selecting colums from different table

Hi, I have to say that you are using a strange (to me) logic.

However, I can suggest to use a CASE..WHEN (http://ift.tt/1yYchHu):

SELECT 
        firstname, 
        coursetitle, 
        CASE 
         WHEN coursecompleted=1 THEN 1 
         ELSE NULL
        END AS pass, 
        CASE 
         WHEN coursecompleted=0 THEN 1 
         ELSE NULL
        END AS fail
FROM test