non-specific blocks of credit, associated with elective courses or specific to courses when comparability can be well documented. One of the often misunderstood realities is that course equivalencies may document a course or learning experience and may transfer for some academic credit but may not satisfy the Program of study requirements. Thus, many students are often caught not knowing in advance that courses they may have completed or may have contemplated, will impact their completion requirements.