# How do I include a course in the Public Course Index?

The public course index is a collection of all courses in your institution that can be viewed publicly. In relation to the index, the word public references the index, not the courses; courses in the index may be public or private courses. Learn how to view the [Public Course Index](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Colder-Storage/How-do-I-view-my-institution-s-Public-Course-Index-as-an/td-p/260629).

If you want to include your course as part of the public course index, you can select the course index visibility option in course settings. You can also create a description for your course as part of the catalog listing.

To learn more about visibility options, view the [Canvas Course Visibility Options resource document](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Resource-Documents/Canvas-Course-Visibility-Options/ta-p/387053).

**Notes**:

<div id="bkmrk-the-public-course-in-0"><div>- The Public Course Index is currently an [account setting](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Admin-Guide/How-do-I-set-details-for-an-account/ta-p/194) and must be enabled by your institutional admin.
- If your course is enabled for self-enrollment, you can [add a Join button](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-enable-course-self-enrollment-with-a-join-code-or/ta-p/830) to allow users to self-enroll at any time. This option does not have to be enabled to include a course in the Public Course Index, but students who view the course will not be able to contribute to any discussions, quizzes, or assignments unless they are enrolled.
- If a course includes an end date, the course is not automatically removed from the Public Course Index.

</div></div>## Open Settings

<div data-step-uuid="3cffbf91-c72d-4fa6-afc5-7970d2d5734b" id="bkmrk-"><div data-step-uuid="3cffbf91-c72d-4fa6-afc5-7970d2d5734b"><div>![Open Settings](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/755/104/original/f6f13b35-de2f-40f6-a6b5-83c69d9e6af4.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In Course Navigation, click the **Settings** link.

## Open Course Details

<div data-step-uuid="0f1a7bc9-566c-4bb4-bb9e-7ec83aae7a4f" id="bkmrk--0"><div data-step-uuid="0f1a7bc9-566c-4bb4-bb9e-7ec83aae7a4f"><div>![Open Course Details](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/008/176/139/original/838f73e1-12b3-4572-9166-ec879236ee07.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Click the **Course Details** tab.

## Set Visibility

<div data-step-uuid="5ffa8cb8-a43c-45bf-95bd-02f9cbc70b10" id="bkmrk--1"><div data-step-uuid="5ffa8cb8-a43c-45bf-95bd-02f9cbc70b10"><div>![Set Visibility](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/000/832/556/original/caebc9b5-2bb5-424d-b22a-189226f8592f.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In the visibility options, click the **Include this course in the public course index** checkbox.

## Set Description

<div data-step-uuid="0731e1de-9fb5-4644-80df-f8492be11815" id="bkmrk--2"><div data-step-uuid="0731e1de-9fb5-4644-80df-f8492be11815"><div>![Set Description](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/141/797/original/5d9d89b9-de26-4704-883a-843ae80c61d8.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In the description field, enter a description for your course.

## Update Course Details

<div data-step-uuid="afb59842-00fe-4cd1-a858-34e8cdb776b9" id="bkmrk--3"><div data-step-uuid="afb59842-00fe-4cd1-a858-34e8cdb776b9"><div>![Update Course Details](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/000/791/088/original/ad192e41-f437-4621-90f7-c2f243ea0280.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Click the **Update Course Details** button.

\[Content retrieved from [https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-include-a-course-in-the-Public-Course-Index/ta-p/812](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-include-a-course-in-the-Public-Course-Index/ta-p/812)\]