This page contains information for Course Roles and Permissions. Information about Account Admin Roles and Permissions can be found in a separate guide.
Course access in Canvas
There are two types of users in Canvas: account-level users and course-level users. Course roles are roles with permissions that allow a user course-level access.
Usually, users with these roles cannot see more than what is in their Canvas courses. Your individual school or Canvas sub-account administrator may have a edited the roles listed below or created a specialized role that may be available in courses for your school. For permissions and limitations information, please reach out to your departmental support specialist.
Course roles
Teacher
- Primary use: For instructors who need full access to the Canvas features for instruction.
- Permissions: Teachers have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.
- Limitations: None.
Student
- Primary use: Students enrolled in a course site.
- Permissions: The student role has permissions to view course content and engage in course activities, including the ability to submit assignments, participate in discussions, and view the course roster.
- Limitations: Students cannot view or modify settings for a course.
Course Support
- Primary use: For providing the same level of access as Teacher but excluding the user from the course evaluation.
- Permissions: Course Support have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.
- Limitations: None.
Course Coordinator
- Primary use: This person is responsible for coordinating the administration of all sections of a multi-sectioned course.
- Permissions: Same level of permissions as the teachers.
- Limitations: Cannot add or remove Teachers to the course.
TA (Teaching Assistant)
- Primary use: For assistant instructors and teaching assistants.
- Permissions: TAs have permissions similar to the Teacher role. They have all course-level permissions, including the ability to add, edit and delete all content in a course, edit course settings, and manually add individuals with active Canvas user accounts.
- Limitations: TAs cannot add other Teachers or TAs into the course, nor publish the course.
Designer
- Primary use: For instructional designers/technologists (and staff with similar responsibilities) who write and manage course content, but do not actually teach courses or grade student work.
- Permissions: Create course content, discussions, announcements, assignments, quizzes, and other content features.
- Limitations: Designers cannot view or modify grades. Designers cannot add Teachers or TAs to the course, but can add students.
Facilitator
- Primary use: Section Instructor. This a non-editing role intended for programs that provide complete course content for an instructor.
- Permissions: Facilitators can view submitted student work, and enter grades and comments. They can also view files, announcements, assignments, quizzes, and export course content.
- Limitations: Facilitators cannot manage course content, import course content, manage messages, or view question banks. Facilitators cannot add Teachers or TAs to the course, but can add students.
Peer Reviewer
- Primary use: For faculty or staff requesting to observe a course as part of a peer review of teaching.
- Permissions: Peer Reviewers have access to view course content, instructor feedback, and student grades.
- Limitations: Peer Reviewers cannot edit any content and cannot participate in course activities. Peer Reviewers are unable to make changes to the Gradebook or SpeedGrader. Additionally, Peer Reviewers cannot add other user to the course.
Observer
- Primary use: For users who have no official role in the course, but have been given permission to view course content and discussion forums.
- Permissions: Observers have access to view course content. This role can be linked to a student enrolled in a course in order to to monitor their progress.
- Limitations: Observers have no permissions to edit or participate in course activities.
Additional Resources