University-Wide
Undergraduate Curriculum Handbook
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Much of the work of the UWUCC involves the approval of new courses. Clearly
written proposals that follow the prescribed format and procedures are generally
approved in a timely fashion. Since the UWUCC will not likely be composed of
members familiar with your subject, it is imperative that your proposal be
written so that it can be understood by a general audience.
Preparing the Proposal
As seen from the "Format for New Course Proposals" on the next page, it will be
necessary for you to supply the UWUCC with a substantial amount of specific
information about the new course before the UWUCC will take action on the
proposal. In order to maintain the academic integrity of the curriculum, the
UWUCC must not only determine the quality and soundness of the proposal itself,
but also that the necessary resources are available to ensure a quality course.
In addition, any overlap with existing courses inside or outside the department
must be resolved. Where overlap or concern of other departments is an issue,
the UWUCC asks that issues be resolved by the departments and requires that
letters stating the position of affected departments accompany the proposal.
When preparing a new course proposal that will be cross-listed with other
departments, the UWUCC asks that only one person be listed as the contact
person. The Curriculum Proposal Cover Sheet should list all department
abbreviations for the course on the appropriate line. The signature page should
include the signatures of department curriculum committee chairs, department
chairs of all involved departments and the appropriate college(s). The course
proposal should include an explanation of how consistency of the course will be
maintained across multiple departments with the expectation that a common
syllabus will be used in each situation.
Presenting the Proposal
At the time a proposal is being considered by the UWUCC, the department in which
the proposal originated may be invited to meet with the committee. At this time,
you may be asked to clarify information and answer any questions. It is
important that the person who represents your department at this meeting be
knowledgeable about the proposal and very familiar with the course content.
Departments will be notified of any action taken by the UWUCC. If the course is
approved and forwarded to the Senate, the department will be informed of the
date on which the Senate will take action on the proposal. Departments are
strongly urged to have a representative at the Senate meeting who is familiar
with the proposal and who can answer any technical, philosophical or
professional questions concerning the course that might arise.*
*The UWUCC reserves the right to remove a proposal from the floor if no department representative is present because the committee members may not be able to adequately answer specific questions from the Senate floor.
1. On the Cover Page that accompanies the proposal: The unit (college or
group of departments) proposing the course/program, not the department of the
person writing the proposal, should be listed under “Proposing Department/Unit.”
2. All department curriculum committees included in the proposal must
participate in the approval process, not just the proposer’s curriculum
committee and not just the department chairs. Therefore, letters/emails of
support (or acknowledgement in the case of nonsupport) from all of the chairs
and department curriculum committees participating are required attachments.
3. If the course being proposed is intended to be interdisciplinary, include in
the rationale section procedures that will be implemented to ensure a true
interdisciplinary approach to the course.
4. Although it is not a concern of the UWUCC, the committee suggests that the
unit submitting the proposal develop a rotation for offering the courses
(including the summer) so that all departments involved have an equal chance of
participating. This is not part of the curriculum approval, but would constitute
a measure within the unit to ensure cooperation among all departments involved.
See page 18 and Appendix D (Implementation of Distance Education Article #42) with the understanding that distance education approval cannot occur before the course itself is approved.
Part I. Curriculum Proposal Cover Sheet
Part II. Description of Curricular Change
l. Syllabus of record, including catalog description with course title, class and lab hour designation*, number of credits, prerequisites and an appropriately written course description.
2. Course Analysis Questionnaire. Detailed answers to each of the questions must be included in the proposal. It is helpful if you phrase each response within the context of the question. Please refer to Sample Syllabus in the appendix.
Part III. Letters of Support or Acknowledgement
Attach letters from interested or affected departments/programs. (See page 3.)
Please Number All Pages
*e.g., 3c-0l-3cr means 3 class hours per week, no lab hours, and 3 credits; 3c-3l-4cr means 3 class hours per week, 3 lab hours per week, and 4 credits
The syllabus of record describes the course in some detail to those interested in the course and provides guidance to faculty in the department who may wish to teach the course. While each faculty member has the academic freedom to deliver a course in his/her own style, this freedom does not extend to changing the purpose, nature, or objectives of the course. The syllabus of record should be distinguished from the individual course syllabi that an instructor distributes to students. A copy of the syllabus of record for each course is to be maintained in the office of the department offering the course.
The syllabus of record will contain the following elements:
I. Catalog Description. This includes the course title, number of credits, prerequisites and an appropriately written course description.
II. Course Outcomes. What is it that students will achieve as a result of taking this course? (Refer to taxonomies in Appendix C for assistance with course objectives.)
III. Detailed Course Outline. This should give the reader an outline of the topics examined in the course as well as an indication of the amount of time spent on each topic. This is either done by indicating the number of class hours spent on each topic or by indicating the percentage of time spent on each topic. The total number of hours for the class is 14 (weeks) times the number of credits (e.g., 14 weeks x 3cr = 42 hours). Do not forget to allow time for exams in the outline.
IV. Evaluation Methods. Indicate the type(s) of evaluation used (quizzes, exams, projects, papers, etc.) and detail the requirements on evaluations particular to this course. Indicate the weight of each type of evaluation being used, how the final grade will be determined, and a grading scale. Explain the nature of the culminating activity during final exam period (week 15).
V. Example Grading Scale.
VI. Undergraduate Course Attendance Policy. Generally this attendance policy should be very generic so that different instructors may tailor their own attendance policy. If, however, the department wishes to require attendance for a course, include a specific policy that conforms to the University attendance policy listed below.
The university expects all students to attend class.
Individual faculty members may define attendance standards appropriate to each course and the consequences of not meeting those standards, within the following guidelines:1. Each policy must be distributed in writing during the first week of the course. Normally, it is expected that information dealing with class attendance standards will be distributed with the Semester Course Syllabus.
2. Each policy must recognize students’ need to miss class because of illness or personal emergency.
3. Each policy must define some limited level of allowable absence, normally at least a number of clock hours equal to course credit hours.
VII. Required Textbook(s), Supplemental Books and Readings. The UWUCC recognizes textbooks change rapidly in some fields and by the time the course is offered the textbook indicated in the syllabus may be outdated. However, please indicate your judgment of the best textbook available at the time the course is proposed.
VIII. Special Resource Requirements. List any materials or equipment the student is expected to supply for this course. Is there a lab fee associated with the course?
IX. Bibliography. An appropriate list of resource materials used in preparing for the course and for teaching the course. Generally we expect a list of 5 to 15 entries using a citation style appropriate to your discipline. Any accepted bibliographic style may be used but please be consistent.
Refer to the University Policy on Semester Course Syllabi in the Academic Policy Section of the Undergraduate Catalog for formatting the syllabi that are distributed to students.
Section A: Details of the Course
A1. How does this course fit into the programs of the department? For which students is the course designed? (majors, students in other majors, liberal studies). Explain why this content cannot be incorporated into an existing course.
A2. Does this course require changes in the content of existing courses or requirements for a program? If catalog descriptions of other courses or department programs must be changed as a result of the adoption of this course, please submit as separate proposals all other changes in courses and/or program requirements.
A3. Has this course ever been offered at IUP on a trial basis (e.g. as a special topic) If so, explain the details of the offering (semester/year and number of students).
A4. Is this course to be a dual-level course? If so, please note that the graduate approval occurs after the undergraduate.
A5. If this course may be taken for variable credit, what criteria will be used to relate the credits to the learning experience of each student? Who will make this determination and by what procedures?
A6. Do other higher education institutions currently offer this course? If so, please list examples (institution, course title).
A7. Is the content, or are the skills, of the proposed course recommended or required by a professional society, accrediting authority, law or other external agency? If so, please provide documentation.
Section B: Interdisciplinary Implications
B1. Will this course be taught by instructors from more than one department or team taught within the department? If so, explain the teaching plan, its rationale, and how the team will adhere to the syllabus of record.
B2. What is the relationship between the content of this course and the content of courses offered by other departments? Summarize your discussions (with other departments) concerning the proposed changes and indicate how any conflicts have been resolved. Please attach relevant memoranda from these departments that clarify their attitudes toward the proposed change(s).
B3. Will this course be cross-listed with other departments? If so, please summarize the department representatives’ discussions concerning the course and indicate how consistency will be maintained across departments.
B4. Will seats in this course be made available to students in the School of Continuing Education?
Section C: Implementation
C1. Are faculty resources adequate? If you are not requesting or have not been authorized to hire additional faculty, demonstrate how this course will fit into the schedule(s) of current faculty. What will be taught less frequently or in fewer sections to make this possible? Please specify how preparation and equated workload will be assigned for this course.
C2. What other resources will be needed to teach this course and how adequate are the current resources? If not adequate, what plans exist for achieving adequacy? Reply in terms of the following:
*Space
*Equipment
*Laboratory Supplies and other Consumable Goods
*Library Materials
*Travel Funds
C3. Are any of the resources for this course funded by a grant? If so, what provisions have been made to continue support for this course once the grant has expired? (Attach letters of support from Dean, Provost, etc.)
C4. How frequently do you expect this course to be offered? Is this course particularly designed for or restricted to certain seasonal semesters?
C5. How many sections of this course do you anticipate offering in any single semester?
C6. How many students do you plan to accommodate in a section of this course? What is the justification for this planned number of students?
C7. Does any professional society recommend enrollment limits or parameters for a course of this nature? If they do, please quote from the appropriate documents.
C8. If this course is a distance education course, see the Implementation of Distance Education Agreement and the Undergraduate Distance Education Review Form in Appendix D and respond to the questions listed.
Section D: Miscellaneous
Include any additional information valuable to those reviewing this new course proposal.
Procedures for Approval of a New Course
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Department Approval |
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College Curriculum Committee Approval |
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College Dean Approval |
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If not Liberal Studies |
If Honors College |
If Liberal Studies | |
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Honors College Committee Recommendation, if appropriate |
Liberal Studies Committee Recommendation, if appropriate |
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UWUCC Approval |
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Senate Approval |
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Catalog Change Implemented by Catalog Editor |
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