<p>That’s exactly what a lot of schools do. My school doesn’t publish the book lists until the professor submits/approves the book that is going to be used. The problem is that the book still simply isn’t used in many situations. I don’t know if it’s the same at every school, but in most schools, professors are REQUIRED to have a textbook, or at least some kind of mandatory material. Given that they have to submit some kind of book for the book list, they really don’t have any way of telling you whether or not it’s necessary, until the first day of class.</p>
<p>That’s why it’s a good idea to email them and clarify it.</p>