Add Cengage to Your Course

Last Modified on 04/02/2026 11:30 am CDT

The pairing process for Cengage LTI 1.3 tools in D2L has been updated. If you're preparing your courses for the upcoming term, please be aware of these changes to ensure a smooth integration. You can find additional resources provided by Cengage here: cengage.com/coursepages/LSC_Faculty

Online Services does not have access to your Cengage account. For integration issues, please contact the Cengage representative to LSC, Megan Benitez-Daley at megan.benitez-daley@cengage.com.

Watch the Star Bundle (VitalSource) & Cengage Open Lab for Spring 2026

Add Cengage 1.3 to Your Course

  1. Create a new module and name it Cengage 1.3. Click on [Add Existing Activities] then [Add Cengage Content].

    NOTE: You may have to enable pop-ups on your web browser for the Cengage Content window to appear.

    Shows the Add Existing Activities menu with Add Cengage Content selected in a D2L content module.
  2. On the following page, you'll be presented with the following options:

    1. Online Learning Platform + eBook — This option will include both the eBook and assignments. Click [Select Platform] for this option.

    2. eBook Only — This option will only include the eBook, with no assignments. Click [Select eBook Only] for this option.

      Shows the Online Learning Platform and eBook Only options on the Cengage content selection page.
  3. In the Search field, use a generic word or phrase to find your textbook. Once the textbook is found, select the correct bubble listed under your textbook.

    Shows the Cengage textbook search field with a textbook result and selection bubble.
  4. [Individual Student Purchase] should be selected automatically for the License Type page. Click [Continue].

    Shows the License Type page with Individual Student Purchase selected and the Continue button.
  5. On the following page, you'll be presented with the following options:

    1. [Create a new course]

    2. [Copy from an Existing Course] — Allows you to copy a course from a course that you previously built.

    3. [Copy another instructor's course with a course key] — Select this if your department has a master course to copy from. This requires a Course Key from the master course creator.

    4. [Link to a course that was already created] — Links the D2L course to an already existing Cengage course. For example, if you have already made a copy of your Fall course in the Cengage website to use in Spring, you can link the D2L course to the newly created Spring course in Cengage. It is important to note that you cannot link to an existing Cengage course if the Cengage course already has students enrolled.

      Click [Continue] to complete this step.

      NOTE: The last three choices (B, C, D) can only be selected if there are no students in the Cengage course yet. If there are students, select [Create a new course from scratch].

      Shows the four course creation options on the Cengage course setup page.
  6. Choose a Gradebook Setting. [Add Activity Score] will be selected by default — this is the recommended setting. After selecting a setting, click [Continue].

    Shows the Gradebook Setting page with Add Activity Score selected as the default option.
  7. Enter the Course Details.
    1. The Course Name will be imported from D2L. Feel free to change it if necessary.

    2. The Time Zone will default to Central Time.

    3. Choose a Start and End Date. This only controls student access to Cengage. Students should access Cengage content through the D2L course.

    4. Click [Finish] to complete this step.

      Shows the Course Details page with Course Name, Time Zone, and Start and End Date fields.
  8. On the next page, you can choose from:
    1. [Add Course Link] — This will create a single link through which students will access the entire Cengage course.

    2. [Select Content] — This will take you to a page where you will deploy individual Cengage assignment links to D2L.

      NOTE: You can always deploy more assignment links later, regardless of which option you choose at this time.

      Shows the Add Course Link and Select Content options on the Cengage course deployment page.
  9. If you chose [Add Course Link], the process is complete. If you chose [Select Content], on the following page you will select the assignments to deploy.
    1. First, expand the folders to find assignments, chapters, or parts of the textbook.

      Shows the Cengage content tree with folders expanded to reveal assignments and chapters.
    2. The left [checkbox] will add the selected item to the Content Module.

    3. The right [checkbox] will add the selected item to the Gradebook.

    4. After making your selections, click [Continue].

      Shows the Cengage assignment selection screen with checkboxes for Content Module and Gradebook, and the Continue button.
  10. You will see a loading screen that says Submitting selections. Please DO NOT exit out of this screen before it is finished.

    Shows the Submitting selections loading screen in Cengage.
  11. Once this is done you will see the content you chose to deploy in the Cengage 1.3 module.

    Shows the Cengage 1.3 content module in D2L with deployed Cengage content items listed.

Deploy a Cengage Assignment Into D2L

NOTE: Make sure your quiz grade totals in Cengage are correct before deploying grade items into the gradebook to avoid mismatches between Cengage and the D2L gradebook.

  1. Navigate to the module in which you wish to deploy Cengage content. Click on [Add Existing Activities] then [Add Cengage Content].

    Shows the Add Existing Activities menu with Add Cengage Content selected in a D2L content module.
  2. You will see a screen with your textbook. Click [Select Content].

    Shows the Cengage textbook screen with the Select Content button.
  3. From here, the steps will be the same as Steps 9 through 11 in the previous section.

NOTE: Any content items which have already been deployed to your D2L course will have a circle with a green checkmark next to them.

Shows the Cengage content list with green checkmarks next to already deployed items.

Troubleshooting and Support

If you need additional assistance, contact the IT Service Desk at 281.318.HELP (4357).

Related Articles

Was this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback!