# Create a course and plan its outline

> Create a course, then add and arrange its modules and lessons.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/academy-educators/create-a-course  
Plans: Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-27

When you're done, your course has its modules and lessons in place, ready to fill in.

**Who can do this:** the account owner and editors, on the Academy plan, once the Academy is
[set up](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/academy-educators/set-up).

## Create the course

1. In the menu, click **Academy**.
2. On the **Courses** tab, type the course's title in the box (1), such as "Pastry Basics".
3. Click **Create course** (2).

![The Courses tab with Pastry Basics typed in the new course title box, the Create course button, and the existing courses below.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/academy-educators/create-a-course/SS-ACAD-020-01__create-course__academy__desktop__v01.webp?v=cbbc6dcf65)

The course opens in the editor as a **Draft**, with one module called "Module 1" and one lesson called
"Lesson 1". Nobody else can see it until you [publish it](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/academy-educators/publish).

Would you rather start from your existing guides and worksheets? Your AI app can
[turn a folder of materials into a course](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/academy-educators/from-a-folder).

## Plan the outline

On the course's **Lessons** tab, the outline on the left shows each module in capitals, with its
lessons under it.

![The course editor's Lessons tab: the outline on the left with two modules and their lessons, and the second module open on the right with its title, description and tutor.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/academy-educators/create-a-course/SS-ACAD-020-02__outline-module__academy__desktop__v01.webp?v=5f1435a82a)

- **Add a lesson:** click **+ Lesson** under a module. The new lesson opens, ready to
  [fill in](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/academy-educators/lessons).
- **Add a module:** click **Add module** (2) at the bottom of the outline.
- **Change a module:** click it (1). Change its **Title**, add a **Description (optional)**, or choose
  a **Tutor for this module's lessons**, then click **Save module**. **Up** and **Down** move it.
- **Move a lesson:** open it, then use the up and down arrows at the bottom, or **Move to module…** to
  put it in another module (it appears once the course has two modules). Save the lesson first: they're
  grayed out while it has unsaved changes.
- **Delete a module or lesson:** open it and click **Delete module** or **Delete**. A module goes with
  all its lessons. A course always keeps at least one module.

Deleting something from a published course doesn't change what students see until you publish again.

A course can have up to 50 modules, up to 60 lessons in a module and up to 300 lessons in all. An
Academy can have up to 200 courses.

## Change the order of your courses

On the **Courses** tab, the arrows beside each course move it up or down. Your Academy's home page lists
courses in the same order.