diff --git a/backend/degree/models.py b/backend/degree/models.py
index 9a2f5995..f7b4ddd5 100644
--- a/backend/degree/models.py
+++ b/backend/degree/models.py
@@ -191,9 +191,11 @@ class Rule(models.Model):
     )
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
+        rules_str = ", ".join([str(rule) for rule in self.children.all()]) 
         return (
             f"{self.title}, q={self.q}, num={self.num}, cus={self.credits}, "
-            "parent={self.parent.title if self.parent else None}"
+            f"child rules: {rules_str}"
+            f"parent={self.parent.title if self.parent else None}"
         )
 
     @property
diff --git a/backend/degree/serializers.py b/backend/degree/serializers.py
index 5cacb886..66ca3efa 100644
--- a/backend/degree/serializers.py
+++ b/backend/degree/serializers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from textwrap import dedent
 
+from collections import deque
 from django.db.models import Q
 from rest_framework import serializers
 
@@ -139,6 +140,30 @@ def validate(self, data):
         if degree_plan is None:
             degree_plan = self.instance.degree_plan
 
+        # Find rules in degree plan with requirements identical to currently fulfilled ones
+        bfs_queue = deque()
+        for degree in degree_plan.degrees.all():
+            for rule_in_degree in degree.rules.all():
+                bfs_queue.append(rule_in_degree)
+        
+        identical_rules = []
+        existing_fulfillment = Fulfillment.objects.filter(
+            degree_plan=degree_plan, 
+            full_code=full_code
+        ).first()
+        existing_rules = existing_fulfillment.rules.all() if existing_fulfillment is not None else []
+        while len(bfs_queue):
+            curr_rule = bfs_queue.pop()
+            # this is a leaf rule
+            if curr_rule.q:
+                if any(rule.q == curr_rule.q and rule.id != curr_rule.id for rule in rules) and curr_rule not in existing_rules:
+                    identical_rules.append(curr_rule)
+            else: # parent rule
+                bfs_queue.extend(curr_rule.children.all())
+        
+        rules.extend(identical_rules)
+        data["rules"] = rules
+
         # TODO: check that rules belong to this degree plan
         for rule in rules:
             # NOTE: we don't do any validation if the course doesn't exist in DB. In future,